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LEED v2009
Commercial Interiors
Energy and Atmosphere
Measurement and Verification

LEED CREDIT

CI-2009 EAc3: Measurement and Verification 2-5 points

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Requirements

Case 1. Projects Less Than 75% of the Total Building Area
Complete 1 or more of the following:
  • Install submetering equipment to measure and record energy use within the tenant space. (2 points)
  • Negotiate a lease whereby energy costs are paid by the tenant and not included in the base rent. (3 points)

OR

Case 2. Projects 75% or More of the Total Building Area
OPTION 1
Develop and implement a measurement and verification (M&V) plan consistent with Option D: Calibrated Simulation (Savings Estimation Method 2) as specified in the International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocol (IPMVP) Volume III: Concepts and Options for Determining Energy Savings in New Construction, April 2003. The M&V period must cover at least 1 year of post-construction occupancy. Provide a process for corrective action if the results of the M&V plan indicate that energy savings are not being achieved. OR
OPTION 2
Develop and implement a measurement and verification (M&V) plan consistent with Option B: Energy Conservation Measure Isolation, as specified in the International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocol (IPMVP) Volume III: Concepts and Options for Determining Energy Savings in New Construction, April 2003. The M&V period must cover at least 1 year of post-construction occupancy. Provide a process for corrective action if the results of the M&V plan indicate that energy savings are not being achieved. See all forum discussions about this credit »

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Addenda

1/8/2010Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Insert the term "Tenant space" in alphabetical order with the accompanying text "Tenant space is the area within the LEED project boundary. For more information on what can and must be in the LEED project boundary see the Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) and LEED 2009 MPR Supplemental Guidance. Note: tenant space is the same as project space."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
4/1/2012Updated: 2/14/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Under CASE 2, replace language in its entirety with Options 1 and 2 from BD+C EA Credit 5: Measurement and Verification: "Option 1Develop and implement a measurement and verification (M&V) plan consistent with Option D: Calibrated Simulation (Savings Estimation Method 2) as specified in the International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocol (IPMVP) Volume III: Concepts and Options for Determining Energy Savings in New Construction, April 2003.The M&V period must cover at least 1 year of post-construction occupancy.Provide a process for corrective action if the results of the M&V plan indicate that energy savings are not being achieved.OROption 2Develop and implement a measurement and verification (M&V) plan consistent with Option B: Energy Conservation Measure Isolation, as specified in the International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocol (IPMVP) Volume III: Concepts and Options for Determining Energy Savings in New Construction, April 2003. The M&V period must cover at least 1 year of post-construction occupancy.Provide a process for corrective action if the results of the M&V plan indicate that energy savings are not being achieved."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
1/8/2010Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Insert the term "Tenant space" in alphabetical order with the accompanying text "Tenant space is the area within the LEED project boundary. For more information on what can and must be in the LEED project boundary see the Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) and LEED 2009 MPR Supplemental Guidance. Note: tenant space is the same as project space."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
1/8/2010Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Below the bulleted items, remove the following text:Develop and implement a measurement and verification (M&V) plan thatincorporates the monitoring information from the above end uses and isconsistent with Option B, C or D of the 2001 International PerformanceMeasurement & Verification Protocol (IPMVP) Volume I: Concepts andOptions for Determining Energy and Water Savings.Provide a process for corrective action if the results of the M&V planindicate that energy savings are not being achieved.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
1/8/2010Updated: 2/14/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Below the bulleted items, remove the following text:Develop and implement a measurement and verification (M&V) plan thatincorporates the monitoring information from the above end uses and isconsistent with Option B, C or D of the 2001 International PerformanceMeasurement & Verification Protocol (IPMVP) Volume I: Concepts andOptions for Determining Energy and Water Savings.Provide a process for corrective action if the results of the M&V planindicate that energy savings are not being achieved.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
4/1/2012Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Under CASE 2, replace language in its entirety with Options 1 and 2 from BD+C EA Credit 5: Measurement and Verification: "Option 1Develop and implement a measurement and verification (M&V) plan consistent with Option D: Calibrated Simulation (Savings Estimation Method 2) as specified in the International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocol (IPMVP) Volume III: Concepts and Options for Determining Energy Savings in New Construction, April 2003.The M&V period must cover at least 1 year of post-construction occupancy.Provide a process for corrective action if the results of the M&V plan indicate that energy savings are not being achieved.OROption 2Develop and implement a measurement and verification (M&V) plan consistent with Option B: Energy Conservation Measure Isolation, as specified in the International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocol (IPMVP) Volume III: Concepts and Options for Determining Energy Savings in New Construction, April 2003. The M&V period must cover at least 1 year of post-construction occupancy.Provide a process for corrective action if the results of the M&V plan indicate that energy savings are not being achieved."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
1/4/2016
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

