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Achievable prerequisite
This prerequisite is highly achievable, and worth doing, because it will give you valuable information on the performance and efficiency of your operations.
It’s all about documentation
You’ll need to develop documentation that incorporates operational best practices to earn this prerequisite. The focus is on documenting standard operating procedures (SOPs) and best practices for building personnel and establishing a baseline approximation of building energy efficiency, major end-uses, and potential opportunities to reduce energy consumption.
You’ll need to provide the following documents:
- Building Operating PlanA general documentation summarizing the intended operation of each base building system described in the systems narrative; the building operating plan may also be known as "Owner's Operating Requirements" or similar. The operating plan includes the time-of-day schedules for each system for each of the eight day types (Monday to Sunday plus holidays), the mode of operation for each system when it is running (occupied vs. unoccupied; day vs. night, etc.), and the desired indoor conditions or setpoints for each schedule or mode. The operating plan accounts for any differences in needs or desired conditions for different portions of the project building, as well as any seasonal variations in operations patterns. The plan accounts for all the monitored space conditions used to control the base systems, i.e., air temperature, relative humidity, occupancy, light level, CO2 levels, room pressurization, duct static pressure, etc.
- Systems Narrative
- Sequence of Operations
- Preventive Maintenance Plan
- Summary Report of an ASHRAE Level I Walkthrough
The ASHRAE Level I Walkthrough
The ASHRAE Level I Walkthrough involves examining utility records and mechanical systems to identify opportunities to reduce building energy consumption and operating costs. Note that the ASHRAE Level I Walkthrough is typically performed by a qualified third-party consultant, but you can also do it with in-house staff if they have the right background. The process requires you to gather energy consumption data for the entire building to derive performance indicators and identify low-cost and no-cost opportunities and capital improvement measures to improve overall performance.
If the ASHRAE audit is performed by in-house staff, refer to the ASHRAE “Procedures for Commercial Building Energy Audits” document. Guidelines for creating ASHRAE audit documentation can also be found in “EBOM ASHRAE Audit Documentation.” (See Resources for information on both documents.)
Pursuing EAc2.1: Existing Building Commissioning?
If you plan to pursue EAc2.1: Existing Building Commissioning—Investigation and Analysis, you have the option of meeting that credit with completion of an ASHRAE Level II: Energy Audit. (The other option is to commence building commissioning.) If you choose the auditing option for EAc2.1, complete the requirements for both the Level I and Level II audits at the same time.
Consider these questions when approaching this credit
- Is relevant building information in written form or at least ready to be developed and documented? Is it accessible to all relevant building personnel? Once you develop operational best practices, it’s an effective practice to make sure the whole staff has access to them.
- Has an ASHRAE Level I Walkthrough been conducted in the last five years? If so, you may not need to conduct another Level I Walkthrough during your performance period. However, the audit report must be updated to reflect any significant changes in operating procedures or building systems.
- If the ASHRAE audit has not occurred, are you in a position to perform the work in-house, or do you need to bring in an outside party?
FAQ's on LEED-EBOM EAp1
How do you generate the annual energy use breakdown by end-use?
There is more than one way to generate the annual energy use breakdown by end-use, and in most buildings it will require a combination of strategies. Start by identifying the major end-uses, and then consider which of the following strategies will work best for each end-use.
Submeters
If you have submeters installed in your building for one or more end-uses, simply track this data over a year. For end-uses that are the sole sources of consumption of a given energy type, the main building readings can be uses (e.g., if natural gas is only used for space heating).
Consumption Analysis
Generating a bar graph of consumption over the course of the year can be used to evaluate end-uses that only occur during certain months. (See graph.)
Spot Metering
Consider using spot meters to measure end-use energy consumption at the system level and extrapolate the information for a year, taking into account operational and seasonal variations. This works especially well for loads that follow a constant or regular schedule—for example, exhaust fans that run continuously all year at a constant speed.
Calculations
A final option is to determine the rated demand of equipment and estimate energy use based on run time, hours of operation, and operational and seasonal variations. You can cross-reference your results against your utility bills to confirm that your estimates are accurate (even if your bills only provide monthly totals).
What’s the difference between demand and consumption, in terms of energy costs and energy cost savings?
Demand describes the rate of electricity use and is measured as kW. Consumption is based on the actual electrical energy used, and is measured as kWhA kilowatt-hour is a unit of work or energy, measured as 1 kilowatt (1,000 watts) of power expended for 1 hour. One kWh is equivalent to 3,412 Btu.. Utilities generally levy separate charges for each, and some energy conservation measures will help to reduce both demand and consumption for electricity. Considering both paints a more accurate picture of potential cost savings and makes the results of the low-cost and no-cost improvement assessment more meaningful and useful.
Who can perform the ASHRAE Level I audit? Can it be done in-house?
Yes, the ASHRAE Level I audit can be performed in-house. The auditor must have the skills necessary to perform the audit, but otherwise does not need to hold specific credentials or be a third-party. Audits for LEED-EBOM projects or commonly conducted by a third-party auditor, commissioning agent, or building engineerA qualified engineering professional with relevant and sufficient expertise who oversees and is responsible for the operation and maintenance of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems in the project building..
To what degree is it necessary to follow the ASHRAE Procedures document? Is this provided as a general, optional guide, or must it be followed precisely, using the ASHRAE forms and completing the audit using the ASHRAE methodology?
The expectation is that the audit methodology outlined in the ASHRAE “Procedures for Commercial Building Energy Audits” be used to guide the audit procedure and the approach to understanding building performance, energy use and opportunity for improvement. However, teams are not required to use the ASHRAE forms for reporting results. Refer to the Reference Guide and the LEED Online EAc2.1 credit form for checklists and outlines of documentation that is required for LEED documentation. Audit reports commonly are flagged for not including certain data required by the credit form, such as demand savings and maintenance cost savings.
How is the target EUI established?
