Rating System

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

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.2, v3 - LEED 2009, v2 - Schools 2007, v3 - LEED 2009, v3 - LEED 2009, v3 - LEED 2009

Inquiry

CIRs have been posted under LEED-NC v2.0/2.1 stating that if a project team could reduce the potential use of CFC chillers to less than 5% of the time on an annual basis, then the project would qualify for the extended phase-out period of 5 to 7 years, assuming correct documentation is provided (as outlined in the EAp3 CIR Ruling dated 12/01/03). Would this same ruling apply to our project pursuing LEED-NCv2.2 for a planned 7-year phase out? Details of the project and the team\'s intended plans to demonstrate compliance are described below: The project is a multi-phased major renovation and demolition of the PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center located in Eugene, Oregon. The LEED-NC v2.2 project scope includes the two buildings referred to as the Main and Ancillary, both of which will undergo major renovations as a result of the project. The buildings will be cooled by 2 chillers, an existing 300-ton chiller and a new 600-ton chiller. The existing 300-ton centrifugal chiller located in the basement of the Main Building was manufactured by Carrier and installed in 1982. It had a major motor rebuild in approximately 1986. This unit supplies chilled water to the six air handlers in the Main second floor mechanical room that provide cooling to all the Main Building floors. This chiller uses R-11 refrigerant, which is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and therefore violates the prerequisite requirements. The new 600-ton chiller will serve the Main and Ancillary Buildings in addition to the existing 300 ton chiller. Based on our load calculations, the peak cooling load in the Main Building is 435 tons and the Ancillary load is 450 tons. With these loads and Eugene weather data, the cooling load should not exceed 600 tons more for than 5% of the time. The 300 ton chiller will therefore be used less than 5% of the time. As the CFC chiller will be used less than 5% of the time, the project team is requesting a 7-year phase-out extension. In order to demonstrate compliance with the prerequisite the project will provide: 1) A summary of the new and existing buildings on campus and the cooling load of each building, 2) Sizes for each of the new and existing chillers, 3) A description of chiller staging to demonstrate use of CFC-free chillers as backup, and, 4) A letter of commitment from the owner, describing the phase-out plan and timeframe.