Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED BD+C: Core and Shell, LEED BD+C: Schools

Rating System Version

v2 - Schools 2007, v2 - LEED 2.2, v2 - LEED 2.1, v2 - LEED 2.0

Inquiry

ID credit proposal for green power supplied during construction A recent resource management review for our project highlighted the significant consumption of electrical energy during the construction process, long before the completed building is occupied. The team has proposed an idea we would like to be considered for a possible Innovation in Design (ID) credit. To this end, we submit the following proposal: Requirement: The Owner will contract to provide 35% of on-site power during construction from a Green-e approved renewable source commensurate to the post-occupancy requirements for achieving EAc6. Proposal: Supporting the development and use of renewable energy technologies can begin long before first occupancy. High demand construction equipment, an incomplete building envelope coupled with systems testing, balancing, and building flush-out contribute to high electrical consumption during this period. By requiring a similar level of commitment to supporting green power products during construction as during occupancy, significant and additional contributions are made to the environment, human health, and development of future renewable energy technologies. Construction of a new 240,000sf Core & Shell office building is expected to last 16 months, and began 5 months ago. Permanent electrical service has recently been installed and ownership will begin purchasing 35% of the electricity supplied to the construction site from renewable sources through a contract with the local utility company. Renewable Energy Certificates will be purchased in the amount to offset a similar percentage of electricity consumed prior to installation of permanent electrical services, tracked through billing statements from the utility company. Electrical consumption is conservatively estimated to be approximately 600,000kWh for the remaining 11 months of construction. 210,000kWh (35% of total) will be supplied via a contract with the local utility to be from a Green-e approved resource. This total is commensurate with the calculated 110,000kWh/yr for this project that will be provided per the requirements of EA-Credit6 (220,000kWh over 2-years, as a comparison), and therefore we believe this to be a significant contribution to the project\'s sustainable design goals.