It’s up to the project team to determine what target performance to set for the building. Target EUI can be based on a combination of audit results, project building goals for energy use and consumption, benchmarking against other similar buildings, etc. Ideally, the target should be set to a level that will require some real effort to achieve, but that is attainable and realistic.
Legend
- Best Practices
- Gotcha
- Action Steps
- Cost Tip
USGBC
Excerpted from LEED 2009 for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance
EA Prerequisite 1: Energy efficiency best management practices - planning, documentation and opportunity assessment
Required
Intent
To promote continuity of information to ensure that energy-efficient operating strategies are maintained and provide a foundation for training and system analysis.
Requirements
Document the current sequence of operations for the building.
Develop a building operating planA general documentation summarizing the intended operation of each base building system described in the systems narrative; the building operating plan may also be known as "Owner's Operating Requirements" or similar. The operating plan includes the time-of-day schedules for each system for each of the eight day types (Monday to Sunday plus holidays), the mode of operation for each system when it is running (occupied vs. unoccupied; day vs. night, etc.), and the desired indoor conditions or setpoints for each schedule or mode. The operating plan accounts for any differences in needs or desired conditions for different portions of the project building, as well as any seasonal variations in operations patterns. The plan accounts for all the monitored space conditions used to control the base systems, i.e., air temperature, relative humidity, occupancy, light level, CO2 levels, room pressurization, duct static pressure, etc. that provides details on how the building is to be operated and maintained. The operating plan must include, at a minimum, an occupancy schedule, equipment run-time schedule, design set points for all HVAC equipment, and design lighting levels throughout the building. Identify any changes in schedules or set points for different seasons, days of the week and times of day. Validate that the operating plan has been met during the performance period.
Develop a systems narrative that briefly describes the mechanical and electrical systems and equipment in the building. The systems narrative must include all the systems used to meet the operating conditions stated in the operating plan, including at a minimum, heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and any building controls systems.
Create a narrative of the preventive maintenance plan for equipment described in the systems narrative and document the preventive maintenance schedule during the performance period.
Conduct an energy audit that meets the requirements of the ASHRAE Level I walk-through assessment.
Potential Technologies & Strategies
Prepare a building operating planA general documentation summarizing the intended operation of each base building system described in the systems narrative; the building operating plan may also be known as "Owner's Operating Requirements" or similar. The operating plan includes the time-of-day schedules for each system for each of the eight day types (Monday to Sunday plus holidays), the mode of operation for each system when it is running (occupied vs. unoccupied; day vs. night, etc.), and the desired indoor conditions or setpoints for each schedule or mode. The operating plan accounts for any differences in needs or desired conditions for different portions of the project building, as well as any seasonal variations in operations patterns. The plan accounts for all the monitored space conditions used to control the base systems, i.e., air temperature, relative humidity, occupancy, light level, CO2 levels, room pressurization, duct static pressure, etc. that specifies the current operational needs of the building and identify building systems and other practices necessary to meet those needs. Outline the current sequence of operations to identify and eliminate any inefficiency.
Develop and implement a preventive maintenance program to regularly monitor and optimize the performance of mechanical equipment regulating indoor comfort and the conditions delivered in occupied spacesOccupied Spaces are defined as enclosed spaces that can accommodate human activities. Occupied spaces are further classified as regularly occupied or non-regularly occupied spaces based on the duration of the occupancy, individual or multi-occupant based on the quantity of occupants, and densely or non-densely occupied spaces based upon the concentration of occupants in the space..
Publications
Procedures for Commercial Building Energy Audits
This reference defines best practices for energy survey and analysis for purchasers and providers of energy audit services. This new, full-color edition provides updated guidance and tools for energy consulting engineers, LEED professionals, real-estate professionals, building owners and building managers. Expanded since its LEED-referenced 2004 publication, this version details energy-auditing methods and provides new sample forms and templates that illustrate the content and arrangement of a complete, effective energy analysis report.
Building Owners and Managers Association, Preventive Maintenance and Building Operation Efficiency
This manual from BOMA gives insight into the newest developments in building operating efficiency and preventive maintenance.
ASHRAE Procedures for Commercial Building Energy Audits, 2nd. Edition
ASHRAE’s guide for conducting Level I, II, and III energy audits.
Organizations
California Commissioning Collaborative
The organization’s retrocommissioning toolkit provides templates, sample documents, and examples of many typical retrocommissioning deliverables and reports.
Technical Guides
ENERGY STAR Building Upgrade Manual
This manual is a strategic guide for planning and implementing energy-saving building upgrades. It provides general methods for reviewing and adjusting system control settings, plus procedures for testing and correcting calibration and operation of system components such as sensors, actuators, and controlled devices.
Web Tools
ASHRAE Service Life and Maintenance Cost Database
This database provides current information on the service life and maintenance costs of typical HVAC equipment.
Documentation Package for ASHRAE Building Audits
This sample template includes sample language and guidance on crafting the Energy End-Use Profile (for EAp1), the Low-Cost Energy Efficiency Upgrades Summary (for EAp1), the ASHRAE Energy Audit Summary Report (for EAc2.1), the Sample Energy Cost Reduction Measures (ECRM) Summary (for EAc2.1), and the Performance Summary Report (for EAc2.1).
LEED Online Documentation
LEED Online documentation for achievement of EAc2 on a certified Gold LEED-EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. 2009 project.
Sequence of Operations
The sequence of operations should provide detailed system-level documentation for each base building system that defines what operational states are desired under which conditions in the building. This template provides a structure for developing a LEED-compliant building operating planA general documentation summarizing the intended operation of each base building system described in the systems narrative; the building operating plan may also be known as "Owner's Operating Requirements" or similar. The operating plan includes the time-of-day schedules for each system for each of the eight day types (Monday to Sunday plus holidays), the mode of operation for each system when it is running (occupied vs. unoccupied; day vs. night, etc.), and the desired indoor conditions or setpoints for each schedule or mode. The operating plan accounts for any differences in needs or desired conditions for different portions of the project building, as well as any seasonal variations in operations patterns. The plan accounts for all the monitored space conditions used to control the base systems, i.e., air temperature, relative humidity, occupancy, light level, CO2 levels, room pressurization, duct static pressure, etc..
