NC-v2.2 EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance

Credit language

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Requirements

Select one of the four compliance path options described below. Project teams documenting achievement using any of these options are assumed to be in compliance with EA prerequisite 2. NOTE: LEED for New Construction projects registered after June 26th, 2007 are required to achieve at least two (2) points under EAc1.

Option 1 — whole building energy simulation (1–10 points)

• must comply with the mandatory provisions (Sections 5.4, 6.4, 7.4, 8.4, 9.4 and 10.4) in Standard 90.1-2004;
• must include all the energy costs within and associated with the building project; and
• must be compared against a baseline building that complies with Appendix G to Standard 90.1-2004. The default process energy cost is 25% of the total energy cost for the baseline building. For buildings where the process energy cost is less than 25% of the baseline building energy cost, the LEED submittal must include supporting documentation substantiating that process energy inputs are appropriate.

Option 2 — prescriptive compliance path: ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Office Buildings 2004 (4 Points)

• Buildings must be under 20,000 square feet.
• Buildings must be office occupancy.
• Project teams must fully comply with all applicable criteria as established in the Advanced Energy Design Guide for the climate zone in which the building is located. Teams must also provide additional documentation, such as relevant detailed drawings, cut sheets, mechanical/electrical schedules, section of specifications or other documentation to demonstrate compliance with this standard.

Option 3 — prescriptive compliance path: Advanced Buildings™ Core Performance™ Guide (2-5 Points)

• Buildings must be under 100,000 square feet.
• Buildings may NOT be health care, warehouse or laboratory projects.
• Project teams must fully comply with Sections One, Design Process Strategies, and Two, Core Performance Requirements.

• Three (3) points are available for all office, school, public assembly, and retail projects under 100,000 square feet that comply with Sections One and Two of the Core Performance Guide.
• Two (2) points are available for all other project types under 100,000 square feet (except health care, warehouse, or laboratory projects) that implement the basic requirements of the Core Performance Guide

• Any strategies applicable to the project may be implemented except:
  • 3.1-Cool Roofs
  • 3.8-Night Venting
  • 3.13-Additional Commissioning

Option 4 — prescriptive compliance path: Advanced Buildings Benchmark™ Basic Criteria and Prescriptive Measures (1 Point)

• Project teams must fully comply with all applicable criteria as established in Advanced Buildings Benchmark for the climate zone in which the building is located.

Frequently asked questions

What does it cost?

Cost estimates for this credit

On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.

Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.

This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.

Checklists

Addenda