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A lot is at stake here
EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance is, by far, the most important credit in LEED, based on the number of points available. Up to 19 points are at stake here based on how much you’re able to reduce the project’s predicted energy cost. That large amount of points also reflects the great importance LEED places on reducing energy use and forestalling climate change1. Climate change refers to any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation, or wind) lasting for an extended period (decades or longer). (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2008) 2.The increase in global average temperatures being caused by a buildup of CO2 and other...
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8 Comments
Energy Modeling and Building Shading
We are working on an elementary school project and we're trying to correctly model the sun shading. We understand we should "count" the benefits from permanent sun shading devices designed at windows (for example, projections from the building). We also understand that you cannot "count" any shading benefits from adjacent buildings on neighboring sites (because perhaps that other building will be torn down in the future).
However, we believe we should model the shading effects on our own building. In other words, one wing of the school is 2 stories and the other wing of the building is one story. The two story wing will shade the single story wing for at least part of the day. Is this considered adjacent building shading? Or, can we submit it as "self shading".
We are modeling the project using Trane Trace which calls building shading "adjacent building shading"- which is not to be counted by LEED. We've categorized it as adjacent building shading simply because Trane Trace doesn't have a "self shading" option.
Is self shading a legitimate strategy to demonstrate projected energy savings? And, if so, how can we communicate to our reviewer that we really mean "self shading" and not "adjacent building shading".
And no, there is no way the 2 story wing of the building will ever be demolished.
Any help is appreciated.
Joanna
Christopher Schaffner replied Principal, The Green Engineer, LLP May 28 2010
Self shading is definitely a legitimate strategy. Some software packages can pick this up "automatically". I don't believe Trace has that capability.
I would do just what you described above, and include an explanatory narrative in your LEED submission.
Energy Performance and LEED Boundary in v 3
I'm told that the GBCI review teams evaluating LEED for Schools 2009 projects will no longer allow a portion of a project that is scheduled to remain untouched to be excluded from the LEED Boundary.
We have a number of schools now in feasibility stage with recent additions of gyms or classrooms that we would not plan to address in the modernization. If we can't exclude them, we may have a hard time meeting our mandated LEED Silver level certification.
Anyone else have an issue with this?
LEED project boundary
Karen: This is a result of the Minimum Program Requirements (specifically, #2, Must Be a Complete, Permanent Building or Space) , which are new to LEED 2009 rating systems. You can read more about them along with the supplemental guidance, here:http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=2102.
The supplemental guidance talks about the reasons behind each MPR - this might be helpful to you.
Karen Anderson replied LEED program manager, Montgomery County Public Schools May 25 2010
Cara: Yes, thanks, I did know that. Our school system is required by State Law to meet LEED Silver and I don't think we can meet even some of the prerequisites if we have to include an existing part of the building. I understand the thinking behind this MPR, but it does not make sense to renovate a six year old classroom addition. Unless we find some flexibility on the part of the LEED review teams, we'll have to seek a waiver from the state.
Karen
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC May 25 2010
I'm curious which prerequisites you don't think you can meet? EAp2? IEQp1?
To be clear, you're not required by LEED to renovate the addition, just to include it in the various LEED credit calculations and compliance documents. Reusing the building could help you with some MR credits.
Karen Anderson replied LEED program manager, Montgomery County Public Schools May 28 2010
Tristan: I'm worried about EQp3 Minimum Accoustical Performance. Our classroom additions were not built seven years ago with any thought to STCSound transmission class (STC) is a single-number rating for the acoustic attenuation of airborne sound passing through a partition or other building element, such as a wall, roof, or door, as measured in an acoustical testing laboratory according to accepted industry practice. A higher STC rating provides more sound attenuation through a partition. (ANSI S12.602002) ratings. I'm also concerned about EAp3, but I'm not a mechanical engineer so don't know how that might affect us.
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC May 28 2010
EAp3 is pretty easy, and for a seven-year-old buliding I think you'd be fine.
Why don't you post about your situation over on the IEQp3 forum? It's an interesting situation.
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