Templates
Systems Narrative Template
A general, summary description of each of the certain base building systems installed in the project building is required. This template provides a structure for developing a LEED-compliant systems narrative.
Templates
Building Operating Plan Template
The building operating planA general documentation summarizing the intended operation of each base building system described in the systems narrative; the building operating plan may also be known as "Owner's Operating Requirements" or similar. The operating plan includes the time-of-day schedules for each system for each of the eight day types (Monday to Sunday plus holidays), the mode of operation for each system when it is running (occupied vs. unoccupied; day vs. night, etc.), and the desired indoor conditions or setpoints for each schedule or mode. The operating plan accounts for any differences in needs or desired conditions for different portions of the project building, as well as any seasonal variations in operations patterns. The plan accounts for all the monitored space conditions used to control the base systems, i.e., air temperature, relative humidity, occupancy, light level, CO2 levels, room pressurization, duct static pressure, etc. should provide general documentation summarizing the intended operation of each base building system described in the systems narrative; the building operating plan may also be known as “Owner’s Operating Requirements” or similar. This template provides a structure for developing a LEED-compliant building operating plan.
Templates
LEED Online Documentation
LEED Online documentation for achievement of EAp1 on a certified Gold LEED-EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. 2009 project.
LEED Online Forms: EBOM-2009 EA
The following links take you to the public, informational versions of the dynamic LEED Online forms for each EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems.-2009 EA credit. You'll need to fill out the live versions of these forms on LEED Online for each credit you hope to earn.
Version 4 forms (newest):
- EAp2: Minimum Energy Peformance
- EAp3: Fundamental Refrigerant Management
- EAc2.1: Commissioning—Investigation & Analysis
- EAc4: Onsite and Offsite Renewable Energy
- EAc5: Enhanced Refrigerant Management
Version 3 forms:
- EAp1: Energy Efficiency Best Mngt. Practices
- EAp2: Minimum Energy Peformance
- EAp3: Fundamental Refrigerant Management
- EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance
- EAc2.1: Commissioning—Investigation & Analysis
- EAc2.2: Commissioning—Implementation
- EAc2.3: Commissioning—Ongoing Commissioning
- EAc3.1: Perf. Measurement—BAS
- EAc3.2: Perf. Measurement—System-Level Monitoring
- EAc4: Onsite and Offsite Renewable Energy
- EAc5: Enhanced Refrigerant Management
- EAc6: Emissions Reduction Reporting
These links are posted by LEEDuser with USGBC's permission. USGBC has certain usage restrictions for these forms; for more information, visit LEED Online and click "Sample Forms Download."
LEEDuser is produced by BuildingGreen, Inc., with YR&G authoring most of the original content. LEEDuser enjoys ongoing collaboration with USGBC.
73 Comments
Enery audit level 1 and 2 for factory project
Our project is a Factory in Vietnam and the client wants to persue LEED EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems.. However, we are encountering some difficulties during conducting energy audit in EA p1 and EA c2.1.
QUESTION 1: LEED EBOM is applicable to existing buildings of all kind but requires to follow ASHRAE Procedure for Commercial Building Energy Audits. So, was there any possibility if my factory would adhere to the ASHREA guide. If it would not, what reference source can we refer to?. In general, with regard of other buildings which are not commercial (ex. residential buildings) can we still use ASHRAE ?
QUESTION 2: in PEA stage, when comparing to EUI and ECI of the building with similar charactestics, we figured out that it is nearly impossible to find the information of the similar factory in Vietnam due to the absence of statistic from authority body. Therefore, can we compare to the US building from suggested sources in LEED EBOM ?
Hello
For Question 1: Yes, you can still use the ASHRAE Procedure for Commercial Building Energy Audits if your project is located in Vietnam.
Fore Questions 2: This is a little trickier, but you have some options for comparison:
1. If you own similar buildings, you could compare these buildings to your project, normalizing for things like occupants and hours of operation.
2. You can use ENERGY STAR to benchmark your building. To do this, you will need to classify the predominate space type as "Other." Additionally, you will need to select the nearest city - I just checked on ENERGY STAR and Hanoi is listed in their database.
Regardless of your approach for Question 2, I think the most important part is to explain your reasoning and rationale within the Energy Audit report.
Thank you Hannah, your guidance is so helpful. I used ENERGY STAR portfolio manager but the project is ineliglible to receive rating because of its type building. However, after I updated historical bill of electricity and LPG, my portfolio displayed the several results in "Change from baseline" column. I would like to ask:
1/Will the numbers in "Change from baseline" column be the proposed EUI saving for the project? if yes, which one can I use among "Change from baseline: energy use intensity", "-adjusted energy use intensity" and "-porfolio adjusted percent energy use"?.
2/I also generated the Statement of Energy Performance in which it illustrates the default number of National median site/source EUI for "Other" type. So is it another way to calculate the EUI saving? Many thanks!
Hi
Glad I could help. Here is some additional follow up regarding your questions:
1. The "Change from Baseline" column is just a column indicating how your building's performance has changed due to updated in ENERGY STAR. So, if you provide updated energy data, updated space data, or revise data entries, this column will also change as your EUI changes to reflect these updates. This is not intended to be used for the proposed EUI savings.
2. The Statement of Energy Performance does indeed show the default number for National Median energy. This is useful because it shows the "average" for building types.
What I would do to calculate the proposed EUI savings is determine how many ENERGY STAR points you'd like to improve to, and then calculate the energy savings required to get there. For example, if your project currently has a rating of 75 in ENERGY STAR, what amount of energy savings are required to improve the score to a 78? This would be your proposed EUI savings.
Thanks
Hi Hannah,
Pardon me as i am a new user for Energy Star Portfolio manager.
