Updated August 2019

Updated August 2019

 i

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Copyright© 2013 by the U.S. Green Building Council. All rights reserved.

The U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. (USGBC) devoted significant time and resources to create this LEED
Reference Guide for Building Operations and Maintenance, LEED v4 Edition. USGBC authorizes individual
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TRADEMARK
LEED® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council.
LEED Reference Guide for Building Operations and Maintenance
LEED v4 Edition
ISBN # 978-1-932444-20-9
ii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The LEED Reference Guide for Building Operations and Maintenance, 2013 Edition, has been made possible
only through the efforts of many dedicated volunteers, staff members, and others in the USGBC community. The
Reference Guide drafting was managed and implemented by USGBC staff and consultants and included review
and suggestions by many Technical Advisory Group (TAG) members. We extend our deepest gratitude to all of our
LEED committee members who participated in the development of this guide, for their tireless volunteer efforts and
constant support of USGBC’s mission:

LEED Steering Committee

Joel Todd, Chair Joel Ann Todd
Bryna Dunn, Vice-Chair Moseley Architects
Felipe Faria Green Building Council Brasil
Elaine Hsieh KEMA Services
Susan Kaplan BuildingWrx
Malcolm Lewis Cadmus Group
Muscoe Martin M2 Architecture
Lisa Matthiessen Integral Group
Brend Morawa Integrated Environmental Solutions
Tim Murray Morris Architects
Sara O'Mara Choate Construction Company
Bruce Poe Modus Architecture Collaborative
Alfonso Ponce Deloitte Finance
David Sheridan Aqua Cura
Lynn Simon Thornton Tomasetti
Doug Gatlin (Non-voting) U.S. Green Building Council
Scot Horst (Non-voting) U.S. Green Building Council
Brendan Owens (Non-voting) U.S. Green Building Council
Peter Templeton (Non-voting) U.S. Green Building Council

LEED Technical Committee

Susan Kaplan, Chair BuildingWrx
Maureen McGeary Mahle, Vice-Chair Steven Winter Associates
Jennifer Atlee BuildingGreen
Steve Baer Five Winds International
Ted Bardacke Global Green USA
Steve Benz OLIN
Neal Billetdeaux SmithGroupJJR
David Bracciano Alliance for Water Efficiency
Daniel Bruck BRC Acoustics & Audiovisual Design
David Carlson Columbia University
Jenny Carney YR&G
Mark Frankel New Buildings Institute
Nathan Gauthier EA Buildings
George Brad Guy Catholic University of America
Michelle Halle Stern The Green Facilitator
Malcolm Lewis Cadmus Group
John McFarland Working Buildings LLC
Jessica Millman The Agora Group
Neil Rosen North Shore LIJ Health System
Thomas Scarola Tishman Speyer
Chris Schaffner The Green Engineer
Marcus Sheffer 7group
Sheila Sheridan Sheridan Associates
Bob Thompson U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Alfred Vick University of Georgia
 iii

LEED Market Advisory Committee

Lisa Matthiessen, Chair Integral Group
Holley Henderson, Vice-Chair H2Ecodesign
Liana Berberidou-Kallivoka City of Austin
Jeffrey Cole Konstrukt
Walter Cuculic Pulte Homes
Rand Ekman Cannon Design
Richard Kleinman LaSalle Investment Management
Craig Kneeland NYSERDA
Muscoe Martin M2 Architecture
Cindy Quan Goldman Sachs & Co.
Matt Raimi Raimi + Associates
Jon Ratner Forest City Enterprises
Marcus Sheffer 7group
Rebecca Stafford University of California, Office of President
Gary Thomas CB Richard Ellis
Keith Winn Catalyst Partners

Implementation Advisory Committee

Brenda Morawa, Chair Integrated Environmental Solutions
Adam Fransen, Vice-Chair CB Richard Ellis
Michelle Malanca Michelle Malanca Sustainability Consulting
Brad Pease Paladino and Co.
Ken Potts McGough
Richard Schneider U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center
Greg Shank Altura Associates
David Sheridan Aqua Cura
Natalie Terrill Viridian Energy & Environmental
Bill Worthen Urban Fabrick Design
Max Zahniser Praxis | Building Solutions

Location and Planning TAG

Jessica Millman, Chair The Agora Group
John Dalzell, Vice-Chair Boston Redevelopment Authority/ City of Boston
Eliot Allen Criterion Planners
Laurence Aurbach Office of Laurence Aurbach
Ted Bardacke Global Green USA
Erin Christensen Mithun
Andy Clarke League of American Bicyclists
Fred Dock City of Pasadena
Bruce Donnelly Auricity
Victor Dover Dover, Kohl, and Partners
Reid Ewing University of Utah
Doug Farr Farr & Associates
Lois Fisher Fisher Town Design
Tim Frank Sierra Club
Randy Hansell Earth Advantage Institute
Justin Horner Natural Resources Defense Council
Ron Kilcoyne Lane Transit District
Todd Litman Victoria Transport Policy Institute
Dana Little Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council
Art Lomenick Parsons Brinckerhoff
Steve Mouzon New Urban Guild
iv

Lynn Richards U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Harrison Rue ICF International
Shawn Seamen PN Hoffman
Anthony Sease Civitech
Laurie Volk Zimmerman/ Volk Associates
Patricia White Defenders of Wildlife

Sustainable Sites TAG

Jenny Carney, Chair YR&G
Neal Billetdeaux, Vice-Chair SmithGroupJJR
Michele Adams Meliora Environmental Design
Joby Carlson University of Arkansas
Laura Case Southface Energy Institute
Stephen Cook VIKA
Richard Heinisch Acuity Brands Lighting
Heather Holdridge Lake | Flato Architects
Jason King Greenworks, PC
Katrina Rosa The EcoLogic Studio
Kyle Thomas Natural Systems Engineering
Alfred Vick University of Georgia
Teresa Watkins St. John's Water Management District
Steve Benz OLIN

Water Efficiency TAG

Neil Rosen, Chair North Shore LIJ Health System
Doug Bennett, Vice-Chair Las Vegas Valley Water District / Southern Nevada Water Authority
Damann Anderson Hazen & Sawyer
Gunnar Baldwin TOTO USA
Robert Benazzi Jaros Baum & Bolles
Steve Benz OLIN
Neal Billetdeaux SmithGroupJJR
David Bracciano Alliance for Water Efficiency
David Carlson Columbia University
Ron Hand E/FECT. Sustainable Design Solutions
Bill Hoffman H.W. Hoffman and Associates
Winston Huff SSR Engineers
Joanna Kind Eastern Research Group
Heather Kinkade Forgotten Rain
Gary Klein Affiliated International Management
John Koeller Koeller and Company
Shawn Martin International Code Council
Don Mills Clivus Multrum
Geoff Nara Civil & Environmental Consultants
Karen Poff Austin Energy
Shabbir Rawalpindiwala Kohler
Robert Rubin NCSU
Stephanie Tanner US Environmental Protection Agency
David Viola International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials
Bill Wall Clivus New England
Daniel Yeh University of South Florida
Rob Zimmerman Kohler
 v

Energy and Atmosphere TAG

Nathan Gauthier, Chair EA Buildings
Jeremy Poling, Vice-Chair Goby
John Adams General Services Administration
Amanda Bogner The Energy Studio
Kevin Bright Harvard University
Lane Burt Natural Resources Defense Council
Allan Daly Taylor Engineering
Charles Dorgan University of Wisconsin-Madison
Jay Enck Commissioning & Green Building Solutions
Ellen Franconi Rocky Mountain Institute
Scott Frank Jaros Baum & Bolles
Gail Hampsmire Low Energy Low Cost
Tia Heneghan ZIA for Buildings
Rusty Hodapp Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board
Brad Jones Sebesta Blomberg
Dan Katzenberger Engineering, Energy, and the Environment
Doug King King Sustainability
Chris Ladner Viridian
Richard Lord Carrier Corporation
Bob Maddox Sterling Planet
Rob Moody Organic Think
Brenda Morawa BVM Engineering
Paul Raymer Heyoka Solutions
Erik Ring LPA
David Roberts National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Michael Rosenberg Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Greg San Martin PG&E
Chris Schaffner The Green Engineer
Marcus Sheffer 7group
Gordon Shymko G.F. Shymko & Associates
Jason Steinbock The Weidt Group
Jorge Torres Coto MBO
Tate Walker Energy Center of Wisconsin

