Rating System

LEED O+M: Existing Buildings

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.0

Inquiry

The project is seeking LEED-EB certification for a 640,000 square foot IT Research and Development facility. The facility is comprised of a large computer/server R&D lab and office space. The computer/server R&D lab area is 160,000 square feet, 25% of the building\'s total area. We understand that per LEED-EBv2.0 EAp2 CIR Ruling on 2/4/2008, it is acceptable to subtract the process energy consumption associated with labs and clean rooms or other high energy intensity spaces from the total building energy consumption only if these spaces make up less than 15% of the building floor area. In this case, the high energy intensity spaces make up 25% of the floor area and represent 67% of the overall building energy consumption. The project has achieved 30%+ energy savings on the lighting and HVAC systems. The 30%+ energy savings are reduced to approximately 10% savings when the plug load for the R&D lab space is included in the calculations. The high plug load puts this project at a disadvantage when compared to conventional office buildings and other building types. A subtraction of the plug load from the energy use total for high energy intensity spaces that make up 25% of the total building floor area would represent an alternative compliance path to achieving EA Credit 1. We request a CIR ruling from the USGBC to accept the compliance path.