1) How can i check if Singapore is qualified for Energy Star rating?
2) Since Singapore is not a 4 season country, are we still qualified for Energy Star? We are considering which compliance path is easier for the Singapore project to justify for the Energy efficiency for EAP2 and EAC1. However, reading through the way how Energy star rates the building, i was wondering would it still be relevant for a Singapore project to apply for Energy Star when it has to be compared against the similiar types of buildings in US (a 4 season country)? Will it be still accepatable for USGBC?
Looking forward to your advice.
Thank you so much!
It's a good question and yes, international buildings that are made up of a ratable space type (i.e. office space) can still get an ENERGY STAR rating and have to pursue Case 1 for EAp2/EAc1. See eligible space types here http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=eligibility.bus_portfoliomanager_e... and also see related FAQ and discussion threads under EAp2 on LEED User.
Hi Ben,
That reply is really helpful and glad that I can still use energy star rating for Singapore projects. However, the project i am dealing with is a retail mall with a portion office spaces and a supermarket within the entire mall, does energy star rate this type of building? How should i go about if it is like a mixed use type of building like this?
Thank you for the response.
Cheers.
Retail malls are not eligible for an ENERGY STAR rating and so your project should follow Case 2 and use the EAp2 Case 2 calculator, likely applying Option 2B - Historic Data or Option 2C - Historic Data plus Comparable Buildings.
But, you will still need to use ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to track the building energy use over time and generate the building's source energySource energy is the total amount of raw fuel required to operate a building; it incorporates all transmission, delivery, and production losses for a complete assessment of a building's energy use. use intensity to use for benchmarking on the Case 2 calculator.
I'm working on a project very similar to this one and wanted to clarify an element of Ben's response. Because CBECSThe Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) is a national sample survey that collects information on the stock of U.S. commercial buildings, their energy-related building characteristics, and their energy consumption and expenditures. Commercial buildings include all buildings in which at least half of the floorspace is used for a purpose that is not residential, industrial, or agricultural, so they include building types that might not traditionally be considered "commercial," such as schools, correctional institutions, and buildings used for religious worship. CBECS data is used in LEED energy credits. has national average source EUI data for both malls and supermarkets (in addition to offices), it is my understanding that you would be required to use Option 2A within the Case 2 calculator; Options 2B or 2C would not be available. Option 2A allows you to benchmark against a virtual building with the same space types in the same ratios as your building, but using the CBECS national average SEUIs. I don't think 2B or 2C would come into play unless there was something wholly unique about the building. Perhaps I've misunderstood the situation but that's my take on it.
Hope that helps,
Dan
Best Timing for ASHRAE Audit?
What is the best timing for the ASHRAE Level I walkthrough audit? We have our energy star label already, are working on getting our tracking in place for the other credits. We have just sent out our transportation and occupant comfort survey. We are getting ready to complete our ASHRAE calcuations and measurments for IEQ p1. Should we wait till we have done our calcs and measurments for IEQ p1 and/or have all our other credits ready to begin tracking? Or is it good the get the Audit done early? Would love any tips!! Many thanks!
It is advantageous to perform the audit earlier rather than later in the process towards LEED Certification. No-cost / Low-cost energy conservation measures identified by the audit can then be implemented by the project team during the performance period thus helping to improve the energy score, and contributing to EAc2.2.
Clarification: Portfolio Manager - Energy Audit
Most University buildings are not eligible for Energy Star Ratings. Since P2 says that I need to conduct an "Energy Audit" isn't that covered in my P1 when I get an ASHRAE level 1 or 2?
My main question is for those who are not eligible for Energy Star Ratings, Is P1 and P2 practically the same thing if I have to conduct an "Energy Audit" since I cannot be Energy Star Rated? (AKA ASHRAE Level 1 Energy audit)
Also if I can show 21% reduction for Credit 1 that means I automatically should be fine for P1 and P2?
Level 1 audit
We are just completing our first in-house audit, I am still fairly new to LEED as an AP, would anyone be willing to share a completed Level one audit with me. I just want to make sure I have it correct before I submit. This is my last credit to finish......
Thanks!!
I have one if you are still interested, my e-mail is dave.hubka@transwestern.net
Energy Usage Breakdown
The book states that 24 hour load profiling data is "available from the utility company"? Is this a valid way to back into the total load usage data? And if so has anyone had success at getting this information from the utility?
It really depends on what is available from the utility. If this information is available from the utility in a form that is relatively easy to process and summarize on an annual basis, it certainly can be used to establish the energy use breakdown for the year. Some utilities may not have this information available. Others may provide an excessive amount of data to reasonably process and summarize. I unfortunately can't give you direction on how to get access to this information from the utility but would check with your account rep. and see what is available.
Demand in Energy Use Analysis
Hello, we are currently confused regarding the distinction between consumption and demand within the total energy cost saving calculation. All our investigations were based on the actual metered consumption. Does the distinction in the Reference Guide mean that seperate, theoretical demand calculations are required or does the demand just stands for the projected energy cost savings?
It would be nice to receive some clarification, Thank you
Julia, Most utilities have two separate charges for electricity....one for demand charges (kW), and one for consumption charges (kWhA kilowatt-hour is a unit of work or energy, measured as 1 kilowatt (1,000 watts) of power expended for 1 hour. One kWh is equivalent to 3,412 Btu.). The LEED requirement makes you consider any cost savings associated with both reduced demand and reduced consumption, as you can't accurately calculate payback without consider all sources of cost savings.
Hi, Jenny, for the 25% process cost , how should we calculation the Process cost if a building with demand charges?
Assume one building that the demand charges is 1$/year and the consumption charges is 3$/year, should I must get a 1$/year from consumption charges as process load if I use the 25% rule?
Thank you so much.
