Building on LEED Improving the evaluation of

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Building on LEEDImproving the evaluation of
green bulidings

• Erika Larsen
• Kathryn King
• Likwan Cheng
• Alp Esener

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Residential and commercial buildings are key
contributors to energy use and environmental
damage

• Buildings are a key source of US energy use

• 5 Billion gallons of potable water are used to
  flush toilets.
• Typical jobsite creates 2.5 pounds/sf of solid
  waste.
• 20 of fresh water species faced extinction over
  the last several decades.

• Sourced from www.dcp.ufl.edu/ckibert/Lectures/LEE
  D_Intro_Spring04_042704.ppt and
  http//dls.state.va.us/groups/HousingCommission/Do
  cuments/2007documents/GreenBldg.pdf

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LEED point system was develop to add greater
transparency and structure

• LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental
  Design
• A point based site/design/construction
  certification system
• Designed by US Green Building Council (USGBC) in
  1998
• Intended to be a whole building approach to
  take into account interactions in energy
  use/emissions within the building design
• Define green by providing a standard for
  measurement
• Prevent greenwashing (false or exaggerated
  claims)
• Stimulate green competition
• Reduce buildings impacts on the Environment

Background
Goals
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LEED is a menu-driven system with 6 categories
and 69 possible points
Category Purpose Points possible
Sustainable Sites Reduce environmental damage by encouraging more sustainable means of transport 1 prerequisite 14 possible points
Water Efficiency Encourage more efficient use of water and waste treatment 5 possible points
Energy and Atmosphere Optimize energy use by encouraging more green and on-site renewable energy Encourage reductions in emissions and refrigerants 3 prerequisites 17 possible points
Materials and resources Encourages use of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials in construction and renovation. 1 prerequisite 13 possible points
Indoor Environmental Quality Encourage standards and products that reduce health risks to occupants 2 prerequisites 15 possible points
Innovation and Design Incentivize adherence to LEED design code, e.g., including LEED certified member in process 5 possible points
LEED Certification Type Min-Max Points
Certified 26-32
Silver 33-38
Gold 39-51
Platinum 52-60
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There are several benefits of the LEED model
Overall (across building types)
Economic

• Initial premium is estimated under 5, less with
  proper education
• In one case study, market value increased 4 for
  every 1 invested in green improvements
• In another case study, waste management and
  cleaning costs decreased from 1.87 to 1.16/sq.
  ft
• Also linked to retail sales and workplace
  productivity increases (2-16)

Health Safety

• People on average spend 90 of time indoors
• Contaminants indoors can be 2 to 5x worse than
  outdoors
• Sickness as a result of improper cleaning
  estimated to cause more than 60-400 bn annually
  in productivity losses

• Sourced from http//www.rose-hulman.edu/users/gr
  oups/Facilities/HTML/departments/custodial/Sustain
  ability-01-15-2007.ppt273,10,Examples of
  Customer Value

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As a result, LEED projects and USGBC memberships
have steadily increased
LEED Projects have increased steadily across all
type of buildings
And USGBC membership growth has reflected this
expansion

• Sourced from http//dls.state.va.us/groups/Housi
  ngCommission/Documents/2007documents/GreenBldg.pdf
  

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Current Critiques of LEED 2.2

• Inequitable points
• The LEED point system awards 1 point for most
  project items.
• Does not weigh more cost-effective or energy
  efficient schemes more heavily.
• Administrative drawbacks
• Can take up to 300 days to become certified.
• Documentation can take up to 225 hours to fully
  complete and be verified.

• LEED was initially designed to be a
  helpful tool, not a mandate

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LEED 3.0

• A new version has been released for
• public comment.
• Our project will evaluate the energy
• and atmosphere section looking at
• Point distribution
• Labs

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LEED 3.0
Energy and Atmosphere

Energy Section is 24 of total points Energy section is 35 of total points
Minimum Energy Performance 14 Minimum Energy Performance 10
Need to increase energy performance by 3.5 to receive additional points Need to increase energy performance by 4.0 to receive additional points
LEED 2.2
LEED 3.0
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LEED 2.2
Energy and Atmosphere

• Percent Energy Savings
• Performance Baseline Predicted
  Performance
• 100 x
• Performance
  Baseline

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LEED 2.2
Energy and Atmosphere
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LEED 2.2
Energy and Atmosphere
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LCC Method

• Calculate costs based
• region, type of fuel used,
• over the life of the product.
• Discount by a 4 rate.
• Calculate the savings on
• an energy efficient
• product compared to
• a conventional product.

• Sourced from Energy Star Savings Calculator

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LCC comparison

• Two products
• that are both designed
• to provide an 18
• energy efficiency.
• However have very
• different economic
• impacts.

• Sourced from Energy Star Savings Calculator

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LCA Method

• The LCA method
• is calculated by
• looking at the all
• necessary inputs
• during the life of
• a product.
• This number can is
• calculated by different
• software such as BEES
• TRACI or GABI.
• The software is able to
• trace out different areas
• of interest such as energy
• input or GHG emissions
• over the life of the product.

• Sourced from BEES software. NOTE A lower
  score is better

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LCA Case study PV solar panel

• The energy
• used during the
• life cycle of the
• BOS is not
• included in the
• current
• LEED point
• structure.

• Sourced from GABI software

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LCA Case Study PC solar system

• The GHG emission
• created during the
• life cycle of the
• BOS is not
• included in the
• current
• LEED point
• structure.

• Sourced from BEES software

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LCA LEED point

• The most sustainable
• LEED point system would
• weight according to the
• LCC
• (economic Impact)
• and the
• LCA
• (environmental impact)

• Sourced from BEES software

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Costs and Benefits of LCC and LCA
Costs
Benefits
Complexity Accurate Environmental Impact
Building Data Bases Fully Sustainable Approach
Training
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LEED For Laboratory Buildings?
Electricity Usage by Building Types (kWh/sf)

• Laboratory buildings
• Energy intensive
• More complex
• Greater variability in operation schedules
• LEED-Application Guide for Laboratoriesunder
  development.

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Savings-Based LEED Point Allocation Lab Fume Hood
Energy Use as Function of Sash Position and Fan
Power
Energy Savings Measures Automatic Sash Controller Variable Air Volume System
Settings (Sash Height Fan Power) 6 to 0.25 in 1.8 W/cfm 1.8 to 0.8 W/cfm 6 in
Annual Energy Savings 5,765 kBtu 2,263 kBtu
LEED Points Based on Annual Energy Savings 1 0.4
Present Value of Life-Time Cost Savings (15 years 5) 10,065 1,839
Net Benefits 8,565 839
LEED Points Based on LT Net Benefits 1 0.1
Fuel Savings 72 MBtu 0
Present Value of LT Carbon Cost Savings (15 years 5) 350 0
Net Benefits Carbon Cost Savings 8,915 839
LEED Points Based on LT Net Benefits Carbon Cost Savings 1 0.1
Based on LNBL Model
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QUESTIONS?