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Credit language
Requirements
Engage in at least a 2-year renewable energy contract to provide at least 35% of the building’s electricity from renewable sources, as defined by the Center for Resource Solutions’ Green-e Energy product certification requirements or an equivalent [Europe ACP: Green Power] [South America ACP: Green Power] [India ACP: Green Power]
All purchases of green power shall be based on the quantity of energy consumed, not the cost.
If the green power is not Green-e Energy certified, equivalence must exist for both major Green-e Energy program criteria: 1) current green power performance standards, and 2) independent, third-party verification that those standards are being met by the green power supplier over time.
Option 1. Determine baseline electricity use
Use the annual electricity consumption from the results of EA Credit 1: Optimize Energy Performance.
OR
Option 2. Estimate baseline electricity use
Use the U.S. Department of Energy’s Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey database to determine the estimated electricity use.
Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs)
Europe ACP: Green-e Energy Equivalent
Projects in Europe may use the following approved standards in place of
Green-e Energy:
- EKOenergy
- Guarantees of Origin (GOs) with additional parameters
South America ACP: Green-e Energy Equivalent
Projects in South America may use the Brazilian “Certificado de Energia Renovável” (Renewable Energy Certificate) with additional parameters in place of
Green-e Energy.
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What does it cost?
Cost estimates for this credit
On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.
Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.
This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.
Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »
Addenda
10/1/2014 – Updated: 3/29/2018
Regional ACP
Description of change: Add the following after the first paragraph in the Requirements section:
“Projects in South America may use the Brazilian “Certificado de Energia Renovável” (Renewable Energy Certificate) with additional parameters in place of
Green-e Energy.”
**Updated on 4/1/2015 to include applicability to LEED v4
Internationally Applicable: Yes
7/1/2015 – Updated: 3/29/2018
Regional ACP
Description of change: Insert after first paragraph the following:
"Projects in India may use RECs from India with additional parameters in place of
Green-e Energy certified RECs."
Internationally Applicable: No
10/1/2012 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change: Add "or an equivalent" to the end of the first sentence.
Internationally Applicable: Yes
8/1/2011 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change: Add the following paragraph to the end of item 3: "The vintage of any
REC purchased to meet the Green Power credit requirements must be valid according to the
Green-e vintage requirements as written on the date of purchase. Project teams must affirm in writing that the purchased RECs are being claimed for use on this particular LEED Project only."
Internationally Applicable: No
10/1/2012 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change: Add the following after the second paragraph: "If the
green power is not
Green-e Energy certified, equivalence must exist for both major
Green-e Energy program criteria: 1) current
green power performance standards, and 2) independent, third-party verification that those standards are being met by the
green power supplier over time."
Internationally Applicable: Yes
4/1/2012 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change: After the first sentence, add the following: "If an energy model was used to document compliance with EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance, the data from the energy model must be used as the basis for determining the electricity consumption for this credit."
Internationally Applicable: No
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry: Our Campus has a 780 kW PV system installed as a joint venture with a Utility, which was made possible by partial funding from the sale of the REC\'s. The system is installed on 10 existing random building rooftops, with another 136 kW phase nearly commissioned on/near a sports field. We pay a small kWh premium, and will take full ownership after 20 years. PV output is dedicated for campus use, utilizing a combination of direct building connections and connections to the campus owned grid. We would like to apply for EAc2 on a campus basis for approximately 9 separate building projects that do not include their own individual PV installations. The cost to buy REC\'s for 10 years for the entire campus system is prohibitive under our current construction budgets. We propose that individual LEED Building Projects apply for EAC2 using the existing onsite PV renewable source, and buy 10-year REC\'s for 100% of the power claimed on the Template, as qualifying on-site renewable energy. The project REC\'s would be redeemed and solely retained by the individual Building Projects, and would not be shared for use on any other projects. Would purchasing REC\'s then restore the "associated environmental benefit" to the on-site generated renewable project energy claimed; and meet the sustainable intent of the credit as indicated in the CIR Ruling dated 7/20/2009?