EAp1 Review Comments
We recently received review comments asking us to list energy demand savings and maintenance cost savings for our EEMs. The ASHRAE Assessment was conducted by another firm and only includes estimated energy consumption and associated cost savings for the EEMs. Are estimated demand savings/maintenance cost savings within the scope of an ASHRAE Level I Audit and is this something that reviewers should be asking for? Thanks!
Hi Matthew, In my experience this is really standardly required by reviewers. The credit form includes a a checkbox near the bottom explicitly stipulating that all ECMS must be analyzed for energy consumption, energy demand, costs savings for each and overall, and maintenance cost savings.
EA credit 3.2 & EA Pre-requisite 1- Submetering
Please,
We are not pursuing the credit EA - 3.2 - System Level Metering, therefore how can we estimate a project energy consumption divided by categories (for EA Pre-Requisite 1) if it doesn't have submeters installed on? Should we estimate these measures, having the equipment consumption (by categories) as basis?
If you are working with an energy auditor, they should be experience in coming up with reasonable estimates for the various energy loads in the building. When submeters aren't installed, you can either base the breakdown on calculations (power drawn multiplied by the runtime of that equipment), or use portable meters to take spot measurements and extrapolate out or an annual time period (taking into account any seasonal variation, of course).
Performance Period
Our team submitted a project demonstrating that the building had its performance period for a specific credit done during one (1) year, although the changes and alterations had been made during two (2) years, and only after the clarify we realized the mistake we had done.
Can we change the performance period on the second time we submit a project (clarification submittal)?
Paola - in my experience, this depends on which credit you're talking about and whether you are planning to extend the performance back in time or extend it in the other direction. In most cases, if you said your performance period was, for example, 8.4.10-8.4.11, it would be not problem to revise the documentation after the preliminary review to show the performance period as 8.4.09-8.4.11, since for first time certifications you can have up to a two year performance period.
Jenny,
I believe your example answered our doubts.
Our previous performance period was, for credit EA 1 and Pre requisit 1, from 1.2.10 - 31.1.11, but it had to be 1.2.09 - 31.1.11. Therefore we will write a narrative explaining the situation just to have them to know what happened. Thus, you are a expert, and what you said confirmed what we believe. Thank you!
Can the performance period be different for EA P1 the other credits, like MR credits? We'd like to do our energy audit now, but likely won't do our MR credits for a couple of months. We want the performance period of the MR credits to only be 3 months, because we don't want to track them for longer then that. So my question is can our performance period be 1 year or so for EA P1 (as to include the energy model we do now) and our MR credits be only 3 months, as long as they all end on the same date? (or do they even need to end on the same date? THanks!
Nena, The performance period for any credit can be extended earlier in time, up to 24 months, as long as all performance periods end within 30 days of each other. (However, don't overlook the requirement that your building operating planA general documentation summarizing the intended operation of each base building system described in the systems narrative; the building operating plan may also be known as "Owner's Operating Requirements" or similar. The operating plan includes the time-of-day schedules for each system for each of the eight day types (Monday to Sunday plus holidays), the mode of operation for each system when it is running (occupied vs. unoccupied; day vs. night, etc.), and the desired indoor conditions or setpoints for each schedule or mode. The operating plan accounts for any differences in needs or desired conditions for different portions of the project building, as well as any seasonal variations in operations patterns. The plan accounts for all the monitored space conditions used to control the base systems, i.e., air temperature, relative humidity, occupancy, light level, CO2 levels, room pressurization, duct static pressure, etc., sequence of operations, and preventive maintenance schedule all need to be in effect for the full performance period, so those would need to be developed before the ASHRAE Level 1 Audit.)
In house audit
I am interested in using our in house engineering staff to perform the ASHRAE level 1 audit required for this prereq, as well as the level 2 audit for c2.1. The manual states that in house staff can be used, and there is a reference to this in the bird's eye view if they "have the right background." Is there a credential requirement (PE, CEM, etc.) that is required for an in house staff member to be qualified to perform the audit, or is familiarity with the building and adherence to the ASHRAE methodology enough?
Thank you.
LEED 2009 does not require the energy auditor to have any credentials. Adherence to the ASHRAE method, as oulined in "Procedures for Commercial Building Energy Audits" will allow achieve of EAp1 and EAc2.1.
EAp1
We did our in house Level 1 Walk Through in 2007 and we got the Energy Label. After that we did in house Level1 Walk Through every year and in put data to Energy Star but we did not apply the labal for last three years. Our Energy IntensityThe ratio of consumption to unit of measurement (floorspace, number of workers, etc.) Energy intensity is usually given on an aggregate basis, as the ratio of the total consumption for a set of buildings to the total floorspace in those buildings. Conditional energy intensity and gross energy intensity are presented. The energy intensity can also be computed for individual buildings. from 76 down to 63 last year. Now, USGBC have the comment for EAp1 credit: 1) provide a supplement EUI analysis that establishes a target EUI for the building and quantifies the potential cost savings that might be realized by enchancing energy efficiency to achieve the target index, as directed by the level Analysis.
My question is the target index EUI same as National Average Source EUI in Energy Star. Can I just submit the 2007 Statement of Energy Performance to them. Any advise is appreciat.
The target EUI is arbitrarily selected by the energy auditor. It must be chosen to be higher than the current score.
Performance period must be at least 12 months and up to 24 months for EAp1. You can not submit the 2007 SEP if you are pursuing LEED EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. certification at this time. Also, LEED EBOM requires a minimum score of 69.
Hope this helps.
ASHRAE Level II audit -Ok to submit for EAp1?
We hired an outside engineer to perform a level II audit. We essentially skipped the level one writeup and just ensured our final report included both level I and II requirements. Is it okay to submit the same report for EAp1 and EAc2.1 as long as we're covering all the requirements for level I and II (per the LEED templates and in the ASHRAE guide for commercial energy audits)?
Yes, if you've completed and documented the requirements for both Levels I and II, that works.
new DES guidance from USGBC is available
Yesterday USGBC posted posted key guidance for your project if it involves a district energy system. This is recommended but not required for LEEB-EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. projects.
