On-site and off-site renewable energy

Intent

To encourage and recognize increasing levels of on-site and off-site renewable energy to reduce environmental impacts associated with fossil fuel energy use.

Requirements

During the performance period, meet some or all of the building’s total energy use with on-site or off-site renewable energy systems. Points are earned according to the following table, which shows the percentages of building energy use met by renewable energy during the performance period.

Off-site renewable energy sources are defined by the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) Green-e products certification requirements, or the equivalent. Green power may be procured from a Green-e–certified power marketer or a Green-e–accredited utility program, or through Green-e–certified tradable renewable energy certificates (RECs), or the equivalent. For on-site renewable energy that is claimed for LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M credit, the associated environmental attributes must be retained or retired and cannot be sold.

If the green power is not Green-e certified, equivalence must exist for both major Green-e program components: 1) current green power performance standards, and 2) independent, third-party verification that those standards are being met by the green power supplier over time.

Up to the four-point limit, any combination of individual actions are awarded the sum of the points allocated to those individual actions. For example, one point would be awarded for implementing 3% of on-site renewable energy, and two additional points would be awarded for meeting 50% of the building’s energy load with renewable power or certificates during the performance period. Projects must submit proof of a contract to purchase RECs for a minimum of two years and must also make a commitment to purchase RECs on an ongoing basis beyond that.
[INSERT TABLE HERE]