Materials and Resources TAG

Steve Baer, Chair PE INTERNATIONAL/ Five Winds Strategic Consulting
Brad Guy, Vice-Chair Material Reuse
Paul Bertram Kingspan Insulated Panels, North America
Paul Bierman-Lytle Pangeon/ iMCC Management Consulting
Steve Brauneis Rocky Mountain Institute
Amy Costello Armstrong World Industries
Chris Geiger San Francisco Department of the Environment
Barry Giles BuildingWise
Avi Golen Construction Waste Management
Lee Gros Lee Gros Architect and Artisan
Rick Levin Kahler Slater
Joep Meijer The Right Environment
Xhavin Sinha CH2M HILL
Raymond Smith U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Wes Sullens StopWaste.Org of Alameda County
Denise Van Valkenburg Eurofins
vi

Indoor Environmental Quality TAG

Daniel Bruck, Chair BRC Acoustics & Audiovisual Design
Michelle Halle Stern, Vice-Chair The Green Facilitator
Sahar Abbaszadeh The Cadmus Group
Terry Brennan Camroden Associates
Aida Carbo UL Environment
Randal Carter Steelcase
Wenhao Chen California Department of Public Health
Nancy Clanton Clanton & Associates
Dan Dempsey Carrier
Larry Dykhuis Herman Miller
Dwayne Fuhlhage PROSOCO
Stowe Hartridge Beam Scientific Certification Systems
Dan Int-Hout Krueger
Alexis Kurtz The Sextant Group
Matt Latchford Lam Partners
David Lubman David Lubman & Associates
Richard Master USG Corporation
John McFarland WorkingBuildings
Bud Offermann Indoor Environmental Engineering
Reinhard Oppl Eurofins Product Testing A/S
Ozgem Ornektekin New York University
Charles Salter Salter Associates
Chris Schaffner The Green Engineer
Dana Schneider Jones Lang LaSalle
Dennis Stanke Trane Commercial Systems
Don Stevens Panasonic Home and Environment Company
Bob Thompson U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Ellen Tohn Tohn Environmental Strategies
Prasad Vaidya The Weidt Group

Pilot Credit Library Working Group

Marc Cohen (Chair) The Cadmus Group
Lindsay Baker Mary Davidge Associates
Cheryl Baldwin GreenSeal
James Bogdan PPG Industries
Carlie Bullock-Jones Ecoworks Studio
Paul Firth UL Environment
Mick Schwedler Trane
Steve Taylor Taylor Engineering
Richard Young Fisher-Nickel

Integrative Process Task Group

Lindsay Baker Mary Davidge Associates
John Boecker 7group
Penny Bonda Ecoimpact Consulting
Jenny Carney YR&G
Joel Todd Joel Ann Todd
Bill Reed Integrative Design Collaborative
Heather Rosenberg The Cadmus Group
Linda Sorrento National Academy of Environmental Design
Keith Winn Catalyst Partners
Bill Worthen Urban Fabrik
Max Zahniser Praxis | Building Solutions
 vii

A special thanks to USGBC and GBCI staff for their invaluable efforts in developing this reference guide, especially
to the following for their technical expertise: Emily Alvarez, Eric Anderson, Theresa Backhus, Lonny Blumenthal,
Amy Boyce, Steve Brauneis, Sarah Buffaloe, Sara Cederberg, Christopher Davis, Robyn Eason, Corey Enck, Sean Fish,
Asa Foss, Deon Glaser, Scott Haag, Gail Hampsmire, Jason Hercules, Jackie Hofmaenner, Theresa Hogerheide, Mika
Kania, Heather Langford, Christopher Law, Rebecca Lloyd, Emily Loquidis, Chrissy Macken, Chris Marshall, Batya
Metalitz, Larissa Oaks, Lauren Riggs, Jarrod Siegel, Micah Silvey, Ken Simpson, Megan Sparks, Rebecca Stahlnecker,
and Tim Williamson.
A special thanks to Jessica Centella, Selina Holmes, and Dave Marcus for their graphics support and eye for
design.
A thank you also goes to Scot Horst, Doug Gatlin, and Brendan Owens for their vision and support, and Meghan
Bogaerts for her hard work, attention to detail and flair for writing. A very special thanks to Dara Zycherman, staff
lead on the development of the LEED v4 Reference Guide suite, for her unwavering commitment to quality and her
dedication to the production of the guides.
A special thanks to the consultant team which included Arup, CBRE, C.C. Johnson & Malhotra, Criterion
Planners, Goby, Paladino & Co., Post Typography, West Main, and YR&G, and the unique artwork created for this
publication by RTKL Associates.
 4
PREFACE
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

THE CASE FOR GREEN BUILDING

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
Green buildings are an integral part of the solution to These forces are bringing us to a tipping point, a
the environmental challenges facing the planet. threshold beyond which Earth cannot rebalance itself
Today we use the equivalent of 1.5 Earths to meet the without major disruption to the systems that humans
resource needs of everyday life and absorb the resulting and other species rely on for survival.
wastes. This measure of our planet’s carrying capacity The impetus behind development of the
means that it takes Earth 18 months to regenerate what Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
is used in only 12 months. If current trends continue, (LEED) rating systems was recognition of those
estimates suggest, by the year 2030 we will need the problems, coupled with awareness that the building
equivalent of two planets.1 Turning resources into waste industry—from construction and renovation to
faster than they can be regenerated puts the planet into operations and maintenance—already had the
ecological overshoot, a clearly unsustainable condition expertise, tools, and technology to transform daily
that we all must address. operations and make significant advances toward
The forces driving this situation are numerous. a sustainable planet. LEED projects throughout
Human population has increased exponentially in the the world have already demonstrated the benefits
past 60 years, from about 2.5 billion in 1950 to more of taking a green operations and maintenance
than 7 billion today. Our linear use of resources, treating approach that reduces the environmental harms of
outputs as waste, is responsible for the toxins that are existing buildings and restores the balance of natural
accumulating in the atmosphere, in water, and on the systems. The opportunity that existing commercial
ground. This pattern of extraction, use, and disposal has buildings represent is enormous: as world population
hastened depletion of finite supplies of nonrenewable continues to increase, people have begun to use
energy, water, and materials and is accelerating the pace old buildings in new ways. About 40 percent of the
of our greatest problem—climate change. Buildings energy consumed in the U.S. and other developed
account for a significant portion of greenhouse gas nations is attributable to building operations, and 80
emissions; in the U.S., buildings are associated with million square feet of the operating building stock is
38% of all emissions of carbon dioxide2. Globally, the commercial space4.
figure is nearly one-third.3 The problem is anticipated to
worsen as developing countries attain higher standards
of living. The problem is anticipated to worsen as
developing countries achieve higher standards of living.

1. Global Footprint Network, footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/gfn/page/world_footprint/, accessed 9/11/2012

2. Energy Information Administration (2008). Assumptions to the Annual Energy Outlook
3. unep.org/sbci/pdfs/SBCI-BCCSummary.pdf
4. iea.org/aboutus/faqs/energyefficiency/.
 5

ABOUT LEED
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED is a framework for identifying, implementing, and measuring
green building and neighborhood design, construction, operations, and maintenance. LEED is a voluntary, market-
driven, consensus-based tool that serves as a guideline and assessment mechanism for the design, construction,
and operation of high-performance green buildings and neighborhoods. LEED rating systems currently address
commercial, institutional, and residential building types as well as neighborhood development.

