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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To achieve increasing levels of energy system efficiency, resilience and reliability by integrating DC power systems into buildings.
Requirements
Projects must document all Minimum Energy Performance prerequisites separately.
OPTION 1: Prescriptive approach for major energy systems (1 point)
Operate 95% of the load of at least one major energy system in the project directly off DC power, from a central DC source such as an on-site PV system, fuel cell, shared DC power supply or battery storage. Qualifying systems include:- Elevators
- Escalators
- Indoor Lighting
- Outdoor Lighting
- Electric Vehicle Charging
- Heating
- Cooling
- Ventilation
- Fans
- Plug Loads
- Information Technology
- Process Loads
OPTION 2: Whole-building energy simulation– Pilot Alternative Compliance Path for Optimize Energy Performance Credit (18 points possible)
Comply with all requirements of LEED BD+C Optimize Energy Performance credit Option 1. Whole Building Energy Simulation Analyze efficiency measures during the design process and account for the results in decision making. Use energy simulation of efficiency opportunities, past energy simulation analyses for similar buildings, or published data. Analyze efficiency measures, focusing on DC Power strategies appropriate for the project. Consider integrating renewable energy systems and electricity storage in the design. Model the energy efficiency improvements due to the implementation of DC systems compared to a baseline building. Details are listed below:- Following Optimize Energy Performance credit modeling requirements, model the Proposed Design building (Dp) without including a DC power system and calculate the performance improvement (Pd) of the Proposed Design (Dp) compared to the Baseline Building (B90).
- Following Optimize Energy Performance credit modeling requirements, incorporate efficiency measures for the DC integrated Design Building (DDC – i.e. Dp with the addition of DC power systems) into the model and calculate the performance improvements from the DC Design Building (DDC) compared to the Baseline Building (B90).
- If Pd is less than DCO, projects will follow the original Optimize Energy Performance credit and will be awarded one Innovation in Design (ID) point for analyzing the potential integration of DC power into their designs.
- If Pd is greater than DCO, projects will be awarded points based on their energy performance improvements, as follows:
Table 1. Points for percent improvement in energy performance
| New Construction | Major Renovation | Points (except Schools, Healthcare) | Points Healthcare | Points Schools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6% | 4% | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 8% | 6% | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 10% | 8% | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| 12% | 10% | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| 14% | 12% | 5 | 7 | 5 |
| 16% | 14% | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| 18% | 16% | 7 | 9 | 7 |
| 20% | 18% | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| 22% | 20% | 9 | 11 | 9 |
| 24% | 22% | 10 | 12 | 10 |
| 26% | 24% | 11 | 13 | 11 |
| 29% | 27% | 12 | 14 | 12 |
| 32% | 30% | 13 | 15 | 13 |
| 35% | 33% | 14 | 16 | 14 |
| 38% | 36% | 15 | 17 | 15 |
| 42% | 40% | 16 | 18 | 16 |
| 46% | 44% | 17 | 19 | - |
| 50% | 48% | 18 | 20 | - |
Submittals
General
Register for the pilot credit- Participate in the LEEDuser pilot credit forum
- Complete the feedback survey:
Documentation/Submittals:
OPTION 1: Prescriptive approach for major energy systems (1 point)
Complete the DC Power Calculation SheetOPTION 2: Whole-building energy simulation– Pilot Alternative Compliance Path for Optimize Energy Performance Credit (18 points possible)
Exceptional Calculation Method Requirements
Whole building energy simulation software is in the early stages of being capable of directly modeling performance improvements from DC power systems. Exceptional calculations can be used by project teams provided sufficient documentation of either the theoretical or empirical basis of the exceptional calculation method’s accuracy and results is provided. Exceptional calculations must comply with the following unless approved by USGBC:- weather data
- purchased energy rates
- space use classification
- occupancy and schedules
Survey Questions
- Where is this project located (city, state/province, country)
- Does the country/region the project is located in have any DC power transmission or distribution?
- Prior to attempting this credit, what was your understanding of DC power loads in buildings and the availability of direct DC powered systems?
- Prior to the work the project team did on this credit, were DC powered systems required in any standard project spec used by the project team?
- if yes, what specific language was used?
- if no, did the project team develop standard specification language for future use?
- What was the most challenging aspect of attempting this pilot credit:
- Identifying DC powered systems?
- Convincing the owner/project?
- Identifying energy savings/modeling?
- Other?
- Was energy performance documentation/data on DC powered systems readily available from your suppliers?
- What documentation were they able to provide?
- Do you know if this was the first time that a project team asked the supplier for documentation/DC powered systems?
- Who, on the project team, was responsible for documentation? Did the project team need to hire an outside expert to facilitate achievement?
- Did this credit influence or change any other aspect of the project? Specification of renewable energy systems, battery systems, DC microgrid, ultimately used on the project?
- How transformational do you think this credit can be for project teams?
Changes
- Pilot Credit Closed on 3/1/24 as it is only applicable to projects who had registered prior to 3/1/24
- 2/22/2019 - original publication
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 »Frequently asked questions
See all forum discussions about this credit »Documentation toolkit
The motherlode of cheat sheets
LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To achieve increasing levels of energy system efficiency, resilience and reliability by integrating DC power systems into buildings.
