Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.2

Inquiry

We are writing to request clarification on how many people one alternative fuel vehicle may service. Our project is a multi-tenant building with 600 full time tenants. Obviously 3% of the building\'s FTE occupants must be serviced in this case 18 people, but past CIR\'s and the LEED v2.1 reference guide present unclear positions as to how many occupants per vehicle one can assume. \nFor example, in the calculation of carpool spaces we are to assume two occupants per vehicle. However, in CIR dated 1/6/04 the project proposes the use of Zipcar Inc., "Zipcar\'s internal calculations provide for one car per every 25-30 members." The ruling issued on 2/2/04 states " . . . Because use of the Zipcar service allows the intent of SSc4.3 to be met in a multi-unit residential setting, USGBC will grant equivalence for the credit\'s AFV/hybrid vehicle compliance path IF the Zipcar contract is for at least 2 years AND the calculations adn assumptions behind Zipcar\'s estimates of customers served/car are found reasonable by the certification reviewers. . . " Should our client purchase an alternative fuel vehicle for the building, a sharing program will be utilized to organize the use of the vehicle. All the tenants of the building will have equal claim to the car. In this sense, the usage pattern of the vehicle will be no different than that of the Zipcar program. A program is already in place with regards to the use of a company van. We believe that the intent of this credit is to minimize the amount of vehicle based emissions. Naturally, one would then assume that "solo" driving would be discouraged. In our case we believe that buying a fleet of 18 alternative fuel vehicles for the use of the building goes against the spirit of the credit.\nThis leads us back to the main question, how many people can we assume are serviced by a shared-use alternative fuel vehicle ?\n