CS-v5 EAc1: Electrification 1-4 points

Credit language

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Intent

To encourage buildings to be designed so they do not depend on burning fuel on-site, leading to better indoor and outdoor air quality and to low carbon operations as the grid decarbonizes.

Requirements

Platinum Requirements:
Four points are required.

Option 1. Electrification (2–4 points)
For Paths 1 and 2:

• Include all heating and service hot water systems necessary to meet total building heating and SWH load in the calculations of weighted average COP.
• Future heating or SWH systems must be included in the calculations with a COP of 1.0. 
• Future equipment may be excluded from the calculations and deemed as compliant when the applicable building code, or construction drawings for projects with tenancy, confirms a weighted average COP of at least 1.8 for future installed equipment.

PATH 1. NO ON-SITE COMBUSTION (3–4 POINTS)
Design and operate the project from start-up with no on-site combustion except for emergency support systems.

Combined weighted average equipment efficiency for space heating and SWH must be at least 1.8 COP for 4 points and at least 1.3 COP for 3 points.

The following equipment may be excluded from the COP determination:

• Space heating equipment in climate zones 0–2.
• Supplemental heating equipment designed only for operation at low temperatures.
• SWH equipment with a total project SWH capacity less than 34,000 Btu/hr (10 kW).
• SWH equipment in nonresidential spaces complying with the point-of-use water heater criteria in ASHRAE 90.1-2022, Section 11.5.2.3.3, W05, without exceptions.

OR

PATH 2. NO ON-SITE COMBUSTION EXCEPT AT LOW TEMPERATURES (1–3 POINTS)
Pursue any combination of the following cases for a maximum of 3 points:

Case 1. Space Heating (1–2 points)
Design space heating to be capable of operating without on-site combustion except at low temperatures. Projects must have a weighted average space heating equipment efficiency of at least 1.8 COP for 2 points and 1.3 COP for 1 point.

The following equipment may be excluded from the COP determination:

• Space heating equipment in climate zones 0–2
• Supplemental heating equipment designed only for operation at low temperatures

AND/OR

Case 2. Service Water Heating (1 point)
Design SWH systems to be capable of operating without on-site combustion except at low temperatures. Projects with total SWH heating capacity exceeding 34,000 Btu/hr (10 kW) must have a weighted average service hot water equipment efficiency of at least 1.8 COP or domestic hot water solar fraction of at least 0.4.

The following equipment may be excluded from the COP determination:

• SWH equipment in nonresidential spaces complying with the point-of-use water heater criteria in ASHRAE 90.1-2022, Section 11.5.2.3.3, W05, without exceptions.
• Supplemental heating equipment designed only for operation at low temperatures.

OR

PATH 3. NO ON-SITE COMBUSTION—LIMITED SCOPE (1–2 POINTS)
Do not install on-site combustion equipment in the project except for emergency support systems.

Combined weighted average equipment efficiency for space heating and service water heating must be at least 1.8 COP. Points are awarded per Table 1 based on the qualifying minimum project scope of work.

The following equipment may be excluded from the COP determination:

• Space heating equipment in climate zones 0–2.
• Supplemental heating equipment designed only for operation at low temperatures.
• Service hot water heating (SWH) equipment with a total project SWH capacity less than 34,000 Btu/hr (10 kW).
• SWH equipment in nonresidential spaces complying with the point-of-use water heater criteria in ASHRAE 90.1-2022, Section 11.5.2.3.3, W05, without exceptions.

Table 1. Points for no on-site combustion, limited scope

AND/OR

Option 2. Electrification Readiness (1 point)
Provide building infrastructure that ensures the capability of operating the building without on-site combustion except at low temperatures, and of installing heating and service water heating systems that will have a weighted average COP of at least 1.8.

Include the details for electrification readiness in the project plans and the tenant guidelines and include tenant guidance for designing and installing efficient electrified systems. Provide the following infrastructure as applicable to the project application, and sized to ensure the capability to meet the requirements in Table 1:

• Dedicated physical space for future electric space heating, service water heating, or process heating equipment. Provide designated spaces of sufficient size for outdoor heat pump equipment.
• Chase ways with space for refrigerant lines, condensate drainage, or other required piping.
• When electrical distribution systems are installed within the project scope, provide a junction box in the same physical space as the space allocated for the future electric equipment, and dedicated electrical panel space for an appropriately phased branch circuit sized to accommodate the future electric equipment or appliances to meet the specified load.
• For portions of the building where ventilation air is not installed within the project scope of work, provide space and accommodations capable of supporting energy recovery ventilation for at least 50% of ventilation air.

For all options

Equipment Efficiency

Determine weighted average COP using either of the following:

• Equipment efficiencies at rated conditions:
  • For equipment with multiple rated conditions, use the rating closest to 17°F (–9°C) OA db, 32°F (0°C) entering liquid temperature, or 44°F (6°C) heating source leaving liquid temperature.
  • Annual average COP calculated with an energy simulation.
• District energy: Projects with district energy must comply with the requirements of this credit at the district facility, or see additional guidance for interpretation of credit requirements.
• Fuel cells: Fuel cells using fossil fuel are ineligible for credit.
• Low temperatures: Low temperatures refers to outside air dry-bulb temperatures (OA db) below 20°F (–6.5°C).