Requirements
Projects must document all Minimum Energy Performance prerequisites separately.
OPTION 1: Prescriptive approach for major energy systems (1 point)
Operate 95% of the load of at least one major energy system in the project directly off DC power, from a central DC source such as an on-site PV system, fuel cell, shared DC power supply or battery storage. Qualifying systems include:- Elevators
- Escalators
- Indoor Lighting
- Outdoor Lighting
- Electric Vehicle Charging
- Heating
- Cooling
- Ventilation
- Fans
- Plug Loads
- Information Technology
- Process Loads
OPTION 2: Whole-building energy simulation– Pilot Alternative Compliance Path for Optimize Energy Performance Credit (18 points possible)
Comply with all requirements of LEED BD+C Optimize Energy Performance credit Option 1. Whole Building Energy Simulation Analyze efficiency measures during the design process and account for the results in decision making. Use energy simulation of efficiency opportunities, past energy simulation analyses for similar buildings, or published data. Analyze efficiency measures, focusing on DC Power strategies appropriate for the project. Consider integrating renewable energy systems and electricity storage in the design. Model the energy efficiency improvements due to the implementation of DC systems compared to a baseline building. Details are listed below:- Following Optimize Energy Performance credit modeling requirements, model the Proposed Design building (Dp) without including a DC power system and calculate the performance improvement (Pd) of the Proposed Design (Dp) compared to the Baseline Building (B90).
- Following Optimize Energy Performance credit modeling requirements, incorporate efficiency measures for the DC integrated Design Building (DDC – i.e. Dp with the addition of DC power systems) into the model and calculate the performance improvements from the DC Design Building (DDC) compared to the Baseline Building (B90).
- If Pd is less than DCO, projects will follow the original Optimize Energy Performance credit and will be awarded one Innovation in Design (ID) point for analyzing the potential integration of DC power into their designs.
- If Pd is greater than DCO, projects will be awarded points based on their energy performance improvements, as follows:
Table 1. Points for percent improvement in energy performance
| New Construction | Major Renovation | Points (except Schools, Healthcare) | Points Healthcare | Points Schools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6% | 4% | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 8% | 6% | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 10% | 8% | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| 12% | 10% | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| 14% | 12% | 5 | 7 | 5 |
| 16% | 14% | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| 18% | 16% | 7 | 9 | 7 |
| 20% | 18% | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| 22% | 20% | 9 | 11 | 9 |
| 24% | 22% | 10 | 12 | 10 |
| 26% | 24% | 11 | 13 | 11 |
| 29% | 27% | 12 | 14 | 12 |
| 32% | 30% | 13 | 15 | 13 |
| 35% | 33% | 14 | 16 | 14 |
| 38% | 36% | 15 | 17 | 15 |
| 42% | 40% | 16 | 18 | 16 |
| 46% | 44% | 17 | 19 | - |
| 50% | 48% | 18 | 20 | - |
Submittals
General
Register for the pilot credit- Participate in the LEEDuser pilot credit forum
- Complete the feedback survey:
Documentation/Submittals:
OPTION 1: Prescriptive approach for major energy systems (1 point)
Complete the DC Power Calculation SheetOPTION 2: Whole-building energy simulation– Pilot Alternative Compliance Path for Optimize Energy Performance Credit (18 points possible)
Exceptional Calculation Method Requirements
Whole building energy simulation software is in the early stages of being capable of directly modeling performance improvements from DC power systems. Exceptional calculations can be used by project teams provided sufficient documentation of either the theoretical or empirical basis of the exceptional calculation method’s accuracy and results is provided. Exceptional calculations must comply with the following unless approved by USGBC:- weather data
- purchased energy rates
- space use classification
- occupancy and schedules
Survey Questions
- Where is this project located (city, state/province, country)
- Does the country/region the project is located in have any DC power transmission or distribution?
- Prior to attempting this credit, what was your understanding of DC power loads in buildings and the availability of direct DC powered systems?
- Prior to the work the project team did on this credit, were DC powered systems required in any standard project spec used by the project team?
- if yes, what specific language was used?
- if no, did the project team develop standard specification language for future use?
- What was the most challenging aspect of attempting this pilot credit:
- Identifying DC powered systems?
- Convincing the owner/project?
- Identifying energy savings/modeling?
- Other?
- Was energy performance documentation/data on DC powered systems readily available from your suppliers?
- What documentation were they able to provide?
- Do you know if this was the first time that a project team asked the supplier for documentation/DC powered systems?
- Who, on the project team, was responsible for documentation? Did the project team need to hire an outside expert to facilitate achievement?
- Did this credit influence or change any other aspect of the project? Specification of renewable energy systems, battery systems, DC microgrid, ultimately used on the project?
- How transformational do you think this credit can be for project teams?
Changes
- Pilot Credit Closed on 3/1/24 as it is only applicable to projects who had registered prior to 3/1/24
- 2/22/2019 - original publication
