LEED Certification Tips and Slips
Presented by:
Brandon T. Martin, PE, CEM,
Mechanical Design Chief
&
Steve Thibaudeau, PE,
Civil Engineer
Louisville District
16 January 2013
US Army Corps of Engineers
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Legal Stuff
LEED® Rating System information displayed in this
presentation is attributed to the U.S. Green Building Council
for authorship and copyright.
The views presented are ours and do not necessarily
represent the views of DoD or its Components.
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Presentation Outline
 Government Sustainability
 Project Certification Tips
 Technical Slips
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911th Airlift Wing, Pittsburgh, PA Lodging Facility
LEED v2.2 Gold Certified
Louisville District – In-House Design
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Tactical Equipment Maintenance Facility
Fort Campbell, KY
LEED v2.2 Gold Certified
Louisville District – Design/Build
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Government Sustainability
 30% Energy Reduction – Energy Policy Act 2005
 100% Fossil Fuel Reduction by 2030 – Energy Independence
and Security Act (EISA) 2007
 Low Impact Development – EISA 2007
 Federal High Performing Sustainable Buildings (FHPSB)
LEED Silver is Army Policy. Captures many of the
Federal requirements.
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Project Administration--Tips
 Stay current on LEED addenda
 Rating system “frozen” at time of registration. Not
required to meet new addenda following registration.
 Keep up to date on Reference Guide addenda and
the latest LEED interpretations.
 Use LEED interpretations to your advantage.
 Seek interpretation where anything is not in STRICT
accordance with existing guidance.
 Remember that GBCI acceptance on one project
does not ensure acceptance on another.
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Project Administration--Tips
 Form Data Linkages
 Interconnects credits and autopopulates shared
information
 Examples
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Building footprint (SF)
Occupancy
Materials costs (Div 2-10)
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Project Administration--Tips
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Project Administration--Tips
 Form Upgrades
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Project Administration--Tips

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Form Upgrades
Wipes out old forms
Can do credit by credit
Requests accepted from project administrator,
project team manager, or project team members
assigned to the credit
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Project Administration--Tips
 LEED Review Reports
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Project Administration--Tips
 Get LEED spec distributed to subs
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Project Administration--Tips
 Develop sustainable design submittal forms
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Project Certification Tips
 Owner Coordination & Post Occupancy Work
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Always confirm owner participation if
pursuing credits requiring postoccupancy effort.
Examples:
• IDc1 - Green Cleaning
• IEQc7.2 - Thermal Comfort Verification
• EAc5 - Measurement & Verification
Louisville District, USACE Specification allows
these credits as part of minimum required LEED
score strategy ONLY if written documentation
confirms Government participation/coordination. You want me to do WHAT?!!
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Project Certification Tips
 Owner Coordination & Post Occupancy Work
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Understand Owner operations. Make sure that credits are value added.
October 2012
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Project Certification Tips
 Innovation in Design
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ID credits carry risk, especially where no
precedent has been set.
Louisville District, USACE Specification
requires Government evaluation and no
Innovation is fine.
obligation for the Government to accept
Just manage the risk.
credits.
Have a safety net. Do not count on ID credits to reach goal
if possible.
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Technical Slips
 Common Issues
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Inconsistencies among credits that share inputs.
• Example: Light Pollution Reduction & Optimize Energy Performance
• Example: Minimum IAQ Performance & Optimize Energy Performance
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Inconsistencies within credit documentation.
• Example: Energy model input/output reports do not match templates.
• Example: Number of plumbing fixtures do not match templates.
• Example: Number of individual occupant controls do not match
templates
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Technical Slips
 Common Issues
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Lack of understanding of referenced standards.
• Example: Incorrect calculation of ventilation rates or application of
demand controlled ventilation per ASHRAE 62.1.
• Example: Simplistic calculation of U values vs ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix
A.
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Incomplete documentation
• Example: EAp2/EAc1 table 1.4.
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Technical Slips
 Common Issues
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Changes in practice/processes
• Example: Third-party commissioning –
Contracts, relationships, coordination.
• Example: Allowing time for building flushout between construction completion and
occupancy.
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Technical Slips
 EAp2/EAc1
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Considerations
• Energy Modeling is complex. Lots of ways to make a mistake.
• GBCI will always make comments. Even perfect energy model will get
questions due to assumptions regarding design vs energy
consumption.
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Technical Slips
 EAp2/EAc1
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Considerations
• Remember that the energy consumption calculated is for the purpose
of comparison between alternatives. ASHRAE PRM attempts to get as
close to “apples to apples” comparison as possible. Rules are not set
up to facilitate energy consumption prediction.
• Software Limitations – No one software package handles all systems
or conservation measures. Innovative design can be difficult to model.
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Technical Slips
 EAp2/EAc1
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Considerations
• Exceptional calculations – Acceptability is subjective. Be sure the
calculation uses a reasonable method.
• GBCI reviewers use experience to assess whether an energy reduction
is likely, equipment sizes seem appropriate, etc. May need to be
prepared to provide additional documentation. Make sure design
supports reported energy savings.