For projects that share air handling units with spaces outside of the project boundary (shared VAV systems or shared Dedicated Outside Air Systems), the credit is not cost-effective using monitoring. This leaves prorating of the energy costs for these shared systems as the only option for achieving any points under this credit. Can energy monitoring and payment of energy costs for shared Dedicated outside air systems be excluded from credit compliance? Can energy monitoring and payment of energy costs for shared VAV air handling units be excluded from the requirements for credit compliance? If not, are there any other alternatives besides prorating shared energy costs for central systems for achieving credit compliance?

Ruling:

No, all energy consumption and cost associated with the shared air handling units must be either monitored or the energy costs must be prorated to the project space to achieve credit compliance.

However, for projects that share air handling units with spaces outside of the project boundary, the project may achieve a portion of the total available points for the credit by documenting that both the submetering and payment requirements have been met for all systems except the shared air handling units. If pursuing this option, select the Special Circumstances narrative and reference this LEED Interpretation. Using this path, a maximum of three points is available for projects with shared Dedicated Outside air systems, and a maximum of two points is available for projects with any other shared Air Handling Units.

All credit requirements for both monitoring and payment apply with the exceptions of the shared AHUs as described below:

Projects with shared Dedicated Outside Air Systems (3 points):
To document credit compliance, all energy consumption and cost associated with shared Dedicated Outside Air Systems may be excluded. Shared Dedicated Outside Air systems are air handling units that provide 100% outside air both to systems or spaces within and outside of the project boundary. Any additional cooling and heating energy in the project space (e.g. VAV reheat, or CHW and HHW for fan coils) must be included by monitoring and payment of the associated energy costs OR by prorating of central plant energy costs to the project space.

Projects with any other shared Air Handling Units (2 points):
To document credit compliance, all energy consumption and cost associated with shared air handling units (AHUs that serve both the project space and areas outside of the project space) may be excluded. This applies for both VAV air handling units and Dedicated Outside Air systems. Any additional cooling and heating energy in the project space (e.g. VAV reheat, or CHW and HHW for fan coils) must be included by monitoring and payment of the associated energy costs OR by prorating of central plant energy costs to the project space.

Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
5/9/2011
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

Is it acceptable for LEED NC 2.2 EAc5 M&V Plans to follow the concepts of the IPMVP but limit the savings analysis in an effort to control costs, if they provide ongoing accountability and meet or exceed owners\' M&V objectives?

Ruling:

Meeting the owner\'s requirements and providing ongoing accountability of energy consumption alone do not satisfy the credit requirements. The M&V plan provided must be consistent with either Option B or Option D of IPMVP regardless of cost of implementation. Applicable internationally.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/27/2009
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

The statements of the IPMVP Volume III regarding Option D leave considerable room for interpretation. For example, Section 4.5.5 states, "parameters that change daily or hourly may warrant continuous metering." Individual task lights are an example of a modeled energy use that would likely change on an hourly basis. However, on average the task lighting may remain relatively stable when viewed at a whole building level. The term "may" is subject to interpretation by reviewers since some may interpret it to be a requirement, i.e., "shall", while others merely a suggestion. Additionally, the IPVMP does not stipulate at what level the continuous metering shall be installed. Our project is an office building that receives electricity, chilled water, and steam from a campus central energy plant. In anticipation of utilizing Option D of the IPVMP, our project plans to meter energy and water end use as follows: - Domestic water meter measuring flow in gallons per minute - Steam flow meter for building heating and domestic hot water measuring in pounds per hour - Chiller water flow meter measuring building cooling demand in gallons per minute and temperature change, i.e., BTU meter - Individual air handling unit VFDs measuring motor speed, motor current, output voltage and output frequency - Power meters at the main switchgear measuring volts, amperes, watts, volt-amperes, VARS, kilowatt-hours VAR-hours, demand kilowatts, power factor, frequency and harmonic distortion - Power meters at the distribution panelboards on each floor measuring volt, amperes, watts, volt-amperes, VARS, demand kilowatts and power factor Our project does not plan to individually meter any of the following energy end uses: - Lighting panels (lighting control system will monitor operating hours) - Task lighting - Process energy (office equipment, elevators, etc.) - Constant speed pump motors (DDC system will monitor runtime) Does this metering plan appear to meet the intent and requirements of the IPVMP Volume III and EA Credit 5? If not, what modifications are required to comply with the intent of the credit?