PREFACE
LEED seeks to optimize the use of natural resources, promote regenerative and restorative strategies, maximize
the positive and minimize the negative environmental and human health consequences of the building industry, and
provide high-quality indoor environments for building occupants. LEED emphasizes integrative design, integration
of existing technology, and state-of-the-art strategies to advance expertise in green building and transform

THE CASE FOR GREEN BUILDING

professional practice. The technical basis for LEED strikes a balance between requiring today’s best practices and
encouraging leadership strategies. LEED sets a challenging yet achievable set of benchmarks for interior spaces,
entire structures, and whole neighborhoods.
LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations was developed in 1998 for the commercial building industry
and has since been updated multiple times. Over the years, a variety of other rating systems have been developed to
meet the needs of different market sectors.
Since its launch, LEED has evolved to address new markets and building types, advances in practice and
technology, and greater understanding of the environmental and human health effects of the built environment.
These ongoing improvements, developed by USGBC member-based volunteer committees, subcommittees, and
working groups in conjunction with USGBC staff, have been reviewed by the LEED Steering Committee and the
USGBC Board of Directors before being submitted to USGBC members for a vote. The process is based on principles
of transparency, openness, and inclusiveness.

LEED’S GOALS
The LEED rating systems aim to promote a transformation of the construction industry through strategies designed
to achieve seven goals:
·· To reverse contribution to global climate change
·· To enhance individual human health and well-being
·· To protect and restore water resources
·· To protect, enhance, and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services
·· To promote sustainable and regenerative material resources cycles
·· To build a greener economy
·· To enhance social equity, environmental justice, community health, and quality of life

These goals are the basis for LEED’s prerequisites and credits. In the LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance
rating system, the major prerequisites and credits are categorized as Location and Transportation (LT), Sustainable
Sites (SS), Water Efficiency (WE), Energy and Atmosphere (EA), Materials and Resources (MR), and Indoor
Environmental Quality (EQ).
The goals also drive the weighting of points toward certification. Each credit in the rating system is allocated
points based on the relative importance of its contribution to the goals. The result is a weighted average: credits
that most directly address the most important goals are given the greatest weight. Project teams that meet the
prerequisites and earn enough credits to achieve certification have demonstrated performance that spans the goals
in an integrated way. Certification is awarded at four levels (Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum) to incentivize higher
achievement and, in turn, faster progress toward the goals.
 6

BENEFITS OF USING LEED

LEED is designed to address environmental challenges while responding to the needs of a competitive market.
Certification demonstrates leadership, innovation, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. LEED
gives building owners and operators the tools they need to immediately improve both building performance and the
bottom line while providing healthful indoor spaces for a building’s occupants.

LEED-certified buildings are designed to deliver the following benefits:

PREFACE

·· Lower operating costs and increased asset value

·· Reduced waste sent to landfills
·· Energy and water conservation
·· More healthful and productive environments for occupants
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

·· Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions

·· Qualification for tax rebates, zoning allowances, and other incentives in many cities

By participating in LEED, owners, operators, designers, and builders make a meaningful contribution to the
green building industry. By documenting and tracking buildings’ resource use, they contribute to a growing body
of knowledge that will advance research in this rapidly evolving field. This will allow future projects to build on the
successes of today’s designs and bring innovations to the market.

LEED CERTIFICATION PROCESS

The process begins when the owner selects the rating system and registers the project (see Rating System Selection
Guidance). The project team then meets the requirements for all prerequisites and for the credits the team has
chosen to pursue. After documentation has been submitted for certification, a project goes through preliminary
and final reviews. The preliminary review provides technical advice on credits that require additional work for
achievement, and the final review contains the project’s final score and certification level. The decision can be
appealed if a team believes additional consideration is warranted.

LEED has four levels of certification, depending on the point thresholds achieved:
·· Certified, 40–49 points
·· Silver, 50–59 points
·· Gold, 60–79 points
·· Platinum, 80 points and above

There are also two alternative certification processes for owners with multiple buildings pursuing LEED
certification, (1) LEED volume certification and (2) LEED campus certification. This reference guide covers credit-
specific guidance for LEED campus certification. In some cases the LEED campus certification is used to achieve one
single certification for many buildings (group certification project) and in others it used to achieve pre-approval for
credits to be utilized by a number of certifications (campus credits).
See www.gbci.org for more information about the review processes and eligibility requirements.

INITIAL CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION

The LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance rating system can be applied both to buildings seeking LEED
certification for the first time and to projects previously certified under any version of the LEED Design and
Construction rating systems. It is the only LEED rating system that requires projects to recertify.
 7

Initial certification is any first-time application for LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance certification.
Recertification is the subsequent application(s) for certification after a project has received an initial certification
under any version of LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance. To the extent possible, projects will be
held to the requirements of the most current rating system version available on the date the project registers for
recertification.

PREFACE
THE CASE FOR GREEN BUILDING
 REFERENCE GUIDE OVERVIEW

GUIDE STRUCTURE CREDIT STRUCTURE

GETTING STARTED Each credit category begins with an overview

provides a that discusses sustainability and market factors
recommended specific to the category. For each prerequisite
PREFACE
process for achieving and credit, readers will then find the following
certification and sections:
GETTING STARTED
addresses issues that
cut across the entire INTENT & REQUIREMENTS
MINIMUM PROGRAM outlines the rating system requirements for
rating system.
REQUIREMENTS
STARTED
GETTING

achieving the prerequisite or credit. They were

CATEGORY approved through the rating system development
OVERVIEWS RATING SYSTEM process and can also be found on the USGBC
SELECTION GUIDANCE website.
emphasize
sustainability topics,
CATEGORY OVERVIEW BEHIND THE INTENT
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

market factors, and

credit relationships connects credit achievement with larger
CREDITS sustainability issues and provides information
that are specific to a
single credit category on how the credit requirements meet the intent
and information stated in the rating system.
that is applicable to
multiple credits within STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE
that category. suggests the implementation and documentation
CATEGORY OVERVIEW steps that can be used by most projects, as well
as generally applicable tips and examples.
CREDITS CREDITS
contain content FURTHER EXPLANATION
that is specific to provides guidance for lengthy calculations or
the achievement of for special project situations, such as tips for
that credit. nonstandard project types or different credit
approaches. It includes a Campus section and,
sometimes, an International Tips section.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
lists the items that must be submitted for
certification review.

RELATED CREDIT TIPS

identifies other credits that may affect a project
team’s decisions and strategies for the credit in
question; the relationships between credits may
imply synergies or trade-offs.

CHANGES FROM LEED 2009

ICONS THAT MAY APPEAR WITHIN EACH CREDIT is a quick reference of changes from the previous
REFER THE USER TO FOLLOWING SECTIONS: version of LEED.

REFERENCED STANDARDS
Getting Started (beginning of book) lists the technical standards related to the credit
and offers weblinks to find them.
Further Explanation (within same credit)
EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE
identifies the threshold that must be met to earn
an exemplary performance point, if available.

DEFINITIONS
gives the meaning of terms used in the credit.
 STARTED
GETTING
Getting Started
HOW TO USE THIS REFERENCE GUIDE
This reference guide is designed to elaborate upon and Within each section, information is organized to flow
work in conjunction with the rating system. Written from general guidance to more specific tips and finally
by expert users of LEED, it serves as a roadmap, to supporting references and other information.
describing the steps for meeting and documenting credit Sections have been designed with a parallel structure
requirements and offering advice on best practices. to support way finding and minimize repetition.

CREDIT CATEGORIES

LOCATION AND SUSTAINABLE WATER ENERGY AND

TRANSPORTATION SITES EFFICIENCY ATMOSPHERE
(LT) (SS) (WE) (EA)

MATERIALS AND INDOOR INNOVATION REGIONAL PRIORITY

RESOURCES ENVIRONMENTAL (IN) (RP)
(MR) QUALITY (EQ)
 10

MORE ABOUT THE FURTHER EXPLANATION SECTION

Further Explanation contains varied subsections depending on the credit; two of the common subsections are
elaborated upon here.

PROJECTS USING CAMPUS CERTIFICATION

The Campus section is for projects using LEED campus certification.

