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OverviewCredit 1 OptimizeEnergy Performance

Credit 2 RenewableEnergy

Credit 3 Additional

Commissioning

Credit 4 OzoneProtection

Credit 5 Measurement& Verification

Credit 6 GreenPower

Figure 1: Overview of LEED Prerequisites & Credits

Prerequisite 1FundamentalCommissioning

Prerequisite 2Minimum EnergyPerformance

Prerequisite 3CFC Reduction

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LEED-NC Version 2.1 Reference Guide

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IDEASS WE MR EQFundamental Building SystemsCommissioning

Intent

Verify and ensure that fundamental building elements and systems are designed, in-stalled and calibrated to operate as intended.

Requirements

Implement or have a contract in place to implement the following fundamental bestpractice commissioning procedures.

Engage a commissioning team that does not include individuals directly re-sponsible for project design or construction management.

Review the design intent and the basis of design documentation.

Incorporate commissioning requirements into the construction documents.

Develop and utilize a commissioning plan. Verify installation, functional performance, training and operation and main-

tenance documentation.

Complete a commissioning report.

Submittals

Provide the LEED Letter Template, signed by the owner or commissioning agent(s),confirming that the fundamental commissioning requirements have been success-fully executed or will be provided under existing contract(s).

Summary of Referenced StandardThere is no standard referenced for this credit.

Prerequisite 1

Required

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IDEASS WE MR EQ Green Building Concerns

The commissioning process is a quality-based method that is adopted by an ownerto consistently achieve successful con-struction projects. It is not an additional

layer of construction or project manage-mentit is the owners means of verify-ing that the planning, design, construc-tion and operational processes are achiev-ing their goals, and ensures the deliveryof a high quality building with maximumasset value. A commissioned buildingprovides optimized energy efficiency, in-door air quality, and occupant comfort,and sets the stage for minimal operationand maintenance costs.

The commissioning process activitiescommence at project inception (the startof the pre-design phase) to document theowners project requirements. The com-missioning process activities continuethrough the design and constructionphases, including performance testing,and conclude at one year of occupancywith a warranty review and lessons-learned meeting. A key commissioningprocess activity typically completed is thedevelopment and verification of a cohe-

sive training program of the building staffso they can properly operate and main-tain the building to achieve the ownerslong-term sustainability goals.

Environmental Issues

Implementation of the commissioningprocess maintains the focus on high per-formance building principles from projectinception through operation. This typi-cally results in optimized mechanical,electrical and architectural systemsmaximizing energy efficiency and therebyminimizing environmental impacts asso-ciated with energy production and con-sumption. Energy conservation reducesthe need for natural resource extraction,improves air quality and reduces green-house gas emissions.

Economic Issues

A properly designed and executed com-missioning plan generates substantial op-erational cost savings. Successful imple-mentation of the commissioning process

often increases energy efficiency by 5%to 10%. The State of Oregon Office ofEnergy studied direct energy savings fortwo buildings after completion of a com-missioning plan. In a 110,000-square-foot office building, energy savings of$12,276 per year (equivalent to $0.12 persquare foot) were realized throughcompletion of the commissioning processactivities. In a 22,000-square-foot officebuilding, energy savings equal to $7,630per year ($0.35 per square foot) were

achieved.In addition to energy performance, oc-cupant productivity is another operationalcost impacted by subpar building perfor-mance. The Oregon study estimated in-direct costs associated with lost produc-tivity due to occupant complaints aboutthe indoor environment. It estimated thatif 20% of building occupants expended30 minutes per month complaining aboutlighting or temperature conditions, the

employer would lose $0.10 per squarefoot in annual productivity. For a100,000-square-foot building, thisequates to $10,000 per year. This lossdoes not factor in actual productivity re-ductions resulting from the suboptimalconditions, but only addresses complainttime.

Other potential costs of poor buildingperformance cited by the Oregon Officeof Energy include employee illness, ten-

ant turnover and vacant office space, li-ability related to indoor air quality, andpremature equipment replacement.

The cost of Commissioning Authorityservices changes with project size. Table1 provides estimates of third-party com-missioning costs based on historical data.

Prerequisite 1

Credit Synergies

SS Credit 4AlternativeTransportation

SS Credit 8Light PollutionReduction

WE Credit 1Water EfficientLandscaping

WE Credit 2Innovative WastewaterTreatment

WE Credit 3Water Use Reduction

EA Prerequisite 2Minimum EnergyPerformance

EA Credit 1Optimize EnergyPerformance

EA Credit 2Renewable Energy

EA Credit 3AdditionalCommissioning

EA Credit 5

Measurement &Verification

EQ Prerequisite 1Minimum IAQPerformance

EQ Prerequisite 2Environmental TobaccoSmoke (ETS) Control

EQ Credit 1Carbon Dioxide (CO

2)

Monitoring

EQ Credit 5Indoor Chemical &Pollutant Source Control

EQ Credit 6Controllability ofSystems

EQ Credit 7Thermal Comfort

EQ Credit 8Daylight & Views

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IDEASS WE MR EQEvaluation of projects involved in the datain Table 1 has shown that implementa-tion of the commissioning process activi-ties will pay for itself by late design or earlyconstruction, and has a minimum three-to-one payback by the end of construc-

tion and through the first year of opera-tion. Savings from implementing thecommissioning process are due to im-proved construction documents (reducedrequests for information and change or-ders), identification and resolution of is-sues on paper, comprehensive ongoingreview construction to maintain focus onthe owners project requirements, andminimizing contractor call-backs duringthe first year of operation.

On their first projects in which the owneris implementing the commissioning pro-cess, architects and engineers may chargehigher than normal fees to support theprocess. These fees are included to coverthe additional expense of integrating thecommissioning process activities into theproject specifications as provided by theCommissioning Authority and docu-menting the basis of design in a formatsuitable for the owner. Once they havebeen through the process, architects andengineers typically charge the same or lessfor involvement in the commissioningprocess due to savings during construc-tion and operations from reduced requests

for information and change orders. Inaddition, some design professionals maybe eligible for lower professional liabilityinsurance rates through involvement ofthe commissioning process.

Implementing the commissioning processmay provide owners the opportunity toreceive state-funded assistance and util-ity rebates or reduced utility rates.

Community Issues

The commissioning process provides aconsistent means for the owners procure-ment of a high-quality building that op-erates in accordance with the ownersproject requirements, including the oc-cupants needs. Ultimately, the entire

project team and community benefitswhen the building is operational the firstday of use through reducing occupantcomplaints and allowing users and occu-pants to enjoy a healthier and more pro-ductive indoor environment that meetstheir success criteria.

Design Approach

The commissioning process begins atproject inception when the owner choosesto adopt the process as the internal meansto verify that the design professionals, con-tractors, and operations and maintenancestaff achieve the owners project require-

Prerequisite 1

Table 1: Estimated Cost of Independent Third-Party Commissioning Services

Construction Cost Total Cost for Fundamental Additional Commissioning Activities Activities

< $5 million 1.5%3.0% 1.2%2.5% 0.3%0.5%

< $10 million 0.7%2.0% 0.5%1.7% 0.2%0.3%< $50 million 0.6%1.5% 0.5%1.3% 0.1%0.2%

> $50 million 0.4%1.5% 0.4%1.3% 0.2%

Complex projects Add 0.2%0.8% 0.2%0.7% 0.1%

Source: Cox, Dorgan and Dorgan. The Value of the Commissioning: Costs and Benefits. The Austin Papers: The Best of the 2002USGBC International Green Building Conference. BuildingGreen, Inc, 2002.

Notes:These costs include moderate travel expenses. Complexity, timing (number of site visits), and team cooperation greatly affectcost. Obtain hourly estimates by task to understand the Commissioning Authoritys role and involvement.These costs are for acquiring the services of an independent third-party Commissioning Authority. If the owner utilizes internalresources with the proper training and skill sets, the cost is often reduced by 20%-50%.

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IDEASS WE MR EQ ments from planning through continualoperations. The intent of the commission-ing process is to minimize costly changesthrough early identification and continualfocus on the achievement of the ownersproject requirements. The commissioning

process for a LEED project typically fo-cuses on systems and assemblies havingto do with the projects operational per-formance, particularly those relating toLEED prerequisites and credits. Ex-amples include HVAC systems and theircontrols, duct work and piping; buildingenvelope technologies; renewable and al-ternative energy technologies; lightingcontrols and daylighting systems; potablewater efficiency technologies; rainwater

harvesting systems; water treatment sys-tems; and other advanced performancetechnologies. Verification of the contractorsachievement of the owners project require-ments includes such items as verification ofthe traditional testing, adjusting and bal-ancing (TAB) work through sampling ofthe TAB report.