Here is the info from the LEED Resources and Tools page:
District and Campus Thermal Energy Treatment - Initial release of guidance for implementing LEED Energy & Atmosphere prerequisites and credits for existing building projects connected to a district or campus thermal energy system. Includes coverage of both LEED 2009 for Existing Buildings: O&M and LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M 2008.
Please discuss below what you think of the new guidance, and what questions you have about DES for EBOM.
Preventative Maintenance Plan
I am attempting to compile the preventative maintenance plans for all of the major systems of my building, and was wondering exactly how in depth we are required to go? For example, what equipment would we have to create a plan for in regards to the lighting system (e.g. fixtures, panels)?
Tough question Michelle - The USGBC doesn't establish specific parameters as to exactly what a PM plan should look like, largely because they want folks to make their PM plans work effectively for the buildings, not just for LEED purposes. That being said, the expectation is that all aspects of a given system are maintained over some time horizon, even if it is a longer horizon. So I would recommend that the PM plan for lighting systems include all aspects within reason - fixtures, panels, switches, etc... - even if not every item is attended to monthly, quarterly, or even annually. The exhaust fan example in the Reference Guide is a useful illustration - checking key elements and attending to things that will benefit from regular attention. Sorry there isn't a more hard & fast rule. Hope this helps a bit.
Paring down existing report
I'm interested in updating an ASHRAE Level 3 report that we developed in-house in 2008 to a stripped-down Level 1 report for submittal for EAp1.
We have implemented a large number of the measures that were suggested, leaving essentially no low-cost, no-cost measures left.
Should I update the report by paring down the list of measures to include only the remaining measures, or show these measures as having been completed prior to and during the start of the EAp2 performance period, while removing them from the overall program costs/savings proposed in the (now) Level 1 report?
James, in my experience it would definitely be better to show these measures as identified in the initial report and implemented, rather than just show the remaining measures.
Also, you could extend your performance period back two years (and maybe five) to just take credit via that initial audit. The language in the RG for EAc2.1 gives the five year allowance, which in theory should be applicable to the EAp1 criteria to. It says: "It is recommended, but not mandatory, that project teams conduct the Level II analysis during the performance period. Projects that have completed a Level II analysis before the performance period...but within the past 5 years are not required to repeat the analysis to comply with this credit. However, the audit report and findings must be updated to integrate any significant changes in operating practices or building systems and to reflect changes in energy costs since the original audit was complete." pg. 172 of the EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. v2009 RG.
EAp1 required documents & 12-month energy performance period
The LEEDOnline form for EAp1 includes a checkbox stating that "the Building Operating PlanA general documentation summarizing the intended operation of each base building system described in the systems narrative; the building operating plan may also be known as "Owner's Operating Requirements" or similar. The operating plan includes the time-of-day schedules for each system for each of the eight day types (Monday to Sunday plus holidays), the mode of operation for each system when it is running (occupied vs. unoccupied; day vs. night, etc.), and the desired indoor conditions or setpoints for each schedule or mode. The operating plan accounts for any differences in needs or desired conditions for different portions of the project building, as well as any seasonal variations in operations patterns. The plan accounts for all the monitored space conditions used to control the base systems, i.e., air temperature, relative humidity, occupancy, light level, CO2 levels, room pressurization, duct static pressure, etc. and Sequence of Operations were in effect in the project building during the entire performance period." Does this mean that these two documents need to be created *prior* to the start of the 12-month energy performance period?
On the other hand, the Reference Guide, EAp1, section 5, 'Timeline and Team,' p. 135, states:
"The building operating plan, systems narrative, sequence of operations, and [...] are required for this prerequisite. If these documents have not been developed, ensure they are created in conjunction with or prior to the following operational assessments, to be conducted during the performance period".
That sounds like the BOP and SoO can be developed during the 12-month energy performance period, if necessary.
Michael, I think in practice most teams are refining these documents on a continuous basis (which is kind of the idea), so I wouldn't worry if they change/evolve/develop over the performance period.
Ashrae procedures for commercial building energy audits.
Does anyone know where I can get a free copy of the Ashrae Procedures for Commercial building energy audits?
There is a nice sample on LEED User. Check the sample docs in credit.
Energy Use Breakdown Scenario
Hello, we are trying to keep the Energy Audit in house and make use of the experienced staff of the client we are working with. However, we are having trouble calculating some of the numbers due to the fact that this is a convention center with variable occupancy and operation scenarios.
What type of scenarios and assumptions would we use to capture an Energy Use breakdown in a building like this? Would we calculate the numbers while the building is at its lowest operation state or highest or somewhere in the middle. Its hard to find the 'happy medium' or average day of operation.
Do you have a sense of the number of days per year the building tends to be operating at in each category (e.g., low, med, high)?
Ideally you would be able to come up with reasonable annualized savings by having some sense of the typical number of days associated with each main operation state. You could calculate savings for each operational state, and then annualize according to the presumed number of days associated with each state.
LEED EB O&M
An exisitng Nursing Home (Long Term Care) building is planned to have major renovations including new Mechanical & Electrical Systems, targeted for EB O&M after renovations.
Question: Is there any precidence of getting Innovation Credit for EB O&M by using New Construction Credits E&A for Fundamental Commissioning, M&R Credit for Cpnstruction Waste Management, Recycle Content, Regioanl Materials; IEQ Credits of Construction IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors., Daylight Views ?
Not exactly, no. All of the topics you mentioned are covered by regular (not Innovation) LEED-EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. credits, so there is not a rationale for getting Innovation credit for them. However, doing the things you mention will only help you when it comes time to earn those credits.
Feel free to post back with more specific questions.