The guidance under Group Approach must be followed by group certification projects. Group certification
projects receive a single certification for all buildings included in the group, but are still required to demonstrate
credit compliance at the building level for some credits. If the guidance under Group Approach states “All buildings
in the group may be documented as one.”, then credit compliance can be demonstrated for the group as a whole,
for example, by pooling resources or purchasing. However, if the guidance under Group Approach states “Submit
STARTED
GETTING

separate documentation for each building.”, then credit compliance must be demonstrated for each building
individually, for example, by performing one calculation per building.
The guidance under Campus Approach must be followed by projects pursuing the credit as a campus credit.
Note that an additional registration and review under a master site is required, which results in a pre-approval of
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

the credit for all projects registered under the master site. Only certain credits are available and appropriate to be
pursued at the campus level. The guidance under Campus Approach will indicate whether the credit is “Eligible.” or
“Ineligible.”. If the credit is ineligible, each project may still earn the credit but it must be pursued during the regular
individual or group project review process rather than through the master site.

PROJECTS OUTSIDE THE US

The International Tips section offers advice on determining equivalency to U.S. standards or using non-U.S.
standards referenced in the rating system. It is meant to complement, not replace, the other sections of the credit.
Helpful advice for projects outside the U.S. may also appear in the Step-by-Step Guidance section of each credit. When
no tips are needed or available, the International Tips heading does not appear.
Units of measurement are given in both Inch-Pound (IP) and International System of Units (SI). IP refers to
the system of measurements based on the inch, pound, and gallon, historically derived from the English system and
commonly used in the U.S. SI is the modern metric system used in most other parts of the world and defined by the
General Conference on Weights and Measures.
Where “local equivalent” is specified, it means an alternative to a LEED referenced standard that is specific to a
project’s locality. This standard must be widely used and accepted by industry experts and when applied, must meet
the credit’s intent leading to similar or better outcomes.
Where “USGBC-approved local equivalent” is specified, it means a local standard deemed equivalent to the listed
standard by the U.S. Green Building Council through its process for establishing non-U.S. equivalencies in LEED.

AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT

To meet human needs without compromising the bottom line, green building operations require dedication and
buy-in from all levels of building and tenant management. The path to sustainable operations requires collaboration,
integrative thinking, and a strong team whose members have clearly defined roles and responsibilities.
Successful operations practice engages all team members and emphasizes each person’s responsibility for
continuing sustainable strategies during transitions and change-over periods. It requires collaborative decision
making and information sharing by everyone involved, including staff who oversee waste, chemical applications, or
product purchases.
As the team is drafting and implementing a new building policy, for example, an approach that draws on
the expertise of all project stakeholders—owner, occupant, engineers, facilities managers, financial managers,
contractor—may reveal innovative solutions.
 11

PROJECT GOALS

An integrated team can develop project goals that lay a strong foundation for achievement. The project goals should
reflect organizational values and operational realities as well as sustainability targets. Include building stakeholders
who understand current facilities practices, such as the owner, building management staff, occupants, and vendors.
A diverse team ensures that all operational elements will be considered and the program will be supported by the
entire team.
Take a hard look at traditional practices and management and consider the flow of materials, water, and energy
through the building and site. For existing buildings, this requires a site study that considers on-site resources and
the building’s location, orientation, massing, and occupant use patterns. The goal is to identify ways to reduce the
loads and environmental harms of each system without increasing those of any others.
Identify existing policies, practices, equipment, contracts, and budgets to set a baseline for improvement. After
collecting baseline information, list the areas that may require significant change, moderate change, and low- or

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no-cost change in operating practices. Identify any organizational issues or pressures that may influence the project
goals. Prioritize strategies that are aligned with environmental and organizational values and operational realities.

Environmental Goals
The selection of LEED credits often depends on the project’s environmental context, particularly current energy use

HOW TO USE THIS REFERENCE GUIDE

and site conditions.
·· Energy signature. To understand how the building behaves in response to the outdoor environment, consider
its energy signature—an analysis of measured energy use in relation to seasonal fluctuations in temperature.
An energy signature highlights seasonal norms that may prompt operating change and alerts the team to
operating inefficiencies. In addition, an energy signature provides insight into whether current systems are
meeting the building’s heating and cooling needs.
·· Energy benchmarks. Compare the building’s energy use against recognized standards. By benchmarking
early, the project team will have time to look at monthly trends in energy use intensity and ENERGY STAR
score (where appropriate). Staff will become familiar with recording and reading consumption data and be
ready to set efficiency goals.
·· Site analysis. A detailed site analysis identifies specific conditions—topography, wind patterns, solar
availability and shading, water bodies, view corridors—that may guide decisions on rainwater runoff
mitigation, landscape water reduction strategies, onsite renewable energy, and other capital investments.
Opportunities for improving and preserving the ecological integrity of the site may become clear.

Organizational Goals
Aligning project goals with the owner’s and tenants’ organizational values allows teams to select green operations
strategies that make a strong business case. Examine the following.
·· Corporate social responsibility report. The owner’s or tenant’s organizational goals and priorities,
articulated in this report, may include aspirations that align with LEED credits.
·· Organizational annual metrics. Many organizations have requirements for reporting annual statistics on
greenhouse gas emissions and waste recycling from their operations. Selecting credits whose achievement
improves these metrics will reinforce current efforts.
·· Human resources policies. These policies and programs may set goals for health initiatives, employee
retention, commute trip reduction, or workplace satisfaction, each of which suggests a focus on credits that
target employees’ well-being.
·· Shareholders’ or stakeholders’ concerns. Stakeholders in the organization and project development team
may have strongly held ideas about specific sustainability issues. Involving them early in the process ensures
that their interests are well represented.
 12

THE CREDIT STRUCTURE OF LEED FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

For existing buildings pursuing LEED certification, the establishment period is the time when building
infrastructure is assessed, policies are drafted, and programs and processes are put in place to enable ongoing
performance measurement. The performance period is the continuous implementation of the strategies set during
the establishment period.
Each prerequisite and credit lists the establishment and performance requirements separately. The
establishment requirements set projects up for compliance with the performance requirements.
Establishment requirements fall into two categories of credits, those based on building components and site
infrastructure and those based on policies and plans:
·· Building components and site infrastructure are the characteristics and systems of the building.
·· Policies and plans are statements that set goals and outline the implementation of operational management
strategies.
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{
BUILDING COMPONENTS
AND SITE INFRASTRUCTURE
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

meters, lighting, water fixtures

ESTABLISHMENT
static and foundational
POLICIES
site management, purchasing

Performance requirements also typically fall into two categories of credits, those that require discrete actions and
those that require ongoing tracking and measurement over time:
·· Actions are regularly repeated to inform continued performance and to identify opportunities for
improvement.
·· Ongoing tracking occurs continually, verifying ongoing high performance and upkeep of building systems.

{
ACTIONS
surveys, audits, testing
PERFORMANCE
dynamic and recurring
POLICIES
energy, purchasing, waste

UNDERSTAND PERFORMANCE PERIODS

LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance certification is based largely on successful outcomes during the
performance period, when sustainable operations are being measured. Many prerequisites and credits require that
operating data and other documentation be submitted for the performance period. Since the project’s certification
level is based on these outcomes, the performance period may not have any gaps, defined as any period of time longer
than one full week.
The initial performance period is the most recent period of operations preceding the certification application. It
must be at least three months but no more than 24 months, except as noted in the credit requirements.
 13

All performance periods must overlap and conclude within 30 days of each other. In the example (Table 1), each
performance period is at least three months, and the termination dates range from April 1 through April 26.

TABLE 1. Example performance periods, by credit

Credit Start End* Duration**

WE Credit Outdoor Water Use February 22, 2014 April 20, 2015 14 months

SS Credit Rainwater
April 6, 2014 April 22, 2015 12.5 months
Management

EA Prerequisite Minimum
April 1, 2014 April 1, 2015 12 months
Energy Performance

SS Credit Site Management August 25, 2014 April 25, 2015 8 months

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WE Prerequisite Indoor
January 12, 2015 April 26, 2015 3.5 months
Water Use

* All performance periods must end with the same 30-day interval.
** Minimum duration = 3 months; maximum duration = 24 months

HOW TO USE THIS REFERENCE GUIDE

To ensure that certification is awarded based on current building performance data, LEED for Building Operations
and Maintenance certification applications must be submitted for review within 60 calendar days of the end of the
performance periods. The 60-day period starts the day after the last day of the latest performance period.
In the example given above (Table 1), the last day of a performance period is April 26; the project team must
submit its application in 60 days, counting from April 27.

