Rating System

LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors, LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.0, v3 - LEED 2009

Inquiry

The project team proposes an alternative compliance approach for the achievement of this credit. The intent of this credit is to "achieve increasing levels of energy conservation beyond the prerequisite standard to reduce environmental impacts associated with excessive energy use" (LEED-CI v2.0 Reference Guide). The intent of this credit leads the project team to believe that this should be an ongoing initiative beyond just project completion and occupancy. Our project is a relocation that will include bringing computers, printers and other equipment from the existing offices to the new space. The project team feels that disposing of this equipment at the time of the relocation and buying all new equipment is not appropriate stewardship of materials nor is it cost-efficient. With an ongoing approach to improving energy conservation as the key focus while still being mindful of the appropriate use of resources (both material and financial), the project team proposes the use of a phasing plan to shift to more energy efficient equipment. This phasing plan will apply only to relocated equipment and will encompass a strict purchasing policy to replace that equipment with only energy efficient equipment as prescribed by current Energy Star guidelines. The project team will include, upon credit submission, a copy of the purchasing plan signed by upper management and a 5-year phasing plan that includes a comprehensive list of what equipment is included in the scope of the project (assessing inventory according to the spreadsheet template of LEED-CI EAc1.4) and a replacement schedule indicating the anticipated replacement timeframe and a replacement deadline for each piece of equipment. Phasing plans have been used in many situations to promote the triple bottom line goals of environment, social and financial benefits. Some examples of successful phase-out plans are the Montreal Protocol for the global phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) and many project-specific phase-outs of light bulbs (through replacing less efficient bulbs, like T-12 lamps, with more energy efficient ones, like T-8 or T-5 lamps, only after the old bulbs burned out and required replacement).