Example: Condensing boilers modeled at 94% efficiency but operated at
180 deg F supply temperature.
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Technical Slips
 EAp2/EAc1
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Quick Check
• Building floor area matches design and
matches between submitted documentation.
• All template/table fields completed.
• Check unmet load hours w/in tolerance.
• Energy model warnings are addressed.
• Process energy cost is at least 25% of baseline energy cost OR a
justification is provided.
• Correct climate zone reported. (Listed by state/county in ASHRAE 90.1)
• Ensure ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guides are properly
applied. Design is not out of scope of document.
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Technical Slips
 EAp2/EAc1
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Inconsistent Submission Documents
• Scheduled equipment sizes do not match LEED documentation.
• Energy model input/output reports do not match data in LEED
documentation.
• Building areas in energy model reports do not match LEED documents.
• Back-up documentation for water heating reduction due to low-flow
fixtures not provided.
• Window-to-gross-wall ratio inconsistent between proposed and
baseline models. Baseline not in accordance with standard.
• Ventilation rates not consistent with IEQp1/IEQc2 documentation.
• Exterior lighting power not consistent with SSc8 documentation.
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Technical Slips
 EAp2/EAc1
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PRM Energy Modeling Rules
• Building envelope, HVAC, lighting, etc. in accordance with ASHRAE
90.1 Chapter 5.
• Calculate U values in accordance with ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix A.
• Understand F-Factor in tables vs floor design.
• Understand definition of conditioned space. Impacts whether cooling
must be modeled for heating only spaces.
• Pay attention to fan power limitation.
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Technical Slips
 EAp2/EAc1
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PRM Energy Modeling Rules
• Include task lighting. Ensure consistent with IEQc6.1.
• Understand tradable and non-tradable surfaces for exterior power. Do
not double-dip on lighting power savings (do not take credit for
multiple surfaces from same fixtures).
• Use full year weather data. Do not use reduced year data.
• Select correct systems for baseline energy models.
• Fuel type consistent between proposed and baseline systems.
• Use consistent thermal zones/blocks between proposed and baseline
systems.
• Understand how thermal zones must be defined.
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Technical Slips
 EAp2/EAc1
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PRM Energy Modeling Rules
• Include oversizing factors for HVAC equipment in baseline energy
model.
• Fan efficiency must be separately reported in HVAC package system
even if package has a single combined efficiency rating.
• Air flows in baseline energy model based on 20 deg F temperature
difference.
• Take credit for occupancy sensors and daylighting controls in
accordance with ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G.
• Do NOT take credit for manual shading devices.
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Technical Slips
 EAp2/EAc1
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Process Loads
• Do not neglect energy using systems: snow melt, sump pumps,
exterior lighting, elevators, etc.
• Process energy cost at least 25% of baseline energy cost; otherwise,
provide justification.
• Do NOT arbitrarily set to 25%.
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Technical Slips
 WEc2/WEc3
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Special Occupancy Breakdown – Male & Female.
Justify.
 EAp1/EAc3
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OPR/BOD does not match design/energy models
Contracting relationships
Coordination
Qualifications
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Technical Slips
 EAp3/EAc4
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Equipment in schedules w/ refrigerant not accounted for in LEED
documents.
 IEQp1/IEQc2
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Incorrect calculation of ventilation rates.
Examples:
- Wrong Distribution Effectiveness (Ez = 1 or 0.8).
- Incorrect calculation of System Ventilation Efficiency.
- Excluding critical space due to coverage by CO2
sensor.
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Technical Slips
 IEQc1
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Partial coverage of spaces. Some spaces on system
covered by CO2 monitors but others not; AFMS not in
system.
Designer does not attempt point b/c mistakes monitor
and alarm for DCV.
Constant volume systems – use current transmitter in
lieu of measuring flow w/ AFMS.
Sensors or alarms not included in BAS/UMCS point
schedules. Incorrect alarm setpoint.
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Technical Slips
 IEQc3
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Insufficient time planned for flushing or IAQ testing.
Punch-listing during flushing period.
Design team should advise contractor of preferred flush-out option based
on HVAC system capabilities – Prior to Occupancy or During Occupancy
 IEQc6.2
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Credit attempted but less than 50% of
occupants have individual comfort control.
Typical issue for open office areas.
Conference or multi-purpose rooms w/
dividing wall has only one thermostat.
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Technical Slips
 IEQc7.1
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Consider operate temperature vs air
temperature. Occupants subjected to radiant
heat/cool?
Consider all normally occupied spaces.
Example: Workshops typically ventilated only;
credit requires compliance in these spaces.
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Technical Slips
 SSc4.3 Alt. Trans. Low Emit. & Fuel Eff. Vehicles
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Technical Slips
 SSc5.2 Maximize Open Space
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Technical Slips
 SSc5.2 Maximize Open Space
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Technical Slips
 WEc1 Water Efficient Landscaping
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The End
Comments
Questions?
Discussion
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