BOP & ASHRAE
The LEED Guidebook cites the ASHRAE 2007 Handbook as reference material and the sample Building Operating PlanA general documentation summarizing the intended operation of each base building system described in the systems narrative; the building operating plan may also be known as "Owner's Operating Requirements" or similar. The operating plan includes the time-of-day schedules for each system for each of the eight day types (Monday to Sunday plus holidays), the mode of operation for each system when it is running (occupied vs. unoccupied; day vs. night, etc.), and the desired indoor conditions or setpoints for each schedule or mode. The operating plan accounts for any differences in needs or desired conditions for different portions of the project building, as well as any seasonal variations in operations patterns. The plan accounts for all the monitored space conditions used to control the base systems, i.e., air temperature, relative humidity, occupancy, light level, CO2 levels, room pressurization, duct static pressure, etc. has an entry for "outside air" indicating comliance to ASHRAE 62.1-2007.
My question:
1) Does the Building Operation Plan have to comply with the latest ASHRAE Standard, in this case 62.1-2007 or is compliance w/ earlier versions acceptable?
2) If compliance with earlier versions is acceptable, how early a version will be acceptable to LEED?
I ask since my client's building has been in operation since 1991, although they have done a good job updating their facility.
You might want to check out the criteria for EQp1. Building's with HVAC systems physically capable of meeting 62.1-2007 OA rates must demonstrate they are doing so during the performance period. Assessing compliance against an older version of the standard would not be allowed, though some building's that can't meet ASHRAE 62.1-2007 can use the other compliance path to show at least 10 CFM / person.
LEED EBOM performance period for EA credits.
I'm a little confused about when the performance period for the building I am certifying should start. They have an Energy Star rating of 85 which was given to them in March of 2010. They will also hopefully be replacing all the HVAC units, but aside from that there will not be a great deal of energy usage change. Can the performance period be retroactive during the time of the Energy Star audit? Can I start it halfway through the Energy Star audit (for my 12 months and then still use the Energy Star audit's info to complete the EA PR 2 credit and EA credit 1?
It seems like because of the Energy Star I can cut down my time for LEED EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. certification in half from a 1 1/2 years to about 8 months. I would love some advice in this area from anyone who has knowledge. Thanks!
Hi Adam,
Are you wondering about the performance period timing for the ASHRAE Level 1 Audit (EAp1) or the Energy Star benchmarking (EAp2/EAc1), or both?
Either way, you have some options. For EAp2/EAc1 the normal strategy is to benchmark based on 12 months of consecutive utility data, with the end date of that period meeting the standard performance period timing rules:
a) within a shared 30-day window when performance periods for all prereqs/credits must end, and;
b) the end of that 30-day window landing no more than 60 days prior to the date of submission
If you have an official Energy Star label, meaning that you've had a PE evaluate your benchmarking, sent an application to Energy Star, etc. you can take the streamlined approach for documentation EAp2/EAc1 by simply using the score associated with that label, as long as the label was issued within 1 year of the application date.
For EAp1, the audit generally has to be performed within 2 years of the performance period end date for that prereq (which would need to meet the general rules for performance period timing from above). If you have an older ASHRAE audit you want to use, see the Reference Guide to determine if the exception to this guideline applies to you. The timing of the ASHRAE audit doesn't really need to correlate to the Energy Star benchmarking period in any specific way beyond the standard performance period timing rules.
Anyway, if you have your other ducks in a row and an official Energy Star label, you can use that score of 85 as long as you submit your LEED application before the year is up.
Thanks for the comment. What I am really concerned about is the 12-month performance period for all my EA credits. Being that all my other performance periods need approx 3 months and they need to end within 30 days of eachother. Doesn't it make sense to use our renewal date for Energy Star of March 2011 to end the performance period for everything? Then within that time I can do my ASHRAE audits 1 and 2 and get the commissioning credits going as well.
I hope this clears up my concern. Any advice is appreciated.
Hmm, you could shoot for March 2011 and have until then to use your official label. But, if you're going through the trouble of energy audits/Cx1. Commissioning (Cx) is the process of verifying and documenting that a building and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the owner's project requirements. 2. The process of checking the performance of a building against the owner's goals during design, construction, and occupancy. At a minimum, mechanical and electrical equipment are tested, although much more extensive testing may also be included., you'll probably start saving energy and therefore start seeing improvements in your Energy Star score, so you may no longer want to use the official label/associated score.
I feel like I'm hashing the point here...but I'd like to clarify the timing between the two performance period lengths (12 months and 3 months). Assuming they all have to end within 30 days of each other then would this scenario make sense as an example:
Start the EA performance period in January and start all other performance periods in October and finish everything at the end of December.
So essentially start the EA 9 months before everything else so they can finish together? Or am I making this too complicated?
Individual document uploads for LEED Online website
The leed online v3 website shows separate file upload categories. If the mechanical engineer has provided the Sequence of Operations and the Systems Narrative as part of the Building Operating PlanA general documentation summarizing the intended operation of each base building system described in the systems narrative; the building operating plan may also be known as "Owner's Operating Requirements" or similar. The operating plan includes the time-of-day schedules for each system for each of the eight day types (Monday to Sunday plus holidays), the mode of operation for each system when it is running (occupied vs. unoccupied; day vs. night, etc.), and the desired indoor conditions or setpoints for each schedule or mode. The operating plan accounts for any differences in needs or desired conditions for different portions of the project building, as well as any seasonal variations in operations patterns. The plan accounts for all the monitored space conditions used to control the base systems, i.e., air temperature, relative humidity, occupancy, light level, CO2 levels, room pressurization, duct static pressure, etc.. Would you recommend separating the documents into their individual documents to facilitate the LEED review process? Or is possible that all documents may be encompassed by the Building Operating Plan?
John, this is not an uncommon strategy and grouping the documents together isn't usually a problem in my experience. You may want to label the file in a way that makes it clear that the content for for all three key components is included within, and also make it clear within the document where the various content lies. Where reviewers have trouble is a if a really, really long document isn't separated into clearly label ed sections that map to the main keywords (e.b., BOP, Sequence of Ops, etc..