RECERTIFICATION

Projects must recertify within five years of the previous certification and are eligible as often as every 12 months.
The recertification performance period extends from the date of the previous certification to the date of the
recertification application. If projects pursue new credits in the recertification application, they may use the initial
certification performance period rules (see Understand Performance Periods, above), unless otherwise noted in the
credit requirements.
Since buildings do not stop operations while waiting for certification, it is recommended that project teams
continue to track building performance during the certification review process.
Projects pursuing recertification are required to submit only performance documentation for review; they are
not required to submit establishment documentation unless there have been major changes (e.g., major renovations,
major addition, management turnover) that prompt review.
 14

LEED WORK PLAN

It is recommended that LEED applicants follow a series of steps to certification.

STEP 1. SELECT LEED RATING SYSTEM

The LEED system comprises 21 adaptations designed to accommodate the needs of a variety of market
sectors (see Rating System Selection Guidance). For many credits, Further Explanation highlights rating
system and project type variations to help teams develop a successful approach.

STEP 2. CHECK MINIMUM PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

All projects seeking certification are required to comply with the minimum program requirements (MPRs)
for the applicable rating system, found in this reference guide and on the USGBC website.
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STEP 3. DEFINE LEED PROJECT SCOPE

Review the project’s program and initial findings from the goal-setting workshop to identify the project
scope. Considerations include multiple buildings and management variations.
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

Next, map the LEED project boundary to comply with the minimum program requirements.
Finally, investigate any special certification programs that may apply based on the project’s scope, such
as the Volume Program or the Campus Program. If the owner is planning multiple similar projects in
different locations, Volume may be a useful program to streamline certification. If the project includes
multiple buildings in a single location, Campus may be appropriate.

STEP 4. DEVELOP LEED SCORECARD

Use the project goals to identify the credits and options that should be attempted by the team. The
Behind the Intent sections offer insight into what each credit is intended to achieve and may help teams
align goals with credits that bring value to the owner, environment, and community of the project.
A gap analysis may identify the feasibility of certain strategies and indicate whether the team should
conduct energy audits, commission building systems, or start organizing utility data in preparation for
the performance period. Using this information, the team can identify priority and supporting credits.
Finally, establish the target LEED certification level (Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum) and identify ad-
ditional credits needed to achieve it. Make sure that all prerequisites can be met and include a buffer of
several points above the minimum in case of changes during the performance period.

STEP 5. ASSIGN ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Select one team member to take primary responsibility for leading the group through the LEED
application and documentation process.
Cross-disciplinary team ownership of credit compliance can help foster integrated implementation while
ensuring consistent documentation across credits. On a credit-by-credit basis, assign primary and sup-
porting roles to appropriate team members for credit achievement and documentation; this includes
assigning responsibility for crucial tasks like water meter reading, purchases tracking, and vendor man-
agement. Clarify responsibilities for ensuring that policy and infrastructure upgrade decisions are fully
implemented and documented, and that performance outcomes align with operational intent and goals.
Establish regular meeting dates and develop clear communication channels to streamline the process
and resolve issues quickly. Double-check that all assignments for surveys, tracking, and audits are clear
and that team members understand their roles.

STEP 6. DETERMINE PERFORMANCE PERIOD

Determining a performance period schedule is necessary for compliance with most credits. All
performance periods must end within 30 days of each other and (for a newly attempted credit) last at
least three months but no more than 24 months (see Understand Performance Periods, above).
 15

STEP 7. DEVELOP CONSISTENT DOCUMENTATION

Consistent documentation is critical to LEED certification success. Designate one person as the single
point of contact for all LEED documentation. Data accumulated throughout the performance period,
such as purchasing activities, should be uploaded regularly to allow the team to track ongoing progress.
The Maintaining Consistency in the Application section, below, and the credit category overviews discuss
common consistency issues that will affect achievement of multiple credits.

STEP 8. PERFORM QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW AND SUBMIT FOR CERTIFICATION

A quality assurance review is an essential part of the work program. A thorough quality control check can
improve presentation of the project and avoid errors that require time and expense to correct later in the

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certification process. The submission should be thoroughly proofread and checked for completeness. In
particular, numeric values that appear throughout the submission must be consistent, e.g. site area.

LEED WORK PLAN

 16

MAINTAINING CONSISTENCY IN THE APPLICATION

Certain issues recur across multiple credits and credit categories and must be treated consistently throughout the
submission.

EFFECTIVE POLICY DEVELOPMENT

The following components must be included in policies developed for compliance with LEED prerequisites and
credits.
Physical and programmatic scope. Describe the physical and programmatic scope of the policy. If any spaces
within the building or site are excluded, describe the exemption and explain the reason.
Duration of applicability. Identify the time period to which the policy applies. For example, “This policy shall take
effect on XX/XX/XXXX and shall continue indefinitely or until amended and/or replaced by a subsequent sustainable
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purchasing policy.”
Responsible parties. By full name and title or position, name the person who will implement the policy. If a vendor
is responsible for implementing parts of the plan, name both the vendor and the building manager to whom the
vendor reports. Including contact information makes it easy for anybody who references the policy to reach the
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

responsible party. If there are multiple responsible parties, consider identifying clearly which components of the
policy each oversees.
Sustainability goals and objectives. Identify the sustainability goals of the policy. Goals must be measurable
and are typically numerical. For example, “50% of waste (measured by weight) will be diverted from the landfill”
or “75% of ice melt purchased will meet sustainability requirements.” Although measurable goals must be set,
documentation to demonstrate actual achievement of the set goals is not required for these policies.
Performance evaluation metrics. Explain how actual outcomes and sustainability performance for each element of
the policy will be measured and tracked over time. For example, “the percentage of waste diverted will be measured
by weight” or “the percentage of cleaning purchases that meet sustainability requirements will be measured by cost.”
Procedures and strategies for implementation. Outline the procedures, strategies, and best management
practices to be used to achieve the goals. For projects with multiple tenants, describe how building managers
will provide education and guidance to encourage tenants to comply. To help with implementation, list contacts,
websites, past experiences, and other resources.
Quality assurance process. Describe how the responsible party will verify that the policy is being implemented,
that the metrics reflect the actual outcomes, and that performance persists over time. This may include periodic
checks to make sure the policy is consistently implemented and that the set goals are being achieved.

OCCUPANCY

Many kinds of people use a typical LEED building, and the mix varies by project type. Occupants are sometimes
referred to in a general sense; for example, “Provide places of respite that are accessible to patients and visitors.” In
other instances, occupants must be counted for calculations. Definitions of occupant types are general guidelines
that may be modified or superseded in a particular credit when appropriate (such changes are noted in each credit’s
reference guide section). Most credits group users into two categories, regular building occupants and visitors.

Regular Building Occupants

Regular building occupants are habitual users of a building. All of the following are considered regular building
occupants.
Employees include part-time and full-time employees, and totals are calculated using full-time equivalency
(FTE).
A typical project can count FTE employees by adding full-time employees and part-time employees, adjusted for
their hours of work.
 17

EQUATION 1.

FTE employees = Full-time employees + (Σ daily part-time employee hours / 8)

For buildings with more unusual occupancy patterns, calculate the FTE building occupants based on a standard
eight-hour occupancy period.

EQUATION 2.

FTE employees = (Σ all employee hours / 8)

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Staff is synonymous with employees for the purpose of LEED calculations.
Volunteers who regularly use a building are synonymous with employees for the purpose of LEED calculations.
Residents of a project are considered regular building occupants. This includes residents of a dormitory. If

MAINTAINING CONSISTENCY IN THE APPLICATION

actual resident count is not known, use a default equal to the number of bedrooms in the dwelling unit plus one,
multiplied by the number of such dwelling units.
Primary and secondary school students are typically regular building occupants.
Hotel guests are typically considered regular building occupants, with some credit-specific exceptions.
Calculate the number of overnight hotel guests based on the number and size of units in the project. Assume 1.5
occupants per guest room and multiply the resulting total by 60% (average hotel occupancy). Alternatively, the
number of hotel guest occupants may be derived from actual or historical occupancy. 
Inpatients are medical, surgical, maternity, specialty, and intensive-care unit patients whose length of stay
exceeds 23 hours. Peak inpatients are the highest number of inpatients at a given point in a typical 24-hour
period.

