Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.0

Inquiry

Colorado College is required to purchase power from their local power supplier, Colorado Springs Utilities, which does offer a green power purchasing option. CSU\'s green power is not certified by CRS, but they submitted the following information about their power: While CSU\'s Green Power product is not officially certified (by CRS), we do meet the standards that apply to the renewable source. Here is a summary of those standards, including comments about how our product complies: --Types of technologies that can be included in a renewable program -our program is all wind power and this is in compliance --Products must meet definition of new renewable energy - ours meets this definition --Provider does not require customers to purchase 100% of energy from renewable sources and blocks of renewables can be mixed with utility\'s own system power - we are in compliance --Energy blocks offered to customers must generally include at least 100 kWh of renewable energy per month - we offer our wind power in 100 kWh blocks. --Customers must be able to buy as many blocks as they want or an amount equal to 100% of their monthly electric usage - we do not impose limits --Waiting list guidelines stipulate how long a customer can be on a list, how often we must communicate with them, etc - we have no waiting lists --Colorado does not allow blended energy products - while the renewable block can be purchased in combination with the utility\'s own system power, the renewable green power block must be comprised of the approved renewable sources. Our question is, if Colorado College purchases this green power on a 2-year contract that begins in 2003 (when the building is scheduled for completion), will the project qualify for this credit? Also, do we need to purchase enough to meet 50% of the building load as indicated in the new 2.1 version?