Strategies

The commissioning process is a planned,systematic quality-based process that in-

volves the owner, users, occupants, opera-tions and maintenance staff, design pro-fessionals and contractors. It begins atproject inception; has ongoing verifica-tion of achievement of the owners projectrequirements; requires integration of con-tractor-completed commissioning processactivities into the construction docu-ments; aids in the coordination of staticand dynamic testing that acceptance isbased on; verifies staff training; and com-

pletes with warranty verification and les-sons-learned documentation and imple-mentation. An explanation of the stepssatisfying this LEED prerequisite is sum-marized in the following sections:

Engage a Commissioning Authority.Designate a Commissioning Authority asearly as possible in the project time line,

ideally at project inception. The Commis-sioning Authority serves as an objectiveadvocate of the owner, directs the com-missioning process, and presents final rec-ommendations to the owner regarding theperformance of commissioned systems

and assemblies. The CommissioningAuthority introduces standards and strat-egies early in the planning process andthen verifies implementation of the com-missioning process activities by clearlyspecifying the requirements in construc-tion documents.

Ideally, a person on the owners staffwould be the Commissioning Authority.If this is not possible, a third-party firmis preferable, but for the purposes of this

LEED prerequisite the CommissioningAuthority can be from a design team firm,as long as that person is not responsiblefor project design, construction manage-ment or supervision. In all scenarios, thereporting of all conditions and findingsmust be immediate and direct from theCommissioning Authority to the owner.If a third-party Commissioning Author-ity is retained, it should be utilized forboth implementing the fundamentalLEED prerequisite and Additional Com-missioning credit (EA Credit 3) activities.

Form the Commissioning Team. TheCommissioning Team is led by the Com-missioning Authority and is composed ofthe owner, users, occupants, operationsand maintenance staff, design profession-als and contractors. The CommissioningTeam is responsible for accomplishing thecommissioning process activities and pro-vides leadership for identifying and resolv-ing all commissioning process issues.

Document the Owners Requirements.The Commissioning Team shall clearlydocument the owners project require-ments. The owners project requirementsare utilized throughout the Commission-ing Process to provide focus on the keysuccess criteria. These requirements typi-cally address HVAC, lighting, indoor en-

Prerequisite 1

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IDEASS WE MR EQvironment, energy efficiency, siting, wa-ter and environmental responsiveness ofthe facility. The document also addressesthe ideas, objectives and criteria that theowner considers important. Any criterialisted in the owners project requirements

needs to be measurable, documentableand verifiable. Ideally, the owners projectrequirements are developed upon projectinception in tandem with LEED goals.However, if the commissioning processis not started until later in the project,the owners project requirements muststill be documented by the Commission-ing Team.

Review the Basis of Design. The basisof design is developed by the design pro-

fessionals as part of their normal designduties, but not often provided to theowner in a cohesive document. The basisof design includes how each of the ownersproject requirements has been met; pri-mary design assumptions such as occu-pancy, space and process requirements;applicable codes, policies and standards;and load and climatic assumptions thatinfluence design decisions. An updatedbasis of design and design narrative shouldaccompany each design phase submission.

Create a Commissioning Plan. TheCommissioning Authority develops acommissioning plan at the start of thecommissioning process, preferably atproject inception. The commissioningplan evolves with results added as the

project progresses. In circumstances whenthe decision to pursue a LEED rating ismade after the design phase, the commis-sioning plan, including the ownersproject requirements and basis of design,should be completed prior to the instal-lation of any commissioned elements.Table 2lists the components that are re-quired in the commissioning plan to sat-isfy this LEED prerequisite.

Include the Commissioning Require-

ments in Bid Documents. Thecontractors commissioning process re-sponsibilities must be integrated in thecontract documents and must clearly de-scribe the components listed in Table 3.

An area requiring careful coordination isthe creation of operation and mainte-nance manuals. Depending on theowners needs and relationship with theCommissioning Team members, the re-sponsibility for this deliverable can reside

with the Commissioning Authority, the

Prerequisite 1

Table 2: Required Commissioning Plan Components

Required Commissioning Plan Components

Brief overview of the commissioning process

List of all systems and assemblies included in the Commissioning Authoritys scope of work

Identification of the Commissioning Team and its responsibilities

Description of the management, communication and reporting of the commissioning process

Overview of the commissioning process activities for the pre-design, design, construction,

and occupancy and operations phases, including development of the owners project

requirements, review of the basis of design, schematic design, construction documents

and submittals, construction phase verification, functional performance test development

and implementation, and 10-month warranty review.

List of the expected work products

List of key commissioning process milestones

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Prerequisite 1

design professional or the contractor. Thisdecision needs to be made consciouslywith an aim towards maximizing the long-term usefulness of the documentation. Ifthe owner has a high confidence level inthe ability of the design professionals orcontractor to prepare these documents,then they can be assigned the responsi-bility through the construction docu-ments. If the Commissioning Authority

is regarded as providing the best deliver-able for the owners needs, then the con-tractor can provide the basic informationand the Commissioning Authoritys scopeof work can include creation of themanual. Either process satisfies the LEEDprerequisite.

The following shall be completed on eachcommissioned component, equipment,system or feature:

Installation Verification: The Commis-

sioning Authority must accomplish ongo-ing site visits to verify that each commis-sioned system and assembly is being in-stalled to achieve the owners project re-quirements as detailed in the contract docu-ments and manufacturers instructions, andto verify that other building systems or as-semblies are not compromising the perfor-

mance of the feature. The CommissioningAuthority should accomplish this throughverification of the contractors completedconstruction checklists.

Start-up and Checkout: The contractorcompletes the start-up and initial check-out of all items listed in the contract docu-ments. The start-up and checkout resultsmust be clearly documented according to

the manufacturers written instructionsand the contract documents, typically thelast section of the construction checklists.

Sampling:As the commissioning processis quality-based, the Commissioning Au-thority applies appropriate sampling tech-niques to verify that construction, start-up and initial checkout of all commis-sioned systems and assemblies is success-fully completed. For example, instead ofchecking 100% of the controls system,which is the contractors responsibility,

the Commissioning Authority utilizessampling techniques to complete an in-depth periodic review of the control sys-tem installation, verifying that the com-ponents are calibrated; point-to-pointcheckouts are successful; and each con-trol point is commanding, reporting andcontrolling according to the intended

Table 3: Commissioning Components in Construction Documents

Commissioning Components in Construction Documents

Commissioning Team involvement

Submittal review procedures

Operations and maintenance documentation requirements

Training plan development

Construction verification procedures

Start-up plan development and implementation

Functional performance testing

Milestones

Training

Warranty review site visit

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purpose. This ongoing sampling verifi-cation enables the Commissioning Au-thority to identify systemic issues earlyso they can be fixed and avoid rework atcomplete system checkout.

Functional Testing: The Commission-ing Authority prepares written, repeatabletest procedures, specifically for eachproject, which are used to functionally testsystems and assemblies. These tests mustbe documented to clearly describe the in-dividual systematic test procedures, theexpected system response or acceptancecriteria for each procedure, the actual re-sponse or findings, and any pertinent dis-cussion. The test procedures are reviewedand accepted by the contractors test en-

tity, who may choose to implement thetests under the direction of the Commis-sioning Authority.

After acceptance of the installation, start-up and initial checkout (using the construc-tion checklists), the modes described in thefollowing paragraphs must be tested.

Test each sequence in the sequence of op-erations and other significant modes. Se-quences and control strategies include

start-up, shutdown, unoccupied andmanual modes, modulation up and downthe units range of capacity, power fail-ure, alarms, component staging andbackup upon failure (unit and pump),interlocks with other equipment, and sen-sor and actuator calibrations.

Test all larger equipment individually.Similar units that are numerous (e.g.,many smaller rooftop packaged units, airterminal units and exhaust fans) may re-quire a specific sampling strategy. Heat-ing equipment must be tested during thewinter and air-conditioning equipmentmust be tested during summer, as appro-priate to demonstrate performance undernear-design conditions.

Training: The Commissioning Author-ity must assemble written verification thattraining was conducted for all commis-sioned features and systems. The train-ing may be performed by the contractoror the Commissioning Authority utiliz-ing qualified individuals for a sufficientduration to ensure that facility staff hasall the information needed to optimallyoperate, maintain and replace the com-

Table 4: Training Issues to be Addressed by the Commissioning Authority

Training Issues

General purpose of the system (design intent)

Use of the O&M manuals

Review of control drawings and schematics

Start-up, normal operation, shutdown, unoccupied operation, seasonal changeover, manualoperation, controls set-up and programming, troubleshooting, and alarms

Interactions with other systems, adjustments and optimizing methods for energyconservation, relevant health and safety issues

Adjustments and optimizing methods for energy conservation

Relevant health and safety issues

Special maintenance and replacement sources

Tenant interaction issues

Discussion of how the feature or system is environmentally responsive

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missioned features and systems. Train-ing must address the issues in Table 4.

