Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.0

Inquiry

Exceptional Performance of SSc4.3: Alternative Fuel Vehicles CIR Reinterpretation Request (appeal): Innovation Point IDc1.4 on 12/06/02. Intent Statement: Hillsboro City Hall will be a new 120,000 square foot building complex in Hillsboro Oregon about 20 miles west of downtown Portland. The Portland metropolitan area has grown out to this historic city which now assumes a very prominent position as the major urban center for this former agricultural area. High technology companies have located in this area and brought with them many new, high-paying jobs. The area has experienced rapid growth in the past 20 years and this project represents the progressive thinking of the City of Hillsboro government. Requirements: The City Hall project is requesting an Innovation Credit reinterpretation for the purchase of a fleet of CNG vehicles for use by government officials. This is in addition to providing electric vehicle charging stations for the Sustainable Sites SSc43 point. The original credit interpretation IDc filed on 12/6/2002 received the following Project Manager\'s Ruling on 12/23/2002: "LEED Version 2.1 clarifies how the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) can be included in the LEED application. Purchasing (or long-term leasing) AFVs for 3% of the building occupants and providing preferred parking for those vehicles will earn one point under SSc4.3. See the LEED Version V2.1 Rating System or Letter Template for submittal requirements." In our conversations with USGBC, we clarified that it appeared the Project Manager\'s review had overlooked the first sentence of the Request: "In addition to electric vehicle recharging stations on-site ..." where we fulfill the requirement for the SSc4.3 point with three 4-hour on-site electric recharging stations. Design Approach Narrative: The City is committed to sustainable development and a green path towards its operations. When considering whether to build a CNG fueling station in the fleet parking area of the new City Hall, City Management struck upon a better idea, one that fosters sustainability among a larger population. Towards that end, the City has entered into a unique partnership with a local fuel supplier to encourage the supplier to invest in "fast fill" CNG fueling equipment and to foster its use by members of the general public. Given the uncertainty of the market, the supplier was unwilling to make the investment unless a critical mass of vehicles is available and committed to making purchases from the facility. To instigate the private investment , the City will make an initial purchase of 12 CNG vehicles and has made a commitment to purchase 4 to 6 new vehicles annually for the following 5 years (another 20-30 CNG vehicles). Each of the CNG vehicles purchased by the City of Hillsboro will be used a minimum of eight hours per day (5 will be used by police, probably for double shifts). Rather than build a CNG refueling station on the site of the new City Hall to be used only by government vehicles, the City believes its plan to partner with a private fuel distribution company that will build a CNG refueling station within a few blocks of the new City Hall to also be used by the public is a better method to foster the use of alternative fuel vehicles. When this facility proves successful, others could be built in the region. Without the patronage of the City, the initial CNG refueling station would not be built. That is why we feel the purchase of a CNG City fleet combined with the creation of a new nearby CNG refueling station is worthy of a LEED Innovation Point. Submittals: We are happy to provide additional information USGBC may feel relevant in supporting this Innovation Credit.