Rating System

LEED O+M: Existing Buildings

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.0

Inquiry

The project team is pursuing MR credit 2 Optimize Use of Alternative Materials. The credit requirements state that project teams are to "maintain a sustainable purchasing program covering at least office paper, office equipment, furniture, furnishings and building materials for use in the building and on the site." Sustainability criteria listed in the credit requirements include salvaged material, recycled content, rapidly renewable material, local manufacture and harvest, and FSC certification. The project will make significant purchases of office equipment during the performance period and all equipment will be ENERGY STAR rated where an ENERGY STAR option exists. However, Energy Star is not included in the sustainability criteria listed for MR credit 2 - though it does appear in the associated credit under the Existing Buildings Operations & Maintenance rating system. Can the project team include ENERGY STAR rated equipment in its calculations of compliant purchases for MR credit 2?