Ruling: The CIR Ruling dated 7/20/2009 (#2616), states that if the project sold renewable energy certificates associated with the on-site renewable energy system, the team may not take credit for the system under EAc2, since the system would have no associated environmental benefit. The project teams approach of purchasing 10-year REC\'s for 100% of the power claimed on the Template, to restore the associated environmental benefit is acceptable. The project must provide sufficient documentation to ensure the portion of the on-site renewable energy system designated for each building is not used on other projects. Additionally, the project team should provide documentation, including contractual terms, to verify the purchase of the necessary volume of REC\'s. The project team may not apply any of the REC\'s purchased to restore the associated environmental benefits of the on-site renewable energy system for the purposes of achieving EAc2 towards achieving EAc6, Green Power.
Internationally Applicable: No
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry: The project team is planning on installing a Cogeneration System that will take Biogas and turn it into Electricity to be used wholly on-site. The heat produced by this Cogeneration system will also fully be used on-site to preheat heating hot water and domestic hot water via a heat exchanger and potentially to power an absorption chiller.The building will receive the Biogas from a local Biogas provider and plans to enter into at least a 10 year contract with this provider to supply enough Biogas to the building to fully power the planned Cogeneration system. The contract will stipulate both that enough Biogas will be fed into the pipeline to meet required demands of the Cogeneration system and that the Biogas will be metered to prove that the actual amount of Biogas supplied meets the contracted requirements at all times.Though the Biogas is not being piped exclusively to the site (contractually it is supplied exclusively via project ownership funds), it is transported directly to the site in the existing natural gas pipeline. This approach achieves the exact same net result on the Natural Gas grid as piping Biogas exclusively to the project site in its own dedicated pipeline and allows the project to avoid having to dig up 100s of miles of land and lay a brand new pipeline to the project, something that would have a significantly detrimental effect on the local environment. In an urban environment like where the project is located, there is little or no option to be able to refine and extract Biogas on-site or even very close to a site, so the approach the project team is suggesting is the best and most reasonable alternative.Is this approach acceptable in accordance with the Reference Guide and Addendum 100001081 (November 1, 2011)?
Ruling: Directed Biogas purchase is not considered on-site renewable energy based on the current EAc2 credit requirements, addenda and LEED Interpretations, because the gas consumed on-site is not the same as the biogas that the project purchased. Please note that the referenced Addendum 100001081 does not allow for the fuel used on site to be different than the fuel that was purchased for the project. The referenced addendum applies for situations such as landfill gas piped directly to the project from a nearby landfill, or wood pellets from wood mill residue that are trucked to the project. In either case, it would not be acceptable for the landfill gas or pellets generated from wood mill residue to be "purchased" by the project, used in another project, and replaced in the project with natural gas or wood pellets produced from tree tops. Also, note that NREL refers to directed biogas as off-site renewable energy.
Internationally Applicable: Yes
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry: If a project receives an allotment of REC credits from a larger corporation in the required amount and states that the REC credits will not be counted towards or used for any other project within the corporation`s portfolio, will this meet the credit requirements? If yes, what if any additional submittal requirements are necessary to illustrate the intent of the credit has been met?
Ruling: The project is requesting that REC\'s purchased from a larger corporation meet the credit requirements on a single project. Yes, this approach is acceptable given that the project has purchased Green-e accredited Tradable Renewable Certificates (RECs) equal to at least 35% (or 50% for LEED-CI projects) of the predicted annual electrical consumption for the project building over a 2-year period. In addition to the standard submittal requirements, a statement in the form of an email or letter from the building portfolio owner should be provided confirming that that the REC credits will not be counted towards or used for any other project within the corporation`s portfolio.