Visitors
Visitors (also “transients”) intermittently use a LEED building. All of the following are considered visitors:
Retail customers are considered visitors. In Water Efficiency credits, retail customers are considered separately
from other kinds of visitors and should not be included in the total average daily visitors.
Outpatients visit a hospital, clinic, or associated health care facility for diagnosis or treatment that lasts 23 hours
or less.
Peak outpatients are the highest number of outpatients at a given point in a typical 24-hour period.
Volunteers who periodically use a building (e.g., once per week) are considered visitors.
Higher-education students are considered visitors to most buildings, except when they are residents of a dorm,
in which case they are residents.

In calculations, occupant types are typically counted in two ways:

Daily averages take into account all the occupants of a given type for a typical 24-hour day of operation.
Peak totals are measured at the moment in a typical 24-hour period when the highest number of a given
occupant type is present.

Whenever possible, use actual or predicted occupancies. If occupancy cannot be accurately predicted, one of the
following resources to estimate occupancy:
a. Default occupant density from ASHRAE 62.1-2010, Table 6-1
b. Default occupant density from CEN Standard EN 15251, Table B.2
 18

c. Appendix 2 Default Occupancy Counts

d. Results from applicable studies.

If numbers vary seasonally, use occupancy numbers that are a representative daily average over the entire operating
season of the building.

If occupancy patterns are atypical (shift overlap, significant seasonal variation), explain such patterns when
submitting documentation for certification.

Table 2 lists prerequisites and credits that require specific occupancy counts for calculations.

TABLE 2. Occupancy types for calculations, by project type variation

Regular
Average daily
Prerequisite, credit building Peak visitors Other Notes
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visitors
occupants

LT Credit Alternative Transportation

Existing Buildings,
Counting hotel
Data Centers,
guests is not
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

Warehouses
required. Only
and Distribution X X X
students of driving
Centers,
age must be
Hospitality,
counted.
Schools, Retail

EQ Credit Occupant Comfort Survey

Existing Buildings,
Data Centers,
Warehouses
and Distribution X
Centers,
Hospitality,
Schools, Retail

WE Prerequisite and Credit Indoor Water Use

Existing
Buildings,
Retail customers
Data Centers,
are considered
Warehouses
X X separately and not
and Distribution
included in average
Centers,
daily visitors.
Hospitality,
Schools, Retail

CONSIDERING OCCUPANT IMPACT IN AN EXISTING BUILDING

Occupants’ interaction with a building may enhance or compromise the sustainability and efficiency goals of the
operations team and owner. For example, if the occupants have complete control over temperature and lighting,
energy consumption may rise, but too little control may increase complaints to facilities staff. Similarly, an open-
office layout that allows views to the outdoors could compromise acoustics and productivity and also affect heating
and cooling. Energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality goals entail many such trade-offs.
Making decisions that account for occupant preferences is likely to increase their satisfaction with their working
environment and encourage them to take interest in achieving the long term sustainability goals of the organization.
Surveying occupants during the establishment period will shed light on their preferences and needs and help
inform project goals at the outset. A subsequent survey will indicate how well the new policies and systems are
working.
 19

TENANT SPACE EXCLUSION ALLOWANCE

Projects with leased spaces may face particular challenges in earning LEED for Building Operations and
Maintenance credits. Whereas the prerequisites address the base building systems or are limited to areas under
management control, many credits require commitment and cooperation from tenants. Project teams should review
the lease terms and management situation and either obtain commitments from tenants or pursue credits that do
not require tenants’ participation. Projects that have a few large tenants may be able to satisfy the requirements
more easily than buildings with many small tenant spaces.
Projects may exclude up to 10% of the total gross building floor area from the LEED project boundary, which
will apply consistently throughout the submission except in EQ Environmental Tobacco Smoke, where the entire
building must be considered. Projects may take an additional 10% exemption on a credit-by-credit basis if it is
not possible to gather the necessary tenant data for these credits, or the applicant does not have control over the
required element (this additional 10% may not be applied to the EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance).

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The specific spaces excluded as part of the 10% can vary by credit. Project teams must clearly note which spaces have
been excluded in which credit when preparing documentation for certification.

MINIMUM OCCUPANCY

MAINTAINING CONSISTENCY IN THE APPLICATION

EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance includes a minimum occupancy requirement. No other credits
specify a minimum occupancy threshold.

VARIABLE OCCUPANCY

When occupancy rates vary over the performance period, that variation should be reflected in credit calculations via
a time-weighted average.
Generally, for partially occupied buildings, project teams document the performance of the entire building as
if it were fully occupied. Because completely vacant or unused space has no activity and may lack the furnishings,
fixtures, and equipment intended for regular operations, however, partial occupancy changes the way the
performance is documented for the following credits.

WE Prerequisite Indoor Water Use and WE Credit Indoor Water Use

To determine the annual usage of each plumbing fixture type, use the following rules:
·· For floors or separate tenant spaces that are partially occupied during part of the performance period, use
the regular procedures to document prerequisite achievement. Extrapolate partial-year data to derive annual
values unless circumstances justify an adjustment.
·· For floors or separate tenant spaces that are completely vacant or unused throughout the entire performance
period, base usage on the estimated occupancy count. Allocate occupants to the building’s fixture types in a
reasonable way. Create usage groups in the indoor water use reduction calculator to account for the vacant
areas.

These rules apply to both base building or core fixtures and tenant space fixtures. If fixture upgrades are required to
achieve compliance, it is recommended that project teams first focus on base building or core fixtures.

EQ Prerequisite Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance

For mechanically ventilated spaces that are partially occupied during part the performance period or completely
vacant or unused throughout the entire performance period, use the regular procedures, with the following
exceptions.
·· Determine the minimum amount of outdoor air that must be supplied at full occupancy. Perform calculations
using the estimated occupancy count if needed.
·· Measure the outdoor airflow rates to determine whether the systems can deliver sufficient ventilation under
assumed normal full-occupancy conditions.
·· For actual operation, consider reducing the amount of outdoor air supplied to the partially occupied, vacant, or
unused space.
 20

For naturally ventilated spaces, use the normal procedures for this prerequisite.

EQ Credit Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies and EQ Credit Thermal Comfort
For spaces that are completely vacant or unused throughout the entire performance period, the team has two
choices:
·· Install the appropriate particle filters or air-cleaning devices or monitoring devices, or
·· Exclude the vacant or unused space from the credit requirements.

If the space becomes occupied, however, it will need to be included to achieve the credit in future LEED
certifications.
Vacant or unused spaces do not need to be monitored or tested during the performance period.

EQ Credit Interior Lighting and EQ Credit Daylight and Views

For spaces that are completely vacant or unused throughout the entire performance period but have furnishings,
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fixtures, and equipment intended for regular operations, use the regular procedures.
For spaces that are completely vacant or unused throughout the entire performance period, exclude this area
from credit calculations and measurements. If a space becomes occupied, however, it will need to be included to
achieve the credit in future LEED certifications.
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

EQ Credit Occupant Comfort Survey

The Occupant Comfort Survey credit requires that survey responses be collected from a representative sample
of building occupants, making up at least 30% of the total occupants. For partially occupied buildings, use actual
occupancy (or a time-weighted average if occupancy varies through the performance period) to determine how
many occupants must be surveyed.

PROJECTS WITH SEVERAL PHYSICALLY DISTINCT STRUCTURES

Primary and secondary school projects, hospitals (general medical and surgical), hotels, resorts, and resort
properties, as defined for ENERGY STAR building rating purposes, are eligible to include more than one physically
distinct structure in a single LEED project certification application without having to use the Campus Program,
subject to the following conditions.
·· The buildings to be certified must be a part of the same identity. For example, the buildings are all part of the
same elementary school, not a mix of elementary school and high school buildings.
·· The project must be analyzed as a whole (i.e., in aggregate) for all minimum program requirements (MPRs),
prerequisites, and credits in the LEED rating system.
·· All the land area and all building floor areas within the LEED project boundary must be included in every
prerequisite and credit submitted for certification.
·· There is no specific limit on the number of structures, but the aggregate gross floor area included in a single
project must not exceed 1 million square feet (92 905 square meters).

