EBOM-v5 EAc1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Performance 1-12 points

Credit language

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Intent

To reduce environmental and economic harm associated with GHG emissions from building energy use that disproportionately impacts frontline communities. 

Requirements

Platinum Requirements:
Option 1: Earn a minimum of two points or equivalent 
Option 2 AND/OR Option 3: Earn a minimum of two points 

Option 1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions from On-Site Combustion (1–5 points)
Demonstrate a percentage improvement in on-site combustion emissions below the on-site combustion emissions target based on the project energy data reported in EAp3: Minimum Energy Performance. Points are awarded according to Table 1.

Projects that use neither on-site combustion, except for emergency support systems (used less than 200 hours per year), nor district heating automatically achieve 5 points.

Determine the on-site combustion emissions target using any applicable path.

PATH 1. ENERGY STAR NEXTGEN™ TARGET (1–5 POINTS)
Determine the target by multiplying the ENERGY STAR NextGen™ Direct GHGi target by 1.4.

Reference the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Technical Reference for ENERGY STAR NextGen™ and direct GHGi targets.⁷²

OR

PATH 2. HISTORICAL BASELINE TARGET (1–5 POINTS)
Calculate the total GHG emissions from on-site combustion for the current 12-month reporting period compared to a historical baseline from a 12-month reporting period with similar occupancy occurring within eight years before the end of the 12-month reporting period.

Historical data may be normalized against the reporting period for weather or operational variables such as occupancy or production throughput. 

OR

PATH 3. ON-SITE COMBUSTION EMISSIONS INTENSITY TARGET (1–5 POINTS)
Path 3 is available only to projects using EAp3: Minimum Energy Performance, Option 2.

Determine on-site combustion emissions intensity targets for the project’s building type(s) and climate zone according to Appendix II.

Table 1. Points for Percentage Reduction Below On-Site Combustion Emissions Targets

AND/OR

Option 2. Renewable Energy (1–4 points)
Supply or procure renewable energy meeting the renewable energy criteria. Points are awarded according to Table 2.

Points documented for Tier 1, Tier 2, and/or Tier 3 renewable energy may be added together up to a maximum of 4 points.

Table 2. Points for Renewable Energy Procurement

^{*A = the sum of gross floor area of all floors up to the three largest floors.} 

RENEWABLE ENERGY CLASSIFICATIONS
Tier 1. On-Site Renewable Energy Generation or Social Impact Project
The renewable generation equipment may be located:

• On the project site
• On the campus on which a project is located
• On the site of a social impact project, provided that the renewable power system is provided, installed, and commissioned at no cost to the social impact entity; that the ownership of the renewable power system is transferred to the social impact entity; and that the rights to the power provided be given to the social impact entity

Tier 2. New off-site Renewable Electricity
Off-site renewable electricity produced by new generation asset(s):

• Off-site renewable electricity produced by new generation asset(s) initially contracted no more than five years after the asset’s commercial operations date

Tier 3. Off-site Renewable Energy

• Off-site renewable electricity that is Green-e® Energy certified or equivalent
• Renewable fuels that are Green-e Renewable Fuels certified or equivalent

RENEWABLE ENERGY CRITERIA
Contract Length
Project shall demonstrate a minimum of a three-year contractual commitment that begins no later than the project’s reporting period start date. Contract length shall be three years or prorated across three years for shorter contract lengths.

Environmental Attributes
Ownership
All environmental attributes (Energy Attribute Certificates [EACs]) or Renewable Energy Certificates [RECs]) associated with renewable energy generation must be retired on behalf of the LEED project for the renewable energy procurement to contribute to credit achievement. 

Vintage
EACs/RECs credited to the project must be generated no earlier than 18 months before the LEED project’s initial submission date.

Location
Tier 2 and Tier 3 renewable assets must be in the same country or region where the LEED project is located.

AND/OR

Option 3. Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Building Energy Use (1–3 points)
Demonstrate a percentage improvement in project GHG emissions from building energy use below the total GHG emissions target. Points are awarded according to Table 3.

Calculate the project GHG emissions for the 12-month reporting period using the project energy consumption for each energy source and the project GHG emissions factors for each energy source. Report project electricity use with a GHG emissions factor of zero when the electricity is supplied or offset by Tier 1; on-site renewable energy generation or social impact project, and/or Tier 2; new off-site renewable electricity, documented in Option 2. Renewable Energy.

Calculate GHG emissions targets using either Path 1 or Path 2.

PATH 1. PERFORMANCE RELATIVE TO SIMILAR BUILDINGS (1–3 POINTS)
GHG emissions targets shall be calculated based on the site energy use intensity targets for fuel and electricity for the project’s building type and climate zone in Appendix II. For all project locations, multiply these targets by the published U.S. Environmental Protection Agency national CO₂ equivalent (CO₂eq) emissions factors for natural gas and electricity from the most recently published year.

OR

PATH 2. PERFORMANCE RELATIVE TO HISTORICAL BASELINE (1–3 POINTS)
Calculate the historical baseline target derived using the site energy data for each building energy source from a 12-month reporting period with similar occupancy occurring within eight years before the end of the 12-month reporting period, and the project GHG emissions factor for each energy source during the historical reference period.

Historical data may be normalized against the reporting period for weather or operational variables, such as occupancy or production throughput.

If the project generated on-site renewable energy or procured off-site renewable energy during the historical reporting period, treat this identically to nonrenewable energy for the purposes of calculating the GHG emissions target.

Table 3. Points for Percentage Reduction Below GHG Emissions Target 

For all options

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.