2 years metering data
For the Level I Energy audit, it requires analysis of two or more years of utility consumption and cost. The building we are trying to certify shares an electric meter with other buildings on the property. We are going to install a submeterSubmetering is used to determine the proportion of energy or water use within a building attributable to specific end uses such as tenant spaces, or subsystems such as the heating component of an HVAC system. but, in the mean time how do we address this lack of metering data for this individual building for the energy audit. Any suggestions?
In my experience, most teams perform the preliminary energy use analysis (which is a prelude to the Level I audit) based on an energy use intensity value (e.g., kbtu/sf). Maybe you could take historic campus data to create an EUI that will allow you to perform the analysis and still have a comparison point once your submeterSubmetering is used to determine the proportion of energy or water use within a building attributable to specific end uses such as tenant spaces, or subsystems such as the heating component of an HVAC system. is set up for building specific data (this isn't perfect in terms of establishing a history, but might be workable).
Also, the ASHRAE Procedurs for Commercial Building Energy Audits document states that you need utility data for at least a one-year period (page 6), which is the same as what you'll need to do the EAp2/EAc1 benchmarking. Where are you seeing the 2-year requirement?
Rachael,
How are you addressing the lack of energy data for EA Prereq 2 & Credit 1?
Are the two buildings that share the meter similar in size and function?
I'll work on digging farther into this so hopefully you won't have to avoid the credit...
Igor-
The metering data I'm referring to is for EA Prereq 1 where it is required to have metering data for the ASHRAE Level I walkthrough analysis. Thanks for your help.
Jenny-
The ASHRAE Procedure for Commercial Building Energy Audits document where it specifies two years is one page one under OUTLINE, under number one. it says "Analysis of two or more years of utility consumption and cost". In your opinion, do you think I should consult with USGBC? Since this is a prerequisiste I don't want to end up having them reject our application if they don't accept an estimation of the utility data. Thanks for your help.
Rachael,
I was wondering what data you are using for Prereq 2 because that is the same information you'll be analyzing through the Audit process for Prereq 1.
Hi Igor-
We will have to get the building sub-metered and start inputing the data over 12 mo. period (performance period) so we can get a rating for EA prereq 2. We are attempting to complete the Energy Audit now so we can identify energy improvements we can make before the performance period starts.
Rachel,
Ok - now I understand. You technically have the utility bills for the property... You just happen to have them for multiple units on the property that aren't necessarily being certified at the same time. I think analyzing the bills as you have them as well as doing an audit of the systems to discover expected load for each of the energy using systems will suffice for the "walk-through" audit. To be safe and diligent you will want to compare those expected loads to actual when you start submeteringSubmetering is used to determine the proportion of energy use within a building attributable to specific end uses or subsystems (e.g., the heating subsystem of an HVAC system)..
Cost of ASHRAE Level I Energy Audit
Hi I was wondering if someone had a rough figure for the cost of a level I audit? Is the cost based on square footage? I gotten a quote but seems very high. Also, I was wondering if you had any reccommendations for finding an energy auditor in my area. Do you think only engineering firms would have someone capable of performing the audit or might heating and air companies have someone qualified to do the audit?
Rachael, unfortunately LEEDuser can't answer your fee question because, well, it's tough to answer because of the specifics involved in a project, but also because we can't be seen as dictating what a fee "should" be.
I do think that HVAC companies may have staff with the qualifications to do an audit, just keep an eye out for biases. And if you don't like the quote you get, see if you can shop around a bit. A lot of this also depends on your location and what's available.
Check with the building's utility provider - our electric utility did the Level 1 Audit free of charge and also helps us get rebates for lighting upgrades.
Disclaimer: DO NOT RELY ON THIS! For BALL PARK estimates ONLY. For a few California companies, I was quoted at 6-10k per building for level one and double that for level 2. Which to be quite honest, I think is ridiculous but it was a good ballpark to put in my budget.
commercial building document templates for EAp1 submittal
I am looking for detail submittal templates:
- Building Operating PlanA general documentation summarizing the intended operation of each base building system described in the systems narrative; the building operating plan may also be known as "Owner's Operating Requirements" or similar. The operating plan includes the time-of-day schedules for each system for each of the eight day types (Monday to Sunday plus holidays), the mode of operation for each system when it is running (occupied vs. unoccupied; day vs. night, etc.), and the desired indoor conditions or setpoints for each schedule or mode. The operating plan accounts for any differences in needs or desired conditions for different portions of the project building, as well as any seasonal variations in operations patterns. The plan accounts for all the monitored space conditions used to control the base systems, i.e., air temperature, relative humidity, occupancy, light level, CO2 levels, room pressurization, duct static pressure, etc.
- Sequence of Operations
- System Narrative
- Preventive Maintenance Plan
Thomas, there are are samples of the Building Operating PlanA general documentation summarizing the intended operation of each base building system described in the systems narrative; the building operating plan may also be known as "Owner's Operating Requirements" or similar. The operating plan includes the time-of-day schedules for each system for each of the eight day types (Monday to Sunday plus holidays), the mode of operation for each system when it is running (occupied vs. unoccupied; day vs. night, etc.), and the desired indoor conditions or setpoints for each schedule or mode. The operating plan accounts for any differences in needs or desired conditions for different portions of the project building, as well as any seasonal variations in operations patterns. The plan accounts for all the monitored space conditions used to control the base systems, i.e., air temperature, relative humidity, occupancy, light level, CO2 levels, room pressurization, duct static pressure, etc. and Sequence of Operations in the LEED for Green Building: Operations & Maintenance Reference Guide (v2009) that you can use as starting points; there are also very comprehensive descriptions of the criteria for the other documents in the Reference Guide as well. A Building Operating Plan is typically built out in an Excel spreadsheet or simple table format, whereas the other documents are usually in a plain written format. We don't provide templates for these documents because they are typically so customized to the conditions and procedures at each individual project building. Start off by spending some time looking through the Reference Guide; the information for EAp1 is actually pretty thorough and can be very useful.
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