Any single structure that is larger than 25,000 square feet (2 320 square meters) must be registered as a separate
project or treated as a separate building in a group certification approach.
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MAINTAINING CONSISTENCY IN THE APPLICATION
21

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QUICK REFERENCE

TABLE 3. Credit Attributes

Eligibility
Prerequisite/ Exemplary
Category Credit Name
Credit Campus Group Performance
Approach Approach

LT
Location and Transportation

LT C Alternative Transportation - G yes

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SS
Sustainable Sites

SS P Site Management Policy C G no

LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

SS C Site Development--Protect or Restore Habitat Opt 1 - YES yes

G
Opt 2 - no

SS C Rainwater Management C G yes

SS C Heat Island Reduction Opt 1 - YES yes

Opt 2 - no
G
Opt 3 – no
Opt 4 - no

SS C Light Pollution Reduction C G no

SS C Site Management no G no

SS C Site Improvement Plan no G no

SS C Joint Use of Facilities - - no

WE Opt 4 - no G
Water Efficiency

WE P Indoor Water Use Reduction - - no

WE P Building-Level Water Metering - - no

WE C Outdoor Water Use Reduction Opt 1 - YES

Opt 2 - YES G no
Opt 3 - no

WE C Indoor Water Use Reduction - G yes

WE C Cooling Tower Water Use C G no

WE C Water Metering - G no

EA
Energy and Atmosphere

EA P Energy Efficiency Best Management Practices - G no

EA P Minimum Energy Performance - no

EA P Building Level Energy Metering - - no

EA P Fundamental Refrigerant Management - - no

EA C Existing Building Commissioning--Analysis - G no

EA C Existing Building Commissioning—Implementation - G no

EA C Ongoing Commissioning - G no

EA C Optimize Energy Performance - G yes

 23

Points

Warehouses and
Existing Buildings Schools Retail Data Centers Hospitality
Distribution Centers

15 15 15 15 15 15

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Req Req Req Req Req Req

QUICK REFERANCE
2 2 2 2 2 2

3 2 3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2 2 2

1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 1 1 1 1

N/A 1 N/A N/A N/A N/A

Req Req Req Req Req Req

Req Req Req Req Req Req

2 2 2 2 2 2

5 5 5 4 5 5

3 3 3 4 3 3

2 2 2 2 2 2

Req Req Req Req Req Req

Req Req Req Req Req Req

Req Req Req Req Req Req

Req Req Req Req Req Req

2 2 2 2 2 2

2 2 2 2 2 2

3 3 3 3 3 3

20 20 20 20 20 20
 24

TABLE 3 (CONTINUED). Credit Attributes

Eligibility
Prerequisite/ Exemplary
Category Credit Name
Credit Campus Group Performance
Approach Approach

EA C Advanced Energy Metering - - no

EA C Demand Response - G no

EA C Renewable Energy and Carbon Offsets - G yes

EA C Enhanced Refrigerant Management - - no

MR
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Materials and Resources

MR P Ongoing Purchasing and Waste Policy C G no

MR P Facility Maintenance and Renovation Policy C G no

LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

MR C Purchasing - Ongoing - G yes

MR C Purchasing - Lamps - G yes

MR C Purchasing - Facility Management and Renovation - G yes

MR C Solid Waste Management - Ongoing - G yes

MR C Solid Waste Management -

- G yes
Facility Maintenance and Renovation

EQ
Indoor Environmental Quality

EQ P Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance - - no

EQ P Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control C G no

EQ P Green Cleaning Policy Opt 1 – YES

G no
Opt 2- no

EQ C Indoor Air Quality Management Program - G no

EQ C Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies - - yes

EQ C Thermal Comfort - - no

EQ C Interior Lighting - G no

EQ C Daylight and Quality Views - - yes

EQ C Green Cleaning--Custodial - - no
Effectiveness Assessment

EQ C Green Cleaning--Products and Materials no G yes

EQ C Green Cleaning--Equipment - G yes

EQ C Integrated Pest Management C G no

EQ C Occupant Comfort Survey - - no

IN C G
Innovation

IN C Innovation C G no

IN C LEED Accredited Professional - G no

RP
Regional Priority

RP C Regional Priority - - no
 25

Points

New Warehouses and

Schools Retail Data Centers Hospitality
Construction Distribution Centers

2 2 2 2 2 2

3 3 3 3 3 3

5 5 5 5 5 5

1 1 1 1 1 1

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Req Req Req Req Req Req

Req Req Req Req Req Req

QUICK REFERANCE
1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 1 1 1 1

2 2 2 2 2 2

2 2 2 2 2 2

2 2 2 2 2 2

Req Req Req Req Req Req

Req Req Req Req Req Req

Req Req Req Req Req Req

2 2 2 2 2 2

2 2 2 2 2 2

1 1 1 1 1 1

2 2 2 2 2 2

4 4 4 4 4 4

1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 1 1 1 1

2 2 2 2 2 2

1 1 1 1 1 1

5 5 5 5 5 5

1 1 1 1 1 1

4 4 4 4 4 4
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Minimum Program
Requirements

MPR
MINIMUM PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
INTRODUCTION
The Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) are the minimum characteristics or conditions that make a project
appropriate to pursue LEED certification. These requirements are foundational to all LEED projects and define the
types of buildings, spaces, and neighborhoods that the LEED rating system is designed to evaluate.
28

1. MUST BE IN A PERMANENT LOCATION ON EXISTING LAND

INTENT
The LEED rating system is designed to evaluate buildings, spaces, and neighborhoods in the context of their
surroundings. A significant portion of LEED requirements are dependent on the project’s location, therefore
it is important that LEED projects are evaluated as permanent structures. Locating projects on existing land is
important to avoid artificial land masses that have the potential to displace and disrupt ecosystems.

REQUIREMENTS
All LEED projects must be constructed and operated on a permanent location on existing land. No project that is
designed to move at any point in its lifetime may pursue LEED certification. This requirement applies to all land
within the LEED project.

ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE

Permanent location
·· Movable buildings are not eligible for LEED. This includes boats and mobile homes.
·· Prefabricated or modular structures and building elements may be certified once permanently installed as part
of the LEED project.
MPR

Existing land
·· Buildings located on previously constructed docks, piers, jetties, infill, and other manufactured structures in
or above water are permissible, provided that the artificial land was not constructed by the owner of the LEED
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

project for the express purpose of constructing the LEED project.

2. MUST USE REASONABLE LEED BOUNDARIES

INTENT
The LEED rating system is designed to evaluate buildings, spaces, or neighborhoods, and all environmental impacts
associated with those projects. Defining a reasonable LEED boundary ensures that project is accurately evaluated.

REQUIREMENTS
The LEED project boundary must include all contiguous land that is associated with the project and supports its
typical operations. This includes land altered as a result of construction and features used primarily by the project’s
occupants, such as hardscape (parking and sidewalks), septic or stormwater treatment equipment, and landscaping.
The LEED boundary may not unreasonably exclude portions of the building, space, or site to give the project an
advantage in complying with credit requirements. The LEED project must accurately communicate the scope of the
certifying project in all promotional and descriptive materials and distinguish it from any non-certifying space.

ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE

Site
·· Non-contiguous parcels of land may be included within the LEED project boundary if the parcels directly
support or are associated with normal building operations of the LEED project and are accessible to the LEED
project’s occupants.
·· Facilities (such as parking lots, bicycle storage, shower/changing facilities, and/or on-site renewable energy)
that are outside of the LEED project boundary may be included in certain prerequisites and credits if they
directly serve the LEED project and are not double-counted for other LEED projects. The project team must
also have permission to use these facilities.
 29

·· The LEED project boundary may include other buildings.