O&M Manuals: The CommissioningAuthority must review the operations andmaintenance (O&M) manuals for allcommissioned systems and assemblies forcompleteness and applicability. TheO&M data must be bound in labeledbinders liberally divided with tabs, or pro-vided electronically, to provide efficientaccess. Manuals should include: name,

address and telephone number of themanufacturer or vendor and installingcontractor; submittal data; and opera-tions and maintenance instructions withthe model and features for this site clearlymarked. The manual should only includedata for equipment that is actually in-stalled.

Data requirements include: instructionsfor installation, maintenance, replace-ment, start-up, special maintenance and

replacement sources, a parts list, a list ofspecial tools, performance data, and war-ranty information.

The manual should also include a docu-mentation package on as-built controls thatincludes a narrative for normal operation,shutdown, unoccupied operation, seasonalchangeover, manual operation, controls

setup and programming, troubleshooting,alarms, control drawings and schematicsand final sequences of operation.

Commissioning Report: A commission-ing report must be presented to the owner

within a reasonable time after occupancy.The report must include a list of eachcommissioned system and assembly, aswell as the disposition of the Commis-sioning Authority regarding the systemsor assemblys compliance with the ownersproject requirements. Required compo-nents of the commissioning report arelisted in Table 5.

The written list of all outstanding com-missioning issues and any testing that isscheduled for a later date, justified by sea-sonal conditions, must be included. Alist of any compromises in the environ-mentally responsive features must be pro-vided. All outstanding environmentallyresponsive feature deficiencies must becorrected or listed in the commissioningreport. All completed functional testsshould be listed in an appendix to thecommissioning report.

Technologies

Commissioning is a process, not a tech-nology that can be purchased. Use theUSGBC membership listing (sort by Pro-fessional Firms: Commissioning Provid-ers), professional contacts and the Internetto find experts who understand the gov-erning energy codes and the equipmentthat contractors are likely to furnish andinstall. Several professional training and ac-creditation programs have been developedfor the commissioning process. While notrequired for LEED project certification,

owners may benefit from engaging a cre-dentialed Commissioning Authority. Seethe Resources Section.

Synergies and Trade-Offs

The commissioning process affects all sys-tems and assemblies, both static and dy-namic. Site features on the project that

Table 5: Commissioning Report Components

Commissioning Report Components

Description of the owners project

requirements

Description of the project specificationsVerification of installation (construction

checklist disposition)

Functional performance testing results

and forms

O&M documentation evaluation

Training program evaluation

Value of the commissioning process

Outstanding issues

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require commissioning attention includealternative fueling stations and exteriorlighting fixtures and systems. Water com-missioning includes irrigation systems,plumbing fixtures and plumbing infra-structure. Energy commissioning covers

HVAC systems, lighting and energy-gen-eration equipment. Commissioning ac-tivities that affect indoor environmentalquality include temperature and humid-ity controls, ventilation systems, monitor-ing equipment, occupant controls, enve-lope integrity and daylighting systems.

Resources

Web Sites

American Society of Heating, Refrig-eration and Air-Conditioning Engi-neers (ASHRAE)

www.ashrae.org, (800) 527-4723

Provides a two-day introductory courseon the commissioning process. ASHRAEGuideline 0P, The Commissioning Process,is being developed.

Building Commissioning Association

www.bcxa.org, (425) 774-6909

Promotes building commissioning prac-tices that maintain high professional stan-dards and fulfill building owners expec-tations. The association offers a five-dayintensive course focusing on how toimplement the commissioning process,intended for Commissioning Authoritieswith at least two years experience.

Federal Energy Management ProgramBuilding Commissioning Guide

www.eren.do e. gov/ fe mp/tec ha ssi st /bldgcomgd.html

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 requireseach federal agency to adopt proceduresnecessary to ensure that new federal build-ings meet or exceed the federal buildingenergy standards established by the U.S.Department of Energy (DOE). DOEsFederal Energy Management Program, in

cooperation with the General Services Ad-ministration, developed the BuildingCommissioning Guide.

Oregon Office of Energy, Commission-ing for Better Buildings in Oregon

ww w.ene rgy. st at e.o r.us /b us /comm/bldgcx, (503) 378-5697

This document (and Web site of the samename) contains a comprehensive intro-duction to the commissioning process,including research, financial benefits andcase studies.

Portland Energy Conservation Inc.(PECI)

PECI Model Building CommissioningPlan and Guide Specifications

www.peci.org, (503) 248-4636

Details the commissioning process for newequipment during design and constructionphases for larger projects. In addition tocommissioning guidelines, the documentprovides boilerplate language, content, for-mat and forms for specifying and execut-ing commissioning. The document buildsupon the HVAC Commissioning Process,ASHRAE Guideline 11996, with signifi-cant additional detail, clarification and in-terpretation. The document contains fourparts, totaling over 500 pages:

Part I. Commissioning RequirementsDesign Phase: Commissioning require-ments of the design team, including a fullsolicitation for commissioning services.

Part II. Model Commissioning PlanDesign Phase: Detailed commissioningboilerplate plan for commissioning dur-ing design, including design intent andbasis of design format for 15 system types.

Part III. Commissioning Guide Specifi-cations: A comprehensive guide orga-nized by specification sections coveringprotocols, procedures and responsibilitiesof all parties. Includes complete specifi-cation language for Divisions 1, 15, and16. This part includes testing require-ments for 15 system types. Also included

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are detailed construction checklists for 20types of equipment and example func-tional test procedures for 30 system types.

Part IV. Model Commissioning PlanConstruction Phase: Modular commis-

sioning plans with 30 representative formsto facilitate the commissioning process.

University of Wisconsin, Madison,Department of Engineering Profes-sional Development

epdwww.engr.wisc.edu, (800) 462-0876

Offers commissioning process trainingcourses for building owners, architects, en-gineers, operations and maintenance staff,and other interested parties. The programalso offers accreditation of commissioning

process providers and managers.

Print Media

ASHRAE Guidel ine 11996 : TheHVAC Commissioning Process, Ameri-can Society of Heating, Refrigerating andAir-Conditioning Engineers, 1996.


The purpose of this guideline is to de-scribe the commissioning process to en-sure that heating, ventilating and air-con-

ditioning (HVAC) systems perform inconformity with design intent. The pro-cedures, methods and documentation re-quirements in this guideline cover eachphase of the commissioning process forall types and sizes of HVAC systems, frompre-design through final acceptance andpost-occupancy, including changes inbuilding and occupancy requirements af-ter initial occupancy.

ASHRAE Guideline 41993: Prepara-

tion of Operations & MaintenanceDocumentation for Building Systems,American Society of Heating, Refrigerat-ing and Air-Conditioning Engineers,1993.

The purpose of this guideline is to guideindividuals responsible for the design,construction and commissioning of

HVAC building systems in preparing anddelivering O&M documentation. Theguideline addresses format, contents, de-livery and maintenance of HVAC build-ing systems O&M documentation nor-mally provided by the building design and

construction team members.

Sustainable Building TechnicalManual, Public Technology, Inc., 1996(www.pti.org).

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Minimum Energy Performance

Intent

Establish the minimum level of energy efficiency for the base building and systems.

Requirements

Design the building to comply with ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999 (withoutamendments) or the local energy code, whichever is more stringent.

Submittals

Provide a LEED Letter Template, signed by a licensed professional engineer orarchitect, stating that the building complies with ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-1999 orlocal energy codes. If local energy codes were applied, demonstrate that the localcode is equivalent to, or more stringent than, ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-1999 (with-out amendments).

Summary of Referenced Standard

ASHRAE/IESNA 90.11999: Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Resi-dential

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers


Standard 90.11999 was formulated by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerat-ing and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE), under an American NationalStandards Institute (ANSI) consensus process. The project committee consisted of

more than 50 individuals and organizations interested in commercial building energycodes for non-residential projects (commercial, institutional, and some portions ofindustrial buildings) as well as for high-rise residential buildings. The IlluminatingEngineering Society of North America (IESNA) is a joint sponsor of the standard. Thestandard is also the basis of Chapter 7 of the International Code Councils 2001 Inter-national Energy Conservation Code, and forms the basis for many of the commercialrequirements in codes that states consider for adoption. U.S. state energy codes thatare equivalent or more stringent than the referenced standard are identified on theU.S. Department of Energys Building Energy Codes Web site (see the Resources sec-tion for more details).

