EW C4: Energy Efficiency + On-Site and/ or Neighborhood Renewable Energy – Above Green

(1-71 points)

INTENT

Conserve Energy, improve access to clean energy + diverse energy sources in support of the following: Improve the balance of human development and its use of energy and natural energy flows, the biophysical environment and the geochemical flows of nature; maintain a dynamic balance with energy needs and energy availability; maintain a manageable condition with energy use and availability during short-term shortages and/ or supply interruptions improving passive survivability; and plan for long-term as nonrenewable energy stocks are depleted + gross energy availability declines worldwide.

Structure + Community Requirements

EW Action 4.1 Energy Optimization (1-18 points)

Reduce Energy Demand for the project through efficiency and conservation methods from between 6% and 50% below the ASHRAE 90.1 2010 baseline.

Refer to the LEED® v4 NC (New Construction) “Energy Optimization” Credit or equal

EW Action 4.2 On-Site or Neighborhood Renewable Energy Production (1-14 points)

Renewable Energy

Meet Green-E Criteria for renewable energy qualifications. The following sources are included: Solar electric, solar thermal, wind, clean bio-mass/bio-digestion and microhydro. Up to 30%: 1-7 points per LEED renewable energy credit, then 1 point per additional 10% up to 100%

Structure + Community:

1% to 10% LEED® v4 NC (New Construction) or equal Credit: “Renewable Energy Production” for criteria
10% to 100% LEED® v4 NC (New Construction) or equal Credit: “Renewable Energy Production” for basic criteria

EW Action 4.3 Compliance with AIA 2030 Commitment or Minnesota SB 2030 (7-12 points)

Reduce non-renewable energy use through efficiency, conservation or on-site renewable energy below that of a similar building or set of buildings by the following amounts:

2015 through 2019: 70% = 7 points;
2020 through 2024: 80% = 8 points;
2025 through 2029: 90% = 10 points;
2030 through 2034: 100% = 12 points;

Baseline: 2030 Challenge U.S. Median Site Energy Use Energy Star Target Finder (Portfolio Manager)

EW Action 4.4 Renewable Energy - Distributed Generation (1-10 points)

Structures

Provide energy to the Utility Distribution Grid with capacity up to 10,000 KW. Renewable Energy sources include wind electric, solar electric and biogas polished to a natural gas equivalent. Adapt renewable energy sources other than solar electric and/or lease base economic structures as appropriate.

Refer to LEED® v4 “Renewable Energy - Distributed Generation” Pilot Credit for guidance.

Communities

Provide energy to a Neighborhood Micro-Grid with redundant connectivity to the main Utility Distribution Grid for electric and biogas polished to a natural gas equivalent. Renewable Energy sources include wind electric, solar electric, solar thermal + biomass derived natural gas. Adapt renewable energy sources other than solar electric and/or lease base economic structures as appropriate.

Refer to LEED® v4 “Renewable Energy - Distributed Generation” Pilot Credit for guidance.
Refer to the Connecticut Guidelines for micro-grids and energy storage.

EW Action 4.5 Net Positive Energy (1-11 points)

Net Zero Energy

Total amount of energy used by the building or community on an annual basis is roughly equal to or greater than the amount of renewable energy created on the site. The building must reduce its energy demand by at least 60% through efficiency.

Net Positive Energy: 5% surplus energy production (3 Points)
20% surplus energy production (2 Points)
30% surplus energy production (2 Points)
50% surplus energy production (2 Points)
100% surplus energy production (2 Points)

Baseline: CBEC Data base via the Energy Star Target Finder

EW Action 4.6 District Heating and Cooling (1-4 points)

Project with at least 2 buildings

Provide 80% of the project energy with district heating and cooling systems that perform at least 10% better than ASHRAE 90.1 2010.

Refer to LEED ND V4 Credit “District Heating and Cooling” or equal for criteria.

EW Credit 4.7 Green Power + Carbon-Neutral Operations (1-2 points)

Provide 50%, 100%, 120% or 200% of the project’s annual energy with Green-E Certified RECs Reference: LEED NC V4 Green Power Credit