Internationally Applicable: No
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry: Regarding LEED BD&C EAc6: As the cost of renewable energy sources (PV, in particular) continues to drop, the number of projects able to pursue a site net zero energy goal will continue to increase. The final estimation of electricity consumption for EAc1, Optimize Energy Performance, includes the impact of renewable energy determined through EAc2, On-Site Renewable Energy. The credit language for EAc6 indicates that the annual electricity consumption is to be determined from the results of EAc1 or CBECS. Based on this language, it would appear that a net zero energy project would not need to purchase any renewable energy credits (i.e. green power) to achieve EAc6. If a project was 99% better than ASHRAE 90.1-2007 as determined for EAc1, the green power purchase required would be clear, albeit very small. EAc6 seems to conflict with facilities wanting to increase their energy performance to net zero. Please clarify this credit to support projects seeking net zero.
Ruling: The applicant is asking whether EA Credit 6 - Green Power, and by extension, EAc6 exemplary performance, may be automatically awarded for projects that are designed to be net-zero in terms of average annual energy use without the purchase of green power or renewable energy credits. Yes. If the project produces 100% or more of its electricity as on-site generated renewable electricity, as documented in EAc2 - On-site Renewable Energy, the project is eligible to earn EAc6 and one Innovation in Design point for Exemplary Performance in Green Power. However, for any project that is connected to the electric utility grid, the following requirements apply to ensure that the project meets the credit intent if the project does not achieve net-zero performance once built:1. If a Green-e certified or equivalent utility program is available to the project in the project location, then the project team must provide a 2-year contract or Owner\'s letter of Commitment indicating that the project will commit to a 2-year enrollment period in the program for at least 35% of the provided electrical energy for EA Credit 6, or 70% of the provided electrical energy for Exemplary Performance in Green Power.2. If a Green-e certified or equivalent utility program is not available to the project in the project location, then the project team must provide a letter of commitment signed by the Owner or Owner\'s representative confirming:a. That a Green-e certified or equivalent utility program is not available to the project.b. That the project will review the purchased annual energy consumption for the first two years of occupancy, and will commit to purchase RECs to offset 35% of the purchased electrical consumption for EA Credit 6, or 70% of the provided electrical consumption for Exemplary Performance in Green Power.
Internationally Applicable: No
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry: We would like to purchase carbon offsets instead of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). Can the LEED v4 EA Credit Green Power and Carbon Offsets be substituted on LEED v2009 projects?
Ruling: The project may achieve the maximum number of points for Green Power, and an innovation point by complying with the LEED v4 requirements for Green Power and Carbon Offsets, with the following changes to reflect carbon offsets as an approach:
35% of total annual building energy consumption for a period of two years (or 70% for an innovation point) must be addressed by green power, RECs, and/or carbon offsets to qualify.
If using directed purchase of biogas, documentation must be provided showing that the biogas used for directed purchase is Green-e certified or equivalent, and the building ownership retains the environmental attributes associated with the directed purchase. (Note the v4 requirement is 50% or 100% of the total annual energy consumption for a period of five years).
Internationally Applicable: Yes
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry: The LEED EB:O&M Reference Guide does not specify precisely when during the LEED application review process Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) must be purchased, it only requires that the RECs meet specific percentages of the building\'s total energy use from the performance period.Our project team would like to wait until after the final review to file an appeal in order to purchase RECs and have EAc4 points included in the project\'s total before accepting certification.Can EAc4 thresholds be met by RECs purchased after the final review when filed through the appeal process?
Ruling: A project team may elect to add and pursue EA c4 as part of an appeal after the project building\'s performance period has ended and after the Final Review has been completed and purchase RECs at that time, as long as the RECs purchased are based on the total annual site energy usage value reported for EAp2 and are allocated to the project building only. Note that at the time of appeal submittal, the project must have entered into a contract or commitment for future purchases to meet the 2-year requirement. Applicable internationally.
Internationally Applicable: Yes
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