Standard 90.1 establishes minimum requirements for the energy-efficient design of

buildings, except low-rise residential buildings. The provisions of this standard do notapply to single-family houses, multifamily structures of three habitable stories or fewerabove grade, manufactured houses (mobile and modular homes), buildings that do notuse either electricity or fossil fuel, or equipment and portions of building systems thatuse energy primarily for industrial, manufacturing or commercial processes. Buildingenvelope requirements are provided for semi-heated spaces, such as warehouses.

The standard provides criteria in the following general categories: building envelope(section 5); heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (section 6); service water heating

Prerequisite 2

Required

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Table 1: Scope of Requirements Addressed by

ASHRAE 90.1-1999

Components

Building Envelope

Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning

Service Water Heating

Electric Power DistributionElectric Motors and Drives

Lighting

(section 7); power (section 8); lighting (section 9); and other equipment (section 10).Within each section, there are mandatory provisions that must always be compliedwith, as well as additional prescriptive requirements. Some sections also contain aperformance alternate. The Energy Cost Budget option (section 11) allows the user toexceed some of the prescriptive requirements provided energy cost savings are made inother prescribed areas. However, in all cases, the mandatory provisions must still be

met. See Design Strategies below for a more detailed summary of the requirementsincluded in each section.

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IDEASS WE MR EQGreen Building Concerns

Traditional development paradigms thathave dominated building design for thepast 50 years assume off-site generation,transmission and delivery of energy.

While a case can be made that off-sitegeneration has enabled developers to uti-lize space more productively, the benefitsgained have come at a high environmen-tal cost.

The evidence demonstrating that com-bustion of fossil fuels (CO

2and NO

x) is

linked to global warming continues tomount even as we continue to extract andburn these fuels at an increasing rate.Deregulated energy markets have enabled

hydroelectric generation activities to mar-ket their electricity in regions unaffectedby the regional impacts that dams canhave on endangered species. Habitat pro-tection is becoming a critical element ofpower planning and allocation efforts.Nuclear power continues to be contro-versial due to security and environmentalissues related to waste reprocessing, trans-portation and storage. As the side effectsassociated with energy use become betterunderstood, the demand for energy effi-

ciency and renewable energy continues togrow.


Natural resource extraction, air pollutionand water pollution can be greatly reducedby minimizing consumption of non-re-newable energy resources. Refer to theintroduction of the Energy & Atmospheresection for more information.

Economic Issues

Complying with the requirements asstated in the ASHRAE/IESNA 90.11999 standard decreases operating costsby reducing total energy consumption aswell as time of day or time of seasondemand charges. The reduced total en-ergy demand for a building also maytranslate into reduced first costs. For ex-

ample, integrated design features may al-low for smaller HVAC equipment. Lo-cal utility rebate programs and incentivesfrom the state energy office are sometimesavailable for energy-efficient design andequipment.

Community Issues

Reduced dependence on fossil fuels forheating and cooling reduces air pollutantlevels in urban areas. The EPA reports thatabout one out of every three people inthe United States is at a high risk of expe-riencing adverse health effects fromground-level ozone (smog).

Design Approach

This prerequisite requires that the build-ing comply with ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-1999 or the local code, whichever is morestringent. For a general sense of how Stan-dard 90.1-1999 compares with an indi-vidual state energy code, see the U.S.Department of Energys Building EnergyCodes Web site (see the Resources sec-tion). LEED compliance and credits,however, are determined for a specificbuilding. Consequently, it is necessary

to go beyond simple or general compari-sons. It is necessary to look at the require-ments applicable to the proposed design,such as the specific building envelope sys-tems, mechanical systems and lightinguses.

Where both Standard 90.1 and the localcode contain a provision that addressesthe same topic (e.g., lighting power al-lowances for office space), it is usually easyto identify which document has the more

stringent provision. Sometimes, however,Standard 90.1 and the local code will sub-divide areas in different ways (e.g., Stan-dard 90.1 contains four categories of in-sulation requirements for walls abovegrade, while a local code may only haveone or two categories), and Standard 90.1might have the more stringent provisions

Prerequisite 2

Credit Synergies

EA Prerequisite 1Fundamental BuildingSystems Commissioning

EA Prerequisite 3CFC Reduction inHVAC&R Equipment


EA Credit 2Renewable Energy


EA Credit 5Measurement &Verification


EQ Credit 1Carbon Dioxide (CO

2)

Monitoring

EQ Credit 2Increase VentilationEffectiveness




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Strategies

Each section of Standard 90.1-1999 de-

scribes the applicability of the provisions(e.g., definitions and the building ele-ments of interest), lists the mandatoryprovisions, and offers a prescriptive pathor a performance path to demonstratecompliance.

Building Envelope is addressed in Sec-tion 5 of the referenced standard and in-cludes three parts that must be satisfiedto earn this prerequisite: 5.1, 5.2, and5.3; OR 5.1, 5.2, and 5.4; OR 5.1, 5.2,

and 11. The building envelope measuresapply to enclosed spaces heated by a heat-ing system whose output capacity is equalto or greater than 3.4 Btu/hour-squarefoot or cooled by a cooling system whosesensible output capacity is equal to orgreater than 5 Btu/hour-square foot. Part5.1 differentiates between the exteriorenvelope components and semi-exteriorenvelope components (5.1.1), as well asindicating how semi-heated spaces are tobe treated (5.1.4). These definitions arehelpful in determining the correct valuesto use in subsequent charts. Part 5.2 de-scribes mandatory provisions for insula-tion installation (5.2.1), window, skylightand door ratings (5.2.2), and air leakage(5.2.3). Part 5.3 contains the prescrip-tive provisions for insulation for opaqueassemblies (5.3.1) and U-factor andSHGC for fenestration (5.3.2).

These prescriptive provisions are custom-ized for the location and climate of the

project. The format is shown in an in-structive example table (Table 5.3). Lo-cations are listed alphabetically by statein Appendix D, with a cross-reference tothe appropriate building envelope table.The prescriptive building envelope tablesfor the various climates are located inAppendix B. To use the prescriptive pro-

visions, the window area must be less than50% of the gross wall area and the sky-light area must be less than 5% of thegross roof area. In some instances, thisprescriptive approach may not be pre-ferred because the designer may wish to

use certain envelope assemblies that donot comply or the designer may wish touse larger fenestration areas. In thesecases, the alternate path in Section 5.4explains the Building Envelope Trade-offOption that can be followed for compli-ance. If the designer does not wish todemonstrate compliance using Sections5.3 or 5.4, the last option is to analyzethe entire building using the Energy CostBudget method in Section 11. The Build-

ing Envelope section does not addressmoisture control or provide design guide-lines to prevent moisture migration.

Heating Ventilation and Air Condition-ingis addressed in Section 6 and includesthree paths to demonstrate compliancewith the standard: 6.1.3; OR 6.2 and 6.3;OR 6.2 and 11. Part 6.1.3 describes anapproach that may be used for buildingsthat: 1) are two stories or less and 2) are25,000 square feet or less. This is the sim-plest path to compliance for small build-ings.

Part 6.2 contains the mandatory provi-sions. Tables include mandatory perfor-mance levels based on equipment size(6.2.1). The tables also provide efficiencylevels that took effect in 2001. Minimumcontrol schemes are listed for thermostats,off-hours including setback and optimumstart, stair and elevator vents, outdoor airsupply and exhaust vents, heat pump aux-iliary heat, enclosed parking garage ven-

tilation, humidification and dehumidifi-cation, freeze protection and snow/icemelting systems, and ventilation for highoccupancy areas(6.2.3); as well as mini-mum duct construction and duct andpipe insulation criteria (6.2.4).

Part 6.3 provides a prescriptive compli-ance option. Prescriptive provisions are

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IDEASS WE MR EQincluded for air and water economizers(6.3.1); simultaneous heating and cool-ing limitations (6.3.2); air system designand control including fan power limita-tion and variable speed drive (6.3.3); hy-dronic system design and control includ-

ing variable flow pumping (6.3.4); heatrejection equipment (6.3.5); energy recov-ery from exhaust air and condenser water(6.3.6); kitchen and fume exhaust hoods(6.3.7); radiant heating systems (6.3.8);and hot gas bypass limitations (6.3.9).Here again, the alternate is Section 11,the Energy Cost Budget Method.

