Lauren GlasscockGreen Building ConsultantKEMA Services, Inc.Feb 11 2010
Maintenance equipment powered by natural gas
Would equipment powered by natural gas qualify in lieu of electric-powered equipment, given emissions reduction over conventional gas powered equipment?
Shira Norman replied
YRG sustainability Feb 15 2010
To meet the credit requirements, you must demonstrate that environmental best practices, such as the use of electric equipment or manual maintenance practices, are in place for at least 20% of the maintenance activities at the project building (and were implemented at least 20% of the time during the performance period).
If there is a specific type of equipment used at the project building that is not available with electric power, quantify the environmental benefits of using natural gas and demonstrate that other environmental best practices (including manual labor and low-decibal equipment) are in place at the project building. To see how to document such incremental adoption, you can check out the table on page 3 of the Building Exterior and Hardscape Management Plan Template in the Documentation Toolkit.
I can't find anywhere that the USGBC stipulates 20% adoption as a minimum. Would you direct me to your source so that I can add such language to our Plan if it indeed is a USGBC mandate?
Shira Norman replied
YRG sustainability Feb 15 2010
Incremental improvement (i.e., a minimum 20% adoption of environmental best practices) is discussed on pages 11-12 of the LEED Reference Guide for Green Buildings Operations & Maintenance. Make sure to add language around the extent to which best management practices are used at the project building and how implementation will be measured.
I think the confusion here comes from the version of LEED. EB OM '08 (v2) does not have that 20% threshold where GB OM '09 (v3) does.....(unless I have missed that in the v2 Ref. Guide..!)
Work with your maintenance staff and relevant vendors to determine what environmentally preferable deicing practices are appropriate for your project building.
5 Comments
Maintenance equipment powered by natural gas
Would equipment powered by natural gas qualify in lieu of electric-powered equipment, given emissions reduction over conventional gas powered equipment?
Shira Norman replied YRG sustainability Feb 15 2010
To meet the credit requirements, you must demonstrate that environmental best practices, such as the use of electric equipment or manual maintenance practices, are in place for at least 20% of the maintenance activities at the project building (and were implemented at least 20% of the time during the performance period).
If there is a specific type of equipment used at the project building that is not available with electric power, quantify the environmental benefits of using natural gas and demonstrate that other environmental best practices (including manual labor and low-decibal equipment) are in place at the project building. To see how to document such incremental adoption, you can check out the table on page 3 of the Building Exterior and Hardscape Management Plan Template in the Documentation Toolkit.
20% Adoption as a Minimum
I can't find anywhere that the USGBC stipulates 20% adoption as a minimum. Would you direct me to your source so that I can add such language to our Plan if it indeed is a USGBC mandate?
Shira Norman replied YRG sustainability Feb 15 2010
Incremental improvement (i.e., a minimum 20% adoption of environmental best practices) is discussed on pages 11-12 of the LEED Reference Guide for Green Buildings Operations & Maintenance. Make sure to add language around the extent to which best management practices are used at the project building and how implementation will be measured.
I think the confusion here
I think the confusion here comes from the version of LEED. EB OM '08 (v2) does not have that 20% threshold where GB OM '09 (v3) does.....(unless I have missed that in the v2 Ref. Guide..!)
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