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LEED v4
Homes
Energy and Atmosphere

Active Solar-Ready Design

LEED CREDIT

Homes-v4 EAc4: Active Solar-Ready Design 1 point

LEEDuser’s viewpoint

Explore this LEED credit

Post your questions on this credit in the forum, and click on the credit language tab to review to the LEED requirements.

Credit language

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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Credit available for all projects, whether they are using the EA performance or EA prescriptive path
Option 1. Photovoltaic-Ready Design (1 point)
A project team that installs a photovoltaic (PV) system that meets the requirements of EA Credit Renewable Energy is not eligible for this credit. Meet EPA’s solar photovoltaic specifications for a renewable energy–ready home. Provide detailed information about such systems in the homeowner education manual so that future occupants can install an active PV system.

AND/OR

Option 2. Solar Direct Hot Water–Ready Design (1 point)
A project team that installs a solar direct hot water (DHW) system that meets the requirements of EA Credit Efficient Domestic Hot Water Equipment is not eligible for this credit. MeetEPA’s solar water heating specifications for a renewable energy–ready home. Provide detailed information about such systems in the homeowner education manual so that future occupants can install an active solar DHW system. See all forum discussions about this credit »

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

10/14/2019Updated: 10/14/2019
Regional ACP
Description of change:
Refer to attached resource to view the Energy & Atmosphere Alternative Compliance Paths for Canada Projects,
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
4/5/2016
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

According to the US DOE “Zero Energy Ready Homes are at least 40%-50% more energy efficient than a typical new home. This generally corresponds to a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index Score in the low- to mid-50s, depending on the size of the home and region in which it is built.”

Interpretation 10398 states that projects that receive ENERGY STAR for Homes v3 certification may automatically earn a HERS 70. Can projects that earn the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home label also receive a HERS equivalency?

Ruling:

Projects that earn the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certificate may automatically earn a 15 points in EA credit Annual Energy Use.

In addition, projects that earn the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certificate meet the following credits and prerequisites:

EA prerequisite Minimum energy performance (Required)
EA prerequisite Education of homeowner, tenant, or building manager (Required)
EA credit Efficient hot water distribution system Option 2. Performance test (3 points)
EA credit Active solar-ready design (1 point)
EA credit HVAC Start-up credentialing (1 point)
EA credit Annual energy use (15 points)
IN credit Innovation ZERH (1 point)

Projects also meet the requirements of all credits and prerequisites deemed equivalent to the EPA Indoor airPLUS program.

Update 7/25/19: This interpretation does not apply to projects that include pools or other major energy users not covered by the energy model.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
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.

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Credit available for all projects, whether they are using the EA performance or EA prescriptive path
Option 1. Photovoltaic-Ready Design (1 point)
A project team that installs a photovoltaic (PV) system that meets the requirements of EA Credit Renewable Energy is not eligible for this credit. Meet EPA’s solar photovoltaic specifications for a renewable energy–ready home. Provide detailed information about such systems in the homeowner education manual so that future occupants can install an active PV system.

AND/OR

Option 2. Solar Direct Hot Water–Ready Design (1 point)
A project team that installs a solar direct hot water (DHW) system that meets the requirements of EA Credit Efficient Domestic Hot Water Equipment is not eligible for this credit. MeetEPA’s solar water heating specifications for a renewable energy–ready home. Provide detailed information about such systems in the homeowner education manual so that future occupants can install an active solar DHW system.
See all LEEDuser forum discussions about this credit » Subscribe to new discussions about Homes-v4 EAc4