Service Water Heatingis addressed in Sec-tion 7. This section follows a similar pat-tern of mandatory minimum provisions

(7.2) and then a choice of prescriptive (7.3)or performance based compliance (11).There are mandatory provisions for effi-ciency (7.2.2), piping insulation (7.2.3),controls 7.2.4), pool heaters and pool cov-ers (7.2.5), and heat traps for storage tanks(7.2.6). If the system is a combination spaceheating and water heating system and meetscertain prescriptive thresholds (7.3.1), nofurther demonstration of service water heat-ing compliance is required. If the thresh-olds are not met, the Energy Cost BudgetMethod must be followed to demonstratecompliance.

Power provisions are addressed in Section8. This section only contains mandatoryprovisions (8.2). There are no prescrip-tive provisions. Voltage drop is limited(8.2.1) and a set of manuals and as-builtdrawings must be provided to the ownerto document the power distribution sys-tem and all major pieces of equipment(8.2.2).

Lighting is addressed in Section 9. Thereis a mandatory provision subsection (9.2)that describes minimum requirements forcontrols (9.2.1), tandem wiring (9.2.2),luminaire source efficacy for exit signs(9.2.3), interior lighting power definitions(9.2.5), and luminaire source efficacy forexterior lighting fixture (9.2.6). A pre-

scriptive path (9.3) with two calculationmethods for interior lighting (9.3.1) andone calculation method for exterior light-ing (9.3.2) can be employed to show fi-nal compliance.

For interior lighting, Building Area Methodcalculations (9.3.1.1) can only be used incases where the project involves the entirebuilding, or a single independent occupancywithin a multi-occupancy building. Select-ing the allowable lighting power densityfrom a building type table and multiplyingby the project area calculates the lightingbudget allowance. If the total proposedlighting power density is lower than the in-terior lighting power allowance, the projectcomplies. It is the simplest calculation meth-

odology for lighting.The Space-by-Space Method calculations(9.3.1.2) are applied to mixed-useprojects. The method essentially aggre-gates multiple instances of building areamethod calculations for different occu-pancies. Trade-offs between differentspaces are allowed as long as the total pro-posed lighting power density is less thanthe sum of the lighting power budget al-lowances for all individual occupancies.

If the Energy Budget Cost Method is usedfor the overall building compliance, theproposed lighting design in the EnergyBudget Cost Method model must bebased on the lighting power density re-quirements of the prescriptive methodsto demonstrate compliance.

Other Equipment including electricmotors is addressed in Section 10. Thissection only contains mandatory provi-sions (10.2). There are no prescriptive

provisions. All motors must comply withthe requirements of the U.S. EnergyPolicy Act (EPAct) of 1992 (10.2).

The Energy Cost Budget Methodis pre-sented in Section 11 and describes the pro-cess to setup and execute a building simu-lation to demonstrate compliance. This isthe alternate to following the prescriptive

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provisions of this standard. It may be ap-plied to all proposed designs to demonstratecompliance with the standard EXCEPTthose designs that include no mechanicalsystem. Note that this method must be usedto claim EA Credit 1: Optimize Energy

Performance. Therefore, it is desirable tobegin work on the simulation as soon aspossible so that the energy efficiency ben-efits of various strategies can be evaluatedearly in the design process when there isthe most flexibility. EA Credit 1 includesmore detailed discussion of the Energy CostBudget Method.

Synergies and Trade-Offs

The ASHRAE 90.1 standard is designed

to afford significant trade-offs in energyefficiency measures while holding the to-tal energy budget of a building constantor reducing it. Even for the basic com-pliance path, there are options to tradeoff within each of the Envelope, HVAC,Water Heating, Power and Lighting sec-tions. Appropriate ventilation must beincluded in energy efficiency efforts toensure optimal indoor air quality.

Calculations

Follow the calculation and documentationmethodology as prescribed in the referencedstandard. Record all calculations on theappropriate ASHRAE forms. Provide theseforms to USGBC if the credit is auditedduring the LEED certification review. EACredit 1 includes detailed discussion of theEnergy Cost Budget Method and the LEEDEnergy Modeling Protocol.

Resources

Web Sites

Advanced Buildings

www.advancedbuildings.org

Hosted by a Canadian public/private con-sortium, this site provides explanations,costs, and information sources for 90 tech-nologies and practices that improve the en-

ergy and resource efficiency of commercialand multi-unit residential buildings.

American Council for an Energy Effi-cient Economy

www.aceee.org, (202) 429-8873

ACEEE is a nonprofit organization dedi-cated to advancing energy efficiency as ameans of promoting both economic pros-perity and environmental protection.

ENERGY STAR Buildings UpgradeManual

www.energystar.gov (Tools & Resourcessection), (888) 782-7937

This document from the EPA is a guidefor ENERGYSTARBuildings Partners to use

in planning and implementing profitableenergy-efficiency upgrades in their facili-ties and can be used as a comprehensiveframework for an energy strategy.

New Buildings Institute

www.newbuildings.org, (509) 493-4468

The New Buildings Institute is a non-profit, public-benefits corporation dedi-cated to making buildings better forpeople and the environment. Its missionis to promote energy efficiency in build-

ings through technology research, guide-lines and codes.

U.S. Department of Energys BuildingEnergy Codes Program

www.energycodes.gov

The Building Energy Codes program pro-vides comprehensive resources for statesand code users, including news, compli-ance software, code comparisons and theStatus of State Energy Codes database.The database includes state energy con-tacts, code status, code history, DOEgrants awarded and construction data.

U.S. Department of Energys Office ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

www.eere.energy.gov, (800) DIAL-DOE

A comprehensive resource for Depart-ment of Energy information on energy

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Prerequisite 2

efficiency and renewable energy, includ-ing access to energy links anddownloadable documents.

Print Media

ASHRAE Standard 90.11999 Users

Manual, ASHRAE, 1999.

The new 90.11999 Users Manual wasdeveloped as a companion document tothe ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.11999 (Energy Standard for Buildings Ex-cept Low-Rise Residential Buildings).The Users Manual explains the new stan-dard and includes sample calculations,useful reference material, and informationon the intent and application of the stan-dard. The manual is abundantly illus-

trated and contains numerous examplesand tables of reference data. The manualalso includes a complete set of compli-ance forms and worksheets that can beused to document compliance with thestandard.

The Users Manual is helpful to architectsand engineers applying the standard tothe design of buildings; plan examinersand field inspectors who must enforce thestandard in areas where it is adopted as

code; and contractors who must constructbuildings in compliance with the stan-dard. A compact disc accompanies theUsers Manual and contains the EnvStd4.0 Computer Program for performingbuilding envelope trade-offs, plus elec-tronic versions of the compliance formsfound in the Users Manual.

Commercial Lighting Efficiency Re-source Book, EPRI, 1991.

Sustainable Building Technical

Manual, Public Technology, Inc., 1996.

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Intent

Reduce ozone depletion.

Requirements

Zero use of CFC-based refrigerants in new base building HVAC&R systems. Whenreusing existing base building HVAC equipment, complete a comprehensive CFC phase-out conversion.

Submittals

Provide a LEED Letter Template, signed by a licensed professional engineer orarchitect, declaring that the buildings HVAC&R systems do not use CFC-basedrefrigerants.


There is no standard referenced for this credit.

Prerequisite 3

Required

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Credit Synergies



EA Credit 4Ozone Depletion

MR Credit 1Building Reuse

Green Building Concerns

Older refrigeration equipment uses chlorof-luorocarbons (CFCs) in refrigerants. CFCsare the root cause of serious environmentaland health problems. The reaction between

a CFC and an ozone molecule in the earthsstratosphere destroys the ozone and reducesthe stratospheres ability to absorb a por-tion of the suns ultraviolet (UV) radiation.Overexposure to UV rays can lead to skincancer, cataracts and weakened immunesystems. Increased UV can also lead to re-duced crop yield and disruptions in themarine food chain.

CFCs fall into a larger category of ozone-depleting substances (ODSs). The United

States is one of the worlds largest emittersof ODSs. As such, actions taken in theUnited States to limit the release of ODSshave a significant impact on global ODSrelease. Recognizing the profound humanhealth risks associated with ozone depletion,160 countries have agreed to follow theMontreal Protocol on Substances that De-plete the Ozone Layer since the late 1980s.This treaty includes a timetable for thephase-out of production and use of ODSs.In compliance with the Montreal Protocol,

CFC production in the United States endedin 1995.

As part of the U.S. commitment to imple-menting the Montreal Protocol, Congressadded new provisions to the Clean AirAct designed to help preserve and protectthe stratospheric ozone layer. Theseamendments require the U.S. Environ-mental Protection Agency (EPA) to de-velop and implement regulations for theresponsible management of ozone-deplet-

ing substances in the United States. EPAregulations include programs that endedthe domestic production of ODSs, iden-tified safe and effective alternatives toODSs, and require manufacturers to la-bel products either containing or madewith chemicals that have a significantozone-depleting potential.