Ruling:

The applicant is requesting guidance for determining the extent of individually metering needed to provide the necessary feedback for calibrating their as-built energy model (IPMVP Vol. III, Option D). Based on the description provided, it is not possible to make a determination if the metering plan fully satisfies the intent and requirements of IPVMP Volume III. While it appears that many of the end-uses and systems are sub-metered and the information will be necessary for calibrating the energy model, it should be noted that it is not necessary to sub-meter everything. Assess the level of metering to do the calibration. Since the task lighting is highly variable and a direct product of occupancy, as opposed to scheduled operations, it would be acceptable that the task lighting anticipated energy use be stipulated, as offered in IPMVP Vol. III Section 4.5.3. For EAc5 compliance, the M&V plan should address the methods and approaches that seem most appropriate for measuring and verifying energy use under IPMVP Option D. Applicable internationally.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
2/20/2009
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

To meet the requirements of LEED-NC Version 2.2, EA Credit 5, we would like to use IPMVP Option C. This option is considered a low rigor option by the IPMVP because the baseline comparison in this case is with a group of buildings that are located on various sites and are supposedly similar in usage and type. In our case two identical buildings on the same campus are next to each other and have the same square footage, number of stories, size, orientation, type of use (office), the same owner and the same maintenance staff. The first building is under renovation to achieve Gold certification and the second building will be renovated in three years. It appears to us, that metering the two identical buildings simultaneously and using the actual old non-renovated building metrics as a baseline for the retrofit of the second renovated building, follows the intent, philosophy and purpose of the LEED EA Credit 5. In addition, this will give an incentive to the owner to continue with the renovation of the second building when energy savings are evaluated during the first year of operation. Is the use of the IPMVP Option C acceptable in this particular case?

Ruling:

The applicant is requesting approval to develop a Measurement and Verification (M&V) plan based on IPMVP Option C. While it appears that the baseline building will more accurately represent the proposed building than most projects conducting M&V using IPMVP Option C, the proposed approach is not acceptable. Only whole-building level performance can be measured using IPMVP Option C. IPMVP Options B and D, in addition to being more accurate, allow for the measurement and verification of performance of each energy conservation measurement (ECM). Applicable Internationally.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
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Credit achievement rate

XX%

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LEEDuser expert

Marcus Sheffer

7group / Energy Opportunities
LEED Fellow

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

Requirements

Case 1. Projects Less Than 75% of the Total Building Area
Complete 1 or more of the following:
  • Install submetering equipment to measure and record energy use within the tenant space. (2 points)
  • Negotiate a lease whereby energy costs are paid by the tenant and not included in the base rent. (3 points)

OR

Case 2. Projects 75% or More of the Total Building Area
OPTION 1
Develop and implement a measurement and verification (M&V) plan consistent with Option D: Calibrated Simulation (Savings Estimation Method 2) as specified in the International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocol (IPMVP) Volume III: Concepts and Options for Determining Energy Savings in New Construction, April 2003. The M&V period must cover at least 1 year of post-construction occupancy. Provide a process for corrective action if the results of the M&V plan indicate that energy savings are not being achieved. OR
OPTION 2
Develop and implement a measurement and verification (M&V) plan consistent with Option B: Energy Conservation Measure Isolation, as specified in the International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocol (IPMVP) Volume III: Concepts and Options for Determining Energy Savings in New Construction, April 2003. The M&V period must cover at least 1 year of post-construction occupancy. Provide a process for corrective action if the results of the M&V plan indicate that energy savings are not being achieved.

XX%

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LEEDuser expert

Marcus Sheffer

7group / Energy Opportunities
LEED Fellow

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