Leaks in refrigeration circuits result in CFCreleases into the atmosphere. CFCs destroystratospheric ozone molecules through acatalytic reaction that splits the molecule.

The reaction renders the ozone incapableof shielding the earth against incoming ul-traviolet radiation. CFCs in the stratospherealso absorb infrared radiation and functionas potent greenhouse gases.

Banning the use of CFCs in refrigerantsslows the depletion of the ozone layer andreduces the accumulation of greenhousegases and the potential for global climatechange. Thoughtfully choosing equipmentcan also result in greater energy efficiency.

Economic IssuesCFC production in the United States wascompletely phased out by the end of1995. Although it is possible to obtainCFC refrigerants from existing stocks(both virgin and recycled), competitionfor these materials will increase dramati-cally in the future. Shrinking suppliescombined with continued demand hasincreased the cost of the remaining CFCstockpile higher, thus altering the eco-

nomics of refrigerant and fire suppressionsystem conversion.

Specification of non-CFC building equip-ment is now standard as no new systemsutilizing CFCs are being manufactured.Existing building renovations will requireadditional first costs to convert or replacesystems currently using CFCs. Most newnon-CFC HVAC systems and refrigerantsare cost-competitive with CFC equip-ment. Replacement rather than conver-sion of HVAC systems may increaseequipment efficiencies and enable projectsto reap energy savings over the life of thebuilding.

Community Issues

Ozone depletion negatively affects theEarth and its inhabitants. Human beingsoverexposed to UV rays are at a higher

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ResourcesWeb Sites

Benefits of CFC Phase-out

w w w. e p a . g o v / o z o n e / g e n i n f o /benefits.html

An EPA document on the benefits ofCFC phase-out, including brief case stud-ies.

U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgencys Ozone Depletion Web site

www.epa.gov/ozone, (800) 296-1996

Provides information about the science ofozone depletion, the regulatory approachto protecting the ozone layer (includingphase-out schedules) and alternatives toozone-depleting substances.

U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgencys Significant New AlternativesPolicy (SNAP)

www.epa.gov/ozone/snap, (800) 296-

1996An EPA program to identify alternativesto ozone-depleting substances, the SNAPProgram maintains up-to-date lists ofenvironmentally friendlier substitutes forrefrigeration and air conditioning equip-ment, solvents, fire suppression systems,adhesives, coatings and other substances.

Print Materials

Building Systems Analysis & Retrofit

Manual, SMACNA, 1995.CFCs, HCFC and Halons: Professionaland Practical Guidance on Substancesthat Deplete the Ozone Layer,ASHRAE, 2000.

The Refrigerant Manual: ManagingThe Phase-Out of CFCs, BOMA Inter-national, 1993.

Prerequisite 3

Definitions

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are hydro-carbons that deplete the stratosphericozone layer.

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)

are refrigerants that cause significantly lessdepletion of the stratospheric ozone layercompared to CFCs.

Refrigerants are the working fluids ofrefrigeration cycles. They absorb heatfrom a reservoir at low temperatures andreject heat at higher temperatures.

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Credit 1Optimize Energy Performance

Intent

Achieve increasing levels of energy performance above the prerequisite standard toreduce environmental impacts associated with excessive energy use.

Requirements

Reduce design energy cost compared to the energy cost budget for energy systemsregulated by ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999 (without amendments), as dem-onstrated by a whole building simulation using the Energy Cost Budget Method de-scribed in Section 11 of the Standard.

New Bldgs. Existing Bldgs. Points

15% 5% 120% 10% 2

25% 15% 3

30% 20% 4

35% 25% 5

40% 30% 6

45% 35% 7

50% 40% 8

55% 45% 9

60% 50% 10Regulated energy systems include HVAC (heating, cooling, fans and pumps), servicehot water and interior lighting. Non-regulated systems include plug loads, exteriorlighting, garage ventilation and elevators (vertical transportation). Two methods maybe used to separate energy consumption for regulated systems. The energy consump-tion for each fuel may be prorated according to the fraction of energy used by regulatedand non-regulated energy. Alternatively, separate meters (accounting) may be createdin the energy simulation program for regulated and non-regulated energy uses.

If an analysis has been made comparing the proposed design to local energy standardsand a defensible equivalency (at minimum) to ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999has been established, then the comparison against the local code may be used in lieu of

the ASHRAE Standard.Project teams are encouraged to apply for innovation credits if the energy consump-tion of non-regulated systems is also reduced.

Submittals

Complete the LEED Letter Template incorporating a quantitative summary tableshowing the energy saving strategies incorporated in the building design.

110 points

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Credit 1

Demonstrate via summary printout from energy simulation software that the de-sign energy cost is less than the energy cost budget as defined in ASHRAE/IESNA90.1-1999, Section 11.


ASHRAE/IESNA 90.11999: Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Resi-dential

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers


Standard 90.11999 was formulated by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerat-ing and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE), under an American NationalStandards Institute (ANSI) consensus process. The project committee consisted ofmore than 50 individuals and organizations interested in commercial building energycodes for non-residential projects (commercial, institutional, and some portions ofindustrial buildings) as well as for high-rise residential buildings. The Illuminating

Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) is a joint sponsor of the standard.The standard is also the basis of Chapter 7 of the International Code Councils 2001International Energy Conservation Code, and forms the basis for many of the com-mercial requirements in codes that states consider for adoption. U.S. state energycodes that are equivalent or more stringent than the referenced standard are identifiedon the U.S. Department of Energys Building Energy Codes Web site (see the Re-sources section for more details).

Standard 90.1 establishes minimum requirements for the energy-efficient design ofbuildings, except low-rise residential buildings. The provisions of this standard do notapply to single-family houses, multifamily structures of three habitable stories or fewerabove grade, manufactured houses (mobile and modular homes), buildings that do not

use either electricity or fossil fuel, or equipment and portions of building systems thatuse energy primarily for industrial, manufacturing or commercial processes. Buildingenvelope requirements are provided for semi-heated spaces, such as warehouses.

Table 1: Scope of Requirements Addressed by ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-1999

ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-1999 Components

Section 5: Building Envelope (including semi-heated spaces such as warehouses)

Section 6: Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning (including parking garage ventilation,

freeze protection, exhaust air energy recovery, and condenser heat recovery for servicewater heating)

Section 7: Service Water Heating (including swimming pools)

Section 8: Power (including all building power distribution systems)

Section 9: Lighting (including lighting for exit signs, building exterior, grounds, and

parking garage)

Section 10: Other Equipment (including all permanently wired electrical motors)

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Credit 1

For EA Credit 1, LEED relies extensively on the performance compliance path of thestandard, the Energy Cost Budget Method (ECB Method). The method providesperformance criteria for the components listed in Table 1.

The ECB method is intended to demonstrate compliance with ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-1999 through an interactive model that allows comparison of the total energy cost for

the Proposed Design and a baseline design (Budget Building). To accomplish thisefficiently, a number of restrictions on the modeling process are imposed by the stan-dard. Examples include simplified climate data, the fact that both buildings must havea mechanical system, and that process loads are to be included in both designs. Impor-tant restrictions that must be addressed to achieve compliance with the credit are high-lighted in the Calculations section.

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Energy efficiency reduces the harmfulenvironmental side effects of energy pro-duction and use. Institution of energy-efficiency measures can be done at no cost

to occupant comfort or building services.Many energy-efficiency measures resultin a more comfortable indoor environ-ment while reducing operating and firstcosts. Even small energy savings have in-cremental effects on the environment andcost savings.


Conventional forms of energy productionhave devastating environmental effects.Production of electricity from fossil fuels

creates air and water pollution; hydroelec-tric generation plants can make water-ways uninhabitable for indigenous fish;and nuclear power has safety concerns aswell as problems with disposal of spentfuel. Refer to the Introduction of theEnergy & Atmosphere section for moreinformation.

Economic Issues

Many energy-efficiency measures do not

require additional first costs. Those mea-sures that do result in higher first costsoften create savings realized from lowerenergy use over the building lifetime,downsized equipment, reduced mechani-cal space needs, and utility rebates. Thesesavings can dwarf the increased first costs.Payback periods for many off-the-shelfenergy efficiency measures are generallyshort. With more sophisticated inte-grated design, some systems can even beeliminated.

The importance of even small energy-ef-ficiency measures is significant. For in-stance, by replacing one incandescentlamp with a fluorescent lamp, productionof three-quarters of a ton of carbon diox-ide and 15 pounds of sulfur dioxide areavoided over the lifetime of the lamp.This substitution also saves $30-$50 in

energy costs over the operating lifetimeof the lamp.

Community Issues

Energy-efficiency measures result in a morepleasant indoor environment and can in-

crease worker productivity. Forward-think-ing businesses are now actively leveragingtheir facilities as a strategic tool to attractand retain employees. Energy-efficiencymeasures result in lower and more stableenergy prices. Reduced energy use also re-sults in less global-warming potential, lim-its the impact of natural resource extractionactivities, and prevents water and pollution,benefiting everyone.

Design ApproachThe ASHRAE/IESNA 90.11999 inter-active calculation method is a powerfuland versatile tool for comparing the rela-tive costs and benefits of different energyefficiency strategies. The design case ismodeled first, and then mandatory andprescriptive provisions of the standard areapplied to devise the baseline case. Forinstance, if the design case has a passivesolar design with daylighting, then the

baseline case is based on the same build-ing geometry. The terminology used by90.11999 is used in this LEED credit.The term Design Energy Cost refers tothe design case of the project. The termEnergy Cost Budget refers to thebaseline case of the project as defined bythe standard.

The modeling methodology addressed inSection 11 of the ASHRAE/IESNA 90.11999 Users Manual describes procedures

for establishing the proposed Design En-ergy Cost and the baseline Energy CostBudget. Standard ASHRAE forms areprovided in the Users Manual. Use theseforms to track progress during paramet-ric studies and as support documents forthis credit.

It is recommended to start modeling earlyin the design process. Note that the ECB

Credit 1

Credit Synergies

SS Credit 7Landscape & ExteriorDesign to ReduceHeat Islands

EA Prerequisite 1Fundamental BuildingSystems Commissioning


EA Prerequisite 3CFC Reduction inHVAC&R Equipment


EA Credit 4Ozone Depletion

EA Credit 5Measurement &Verification

MR Credit 1Building Reuse


EQ Credit 1Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Monitoring

EQ Credit 2Increase VentilationEffectiveness




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IDEASS WE MR EQmethod starts with the Proposed Designand then backs out the Budget Building.Consequently, as the design progressesfrom schematics through final drawings,it will be necessary to revise the BudgetBuilding in response to the evolution of

the Proposed Design.

Starting the modeling early can provideinsights for design decisions and can pro-vide an early indication of what it will taketo achieve certain levels of energy cost re-ductions for a particular project. Manyenergy efficiency measures (such as bet-ter windows, more insulation, more effi-cient lighting) have impacts on both heat-ing and cooling, sometimes in a complexmanner. The modeling methodology

shows the interactive effects of energy ef-ficiency measures across all the buildingsystems. For example, when the lightingwattage is changed, this affects both theheating and cooling energy consumption.When more energy efficient lighting(lower wattage) is installed in a buildingin a hot climate with little or no heating,the model will indicate how much addi-tional energy savings there are in spacecooling (due to lower internal loads) andhow much the peak cooling equipmentcan be downsized (for first cost savings).For a cold climate, the model will show asomewhat lower cooling savings, but alsosome increase in heating (due to a lowerinternal load). In almost all cases, therewill be savings beyond that of the light-ing alone, with the most savings in thehottest climates and the least in the cold-est climates.

The unit of measure for energy perfor-mance required for this credit is the an-

nual energy cost expressed in dollars.Annual energy costs are determined us-ing rates for purchased energy such as elec-tricity, gas, oil, propane, steam and chilledwater that are approved by the adoptingauthority (e.g., state or local government).

In the absence of an adopted rate struc-ture, the applicant may propose use of the

local utility rate structure applicable to theproject. There may be uncertainty as towhat rate schedule wil l apply to theproject due to a long planning horizon,or due to deregulation of the power in-dustry in some states. In this case, use

default purchased energy costs as listedin Table 4. To earn this credit, the De-sign Energy Cost must be less than theEnergy Cost Budget.

Strategies

Three fundamental strategies can increaseenergy performance: reduce demand, har-vest free energy, and increase efficiency.Accomplish demand reduction by chal-lenging initial use assumptions, by in-

creasing plug load efficiencies, and by re-ducing internal loads and gains throughshell and lighting improvements. Har-vesting site energy includes using free re-sources such as daylight, ventilation cool-ing and solar heating to satisfy needs forspace conditioning. Finally, the efficiencyof the building HVAC system should bemaximized to meet the other buildingconditioning requirements.

This three-step approach to optimize en-ergy performance is the most effectivemethod to exceed performance require-ments of the referenced standard. Whenapplying this approach, it is important toestablish and document energy goals andexpectations, and apply modeling tech-niques to reach these goals.

Demand reduction is the first step tooptimize building energy performance.Reduce demand through design strategiessuch as reducing the overall building foot-print to decrease the total space that will

require conditioning, relaxing tempera-ture design criteria to allow for a wideracceptable range of indoor temperatures,and utilizing occupancy sensors to auto-matically turn off equipment when build-ing occupants are not present.

Lighting comprises a major fraction of acommercial buildings energy budget. For

Credit 1

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bient lighting requirements.

Harvesting free energyis the second stepin increasing building energy performanceand involves meeting as much of the en-ergy load as possible with free sourcesavailable on-site. Strategies such as turn-ing off lights when daylight is available,using cool nighttime air for ventilationcooling, and extracting thermal valuefrom the ground through geothermal ex-change are all forms of site energy har-

vesting.Building orientation is a crucial elementto harvesting site energy. Rules of thumbfor passive solar orientation and optimalbuilding sections are well developed andcan be found in references. Appropriateenvelope design and material choicesshould reflect the local climate. Consid-erations include use of the buildings ther-mal mass to mitigate diurnal temperaturevariations, strategic placement of windows

to employ natural ventilation, use of ap-propriate insulation and glazing, and useof appropriate colors to reflect or absorbheat from the sun while avoiding possibleglare problems.

To realize simple solar control, the build-ing should be aligned on an east-to-westaxis. Sun, wind and light should all beconsidered when designing the building.Solar gain through the buildings roof,walls and windows can be beneficial or

detrimental to the buildings energy per-formance. For example, exterior overhangelements can be employed to shade win-dows in summer months and allow forheat penetration in winter months. Insome climates, radiation or evaporativecooling schemes are appropriate.

Once an advantageous building orienta-

tion on the site is established, the size andposition of doors, windows and vents canbe determined based on heating, lighting,cooling and ventilating considerations.For example, the building fenestration canbe designed to optimize natural

daylighting, heating and cooling. A solarpath analysis for the site, as well as aper-ture optimization studies, can be appliedto determine optimal size, location andorientation for windows, floors and sky-lights. Glare and direct sunlight on taskareas should be minimized, and it maybe desirable to filter incoming daylightwith plants, draperies, screens, translucentshades or light-scattering glazing. Inte-rior finishes should be specified to en-

hance daylighting based on reflectance.To maximize daylight penetration, locatewindows high on walls or use clerestoriesand light shelves. Light pipes or fiber-optic devices can be used to introducedaylight in less accessible spaces. Locatestorage areas, restrooms and low-occu-pancy areas in the buildings central corewhile locating regularly occupied spacesin perimeter areas. Skylights and roofmonitors can use baffles to diffuse lightand reduce glare. Glazing should be se-lected to balance the need for light trans-mission with desired insulating and shad-ing performance. Daylighting schemescan incorporate automatic lighting con-trols to respond to available daylight.

Holes and cracks in sills, studs, joists andother building elements should beplugged, caulked or sealed to reduce oreliminate infiltration. Other air barriersinclude weather-stripping on doors andsealing gaskets on operable windows.

Thermal bridging should be avoidedwhen using materials such as metal fram-ing that conduct heat or cold throughwalls or cantilevered decks.

Increased efficiencyis the final step to-ward optimizing energy performance andis best realized through application ofstate-of-the-art equipment to meet the

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New, high-performance lighting contin-ues to evolve and become standard in the

marketplace. Recent developments in-clude the T-5 fluorescent light and ultra-high efficiency sulfur lamp. Fluorescentlamps should be selected over incandes-cent bulbs due to their markedly betterlight output per kilowatt ratio. Compactfluorescent lamps typically use 75% lessenergy and last 10 times longer than in-candescent bulbs. When using linearfluorescents, use a combination of T-5 orT-8 lamps and electronic ballasts that arehoused in fixtures with a high coefficient

of utilization (CU).For exterior lighting, use metal halidelamps, low-temperature fluorescents and/or solar powered fixtures. For emergencylighting, use highly efficient LED (light-emitting diode) ENERGYSTAR-rated exitsigns. A typical long-life incandescent exitsign consumes 40 watts and its lampsmust be replaced every eight months. Atypical compact fluorescent exit sign con-sumes 10 watts and the lamps must be

replaced every 1.7 years, on average. Atypical LED exit sign consumes less than5 watts and has a life expectancy of over80 years. Also consider electrolumines-cent signs that only use 0.5 watts.

Optimize HVAC system efficiency by notoversizing plant equipment. All compo-nents should be sized appropriately andtake into account other energy perfor-mance measures incorporated in thebuilding. Variable-air-volume (VAV) sys-

tems can be used to reduce energy useduring part-load conditions. In certainclimates, economizer cycles can take ad-vantage of free cooling using outside airwithin appropriate temperature ranges.

Size duct work appropriately and installbalancing dampers to reduce velocitylosses. Ducts with larger cross-sectional

areas have much lower air resistance andcan reduce fan energy significantly. Ductcross-section shapes such as round or ovalduct work can further reduce ventilationlosses. Lower air speeds in ducts reduceenergy needs and noise. Duct work should

be insulated and sealed. Indoor air qual-ity issues should also be considered whenselecting and installing duct insulation.

Specify high-performance chillers andmultiple chillers of various sizes to be step-engaged in order to efficiently meet par-tial load demands. Specify high-efficiencymotors for all applications and variablespeed drives for fans, chillers and pumps.

Use tank insulation, anti-convectionvalves, heat traps and smaller heaters withhigh recovery rates to reduce energy re-quirements for service water heating,pumping and purification. Time-of-daycontrols can further optimize energy per-formance.

Consider installing an effective energymanagement and control system or a di-rect digital control (DDC) electronic sys-tem. A good energy management systemwill facilitate smooth building start-upsand shutdowns as well as optimize effi-

ciency and occupant comfort. Controlof the management system should includezone-level controls. Occupancy sensorscan be used to light spaces only whenpeople are present, resulting in lightingenergy savings of up to 60%.

Distributed Generation (DG) and Co-generation (Cogen) can be used to in-crease delivered energy efficiency and re-utilize waste energy from existing processloads. Cogeneration, also known as Com-

bined Heat and Power (CHP), is the si-multaneous production of electricity anduseful heat from the same fuel or energy.Distributed Generation is the use ofsmall-scale power generation technologieslocated at or close to the load being served.Because no long-range transmission ofelectricity generated on-site is required

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Table 2: Bounding Comfort Parameters

Temperature Range Hours allowed

85 +

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Design criteria, both climate data andinterior set points, must be the same forthe proposed and budget building mod-els. For example, if the ASHRAE 2.5%climate data is used for the proposed de-sign, it must also be used for the baseline

or budget case.

Buildings that elect to follow thermalcomfort indoor design criteria that meetASHRAE Standard 551992 should alsopursue Environmental Quality Credit 7.The EMP recognizes that the design cri-teria for a green building are often differ-ent than those used for a conventionalbuilding, and less stringent indoor designcriteria than Standard 551992 may befollowed. In an effort to keep energy

use comparisons consistent and related toa common definition of comfort condi-tions, LEED defines some bounding pa-rameters for a minimum level of comfortduring occupied hours. The boundingparameters are listed in Table 2.

To assure compliance, the applicant mustdetermine if the project is within thebounding parameters by inspection ofvalues shown on the Building EnergyPerformance Summary (BEPU) report

generated by most energy-simulation soft-ware.

This report typically provides a messagethat describes percent of hours any sys-tem zone outside of throttling range and/or percent of hours any plant load notsatisfied. If a building falls outside ofthese parameters because it uses non-tem-perature-based comfort parameters, ademonstration of minimum comfort us-ing the ASHRAE comfort zone depicted

on a psychrometric chart is required.HVAC systems are generally the samebasic type in the proposed and the bud-get cases. It is assumed that any trade-offs are made between more or less effi-cient versions of the chosen system. Inefforts to reduce gaming and to simplifythe determination of code compliance,

the standard has a restricted set of HVACsystems that must be used in the BudgetBuilding (baseline) model. Use the ECBMethod to determine the Budget HVACsystem type. Tables are provided in the90.1 Users Manual for selecting the ter-

minal system and plant configuration.

The LEED EMP makes one exception tothis rule. For proposed equipment withless than 150 tons of cooling capacity, thebaseline (budget building) condensercooling source can be defined as air re-gardless of the proposed design. The pur-pose of this exception is to encouragedesigners to specify more efficient water-based cooling systems over air-based cool-ing systems in smaller equipment sizes.

HVAC systems in green buildings aresometimes hybrid or experimental in na-ture. It may be necessary to approximatesome or all of the functional aspects ofexperimental systems. To conduct thesimulation, an analog mechanical systemmust be created. The simulation mustbe a thermodynamically similar modelthat can be used to simulate passive con-ditioning schemes.

For example, there are few energy simu-

lation computer programs that can modelan under-floor ventilation system. To cre-ate a modeling analog of this system, aconventional VAV system could be mod-eled with 63F supply air, extendedeconomizer hours, and a taller return airplenum modeled to capture all of the heatfrom lights and some fraction of the inte-rior gains such as plug loads. Energymodeling judgment is required to createthis representation, and should be com-

pleted by an experienced energy analyst.Use the LEED Credit Interpretation pro-cess to have special modeling approachesapproved.

Both the ECB Method and the LEEDEMP assume that even if a heating orcooling system is not installed at the timeof construction, future occupants might

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elect to use energy-consuming temporarymeasures for conditioning needs. Specialcases of absent heating or cooling systemsrequire the modeling of a default systemto establish the ECB.

For example, in a building cooled onlybypassive ventilation, occupants may resortto personal space fans in large numbers,eliminating the expected energy savings.Buildings that do not have one of thesesystems must have the ECB modeled withan HVAC system that meets the mini-mum Prescriptive Requirements of thereferenced standard.

The approach described above may cre-ate problems when a green, non-conven-tional system is proposed. If no clearHVAC System Map (Table 11.4.3) choiceis apparent, then no clear set of prescrip-tive values for the default green systemexists. In other cases, the HVAC SystemMap would lead the modeler to concludethat a baseline system quite different thanthe proposed design should be selected.This decision conflicts with the ASHRAESection 11 approach of holding thebaseline and design systems constant todetermine energy savings. When in

doubt, use the Credit Interpretation pro-cess to have system modeling choices ap-proved.

Fan energy is separated from the coolingsystem in the ECB Method. Thus, if theHVAC manufacturer provides an overallefficiency rating, such as an energy effi-ciency ratio (EER), it must be separatedinto the component energy using the co-efficient of performance (COP) or otherconversion factors. See Section 11.4.3 of

the Users Manual for more information.Outdoor air ventilation can be a majorenergy consumer but it is not consideredan opportunity for energy savings usingthe referenced standard. Ventilation ratesmust be the same in both the proposedand budget building designs. If heat re-covery is required (see Section 6.3.6.1),

then it must be modeled in both cases.See Section 11.4.3d of the Users Manualfor more information.

Envelope criteriaof special significanceinclude roof and shading devices. Reflec-

tive roofs that have lower heat absorptioncan be modeled differently and are givencredit for reduced heat gains. If the re-flective roof is rated at a minimum reflec-tance of 0.70 and a minimum emittanceof 0.75, the project is not required to usethe default 0.30 value. Qualifying roofscan use a modeled value of 0.45 whichaccounts for age degradation of the roofover time.

Overhangs and other shading projec-tionsin the proposed design can receivecredit against fenestration flush to theexterior wall of the Budget Building ifthese features reduce the solar gains onthe glazing. The modeler should includethe differences between the budget andproposed cases as appropriate. Interiorshading devices such a mini-blinds andcurtains that are not permanent cannotbe used in the ECB Method to reduceenergy costs of the proposed case belowthe budget. Interior shading devices must

be modeled identically for the proposedand budget cases. See Section 11.4.2 ofthe 90.1-1999 Users Manual for an ex-planation.

Lighting is to be modeled the same ex-cept as identified in 11.4.5. For lighting,credit can be taken for lower installedlighting wattage. Lighting controls (pri-marily automatic shutoff) are modeledusing lighting schedules. Daylightingcontrols are not modeled in the budget

building, but may be modeled in the pro-posed building design. If modeled, thecontrols must be based on the responseto daylight levels, not a change in thelighting schedule. See 90.1 Section 11.4.5for more information.

Other systems regulated by Standard90.1-1999 include: parking garage venti-

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lation (6.2.3.5), freeze protection

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