°° If another building or structure within the LEED project boundary is ineligible for LEED certification, it
may be either included or not included in the certification of the LEED project.
°° If another building within the LEED project boundary is eligible for LEED certification, it may be either
included or not included in the certification. If included, the project must be registered as a group
certification project and the LEED campus certification process must be used.
·· Sites with a master plan and/or phased development must designate a LEED project boundary for each
LEED project.
·· The gross floor area of the LEED project should be no less than 2% of the gross land area within the LEED
project boundary.
Building
·· The LEED project should include the entire building and complete scope of work.
·· Buildings or structures primarily dedicated to parking are not eligible for LEED certification. Parking that
serves an eligible LEED project should be included in the certification.
·· Buildings that are physically connected by programmable space are considered one building for LEED
purposes unless they are physically distinct and have distinct identities as separate buildings or if they are a
newly constructed addition. If separated, the projects should also have separate air distribution systems and
water and energy meters (including thermal energy meters).
·· Buildings that have no physical connection or are physically connected only by circulation, parking, or

MPR
mechanical/storage rooms are considered separate buildings and individual projects for LEED purposes, with
the following exceptions:
°° Primary and secondary school projects, hospitals (general medical and surgical), hotels, resorts, and resort

MINIMUM PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

properties, as defined by ENERGY STAR building rating purposes, may include more than one physically
distinct building in a single LEED project. For new construction projects, each building in the application
must be less than 25,000 sq. ft. Please contact USGBC if with any questions.
°° For other cases such as buildings that have programmatic dependency (spaces – not personnel – within
the building cannot function independently without the other building) or architectural cohesiveness
(the building was designed to appear as one building), project teams are encouraged to contact USGBC to
discuss their project prior to proceeding.
Interiors
·· The LEED project should be defined by a clear boundary such that the LEED project is physically distinct from
other interior spaces within the building.
Neighborhood
·· The LEED neighborhood includes the land, water, and construction within the LEED project boundary. 
·· The LEED boundary is usually defined by the platted property line of the project, including all land and water
within it.
°° Projects located on publicly owned campuses that do not have internal property lines must delineate a
sphere-of-influence line to be used instead.
°° Projects may have enclaves of non-project properties that are not subject to the rating system, but cannot
exceed 2% of the total project area and cannot be described as certified.
°° Projects must not contain non-contiguous parcels, but parcels can be separated by public rights-of-way.
·· The project developer, which can include several property owners, should control a majority of the buildable
land within the boundary, but does not have to control the entire area.  
30

3. MUST COMPLY WITH PROJECT SIZE REQUIREMENTS

INTENT
The LEED rating system is designed to evaluate buildings, spaces, or neighborhoods of a certain size. The LEED
requirements do not accurately assess the performance of projects outside of these size requirements.

REQUIREMENTS
All LEED projects must meet the size requirements listed below.
LEED BD+C and LEED O+M Rating Systems
The LEED project must include a minimum of 1,000 square feet (93 square meters) of gross floor area.
LEED ID+C Rating Systems
The LEED project must include a minimum of 250 square feet (22 square meters) of gross floor area.
LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating Systems
The LEED project should contain at least two habitable buildings and be no larger than 1500 acres.
LEED for Homes Rating Systems
The LEED project must be defined as a “dwelling unit” by all applicable codes. This requirement includes, but
is not limited to, the International Residential Code stipulation that a dwelling unit must include “permanent
provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation.”
MPR
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
MINIMUM PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
31

MPR
 33

Rating System
Selection Guidance
INTRODUCTION

RSS
This document provides guidance to help project teams select a LEED rating system. Projects are required to use the
rating system that is most appropriate. However, when the decision is not clear, it is the responsibility of the project
team to make a reasonable decision in selecting a rating system before registering their project. The project teams

RATING SYSTEM SELECTION GUIDANCE

should first identify an appropriate rating system, and then determine the best adaptation. Occasionally, USGBC
recognizes that an entirely inappropriate rating system has been chosen. In this case, the project team will be asked
to change the designated rating system for their registered project. Please review this guidance carefully and contact
USGBC if it is not clear which rating system to use.
34

RATING SYSTEM DESCRIPTIONS

LEED FOR BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Buildings that are new construction or major renovation. At least 60% of the project’s gross floor area must be
complete by the time of certification (except for LEED BD+C: Core and Shell). Must include the entire building’s
gross floor area in the project.
·· LEED BD+C: New Construction and Major Renovation. New construction or major renovation of buildings
that do not primarily serve K-12 educational, retail, data centers, warehouses and distribution centers,
hospitality, or healthcare uses. High-rise residential buildings 4 stories or more can use New Construction or
Multifamily Midrise.
·· LEED BD+C: Core and Shell Development. Buildings that are new construction or major renovation for
the exterior shell and core mechanical, electrical, and plumbing units, but not a complete interior fit-out.
LEED BD+C: Core and Shell is the appropriate rating system to use if more than 40% of the gross floor area is
incomplete at the time of certification. 
·· LEED BD+C: Schools. Buildings made up of core and ancillary learning spaces on K-12 school grounds. LEED
BD+C: Schools may optionally be used for higher education and non-academic buildings on school campuses.
·· LEED BD+C: Retail. Buildings used to conduct the retail sale of consumer product goods. Includes both direct
customer service areas (showroom) and preparation or storage areas that support customer service.
·· LEED BD+C: Data Centers. Buildings specifically designed and equipped to meet the needs of high density
computing equipment such as server racks, used for data storage and processing.  LEED BD+C: Data Centers
only addresses whole building data centers (greater than 60%).
·· LEED BD+C: Warehouses and Distribution Centers. Buildings used to store goods, manufactured products,
merchandise, raw materials, or personal belongings, such as self-storage.
·· LEED BD+C: Hospitality. Buildings dedicated to hotels, motels, inns, or other businesses within the service
industry that provide transitional or short-term lodging with or without food.
RSS

·· LEED BD+C: Healthcare. Hospitals that operate twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and provide
inpatient medical treatment, including acute and long-term care.
·· LEED BD+C: Homes and Multifamily Lowrise. Single-family homes and multi-family residential buildings
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

of 1 to 3 stories. Projects 3 to 5 stories may choose the Homes rating system that corresponds to the ENERGY
STAR program in which they are participating.
·· LEED BD+C: Multifamily Midrise. Multi-family residential buildings of 4 or more occupiable stories above
grade. The building must have 50% or more residential space. These buildings may also use LEED BD+C: New
Construction.

LEED FOR INTERIOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.

Interior spaces that are a complete interior fit-out. In addition, at least 60% of the project’s gross floor area must be
complete by the time of certification.
·· LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors. Interior spaces dedicated to functions other than retail or hospitality.
·· LEED ID+C: Retail. Interior spaces used to conduct the retail sale of consumer product goods. Includes both
direct customer service areas (showroom) and preparation or storage areas that support customer service.
·· LEED ID+C: Hospitality. Interior spaces dedicated to hotels, motels, inns, or other businesses within the
service industry that provide transitional or short-term lodging with or without food.

LEED FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE.

Buildings that are fully operational and occupied for at least one year. The project may be undergoing improvement
work or little to no construction. Must include the entire building’s gross floor area in the project.
·· LEED O+M: Existing Buildings. Existing buildings that do not primarily serve K-12 educational, retail, data
centers, warehouses and distribution centers, or hospitality uses.
·· LEED O+M: Retail. Existing buildings used to conduct the retail sale of consumer product goods. Includes
both direct customer service areas (showroom) and preparation or storage areas that support customer
service.
 35

·· LEED O+M: Schools. Existing buildings made up of core and ancillary learning spaces on K-12 school grounds.
May also be used for higher education and non-academic buildings on school campuses.
·· LEED O+M: Hospitality. Existing buildings dedicated to hotels, motels, inns, or other businesses within the
service industry that provide transitional or short-term lodging with or without food.
·· LEED O+M: Data Centers. Existing buildings specifically designed and equipped to meet the needs of high
density computing equipment such as server racks, used for data storage and processing.  LEED O+M: Data
Centers only addresses whole building data centers.
·· LEED O+M: Warehouses and Distribution Centers. Existing buildings used to store goods, manufactured
products, merchandise, raw materials, or personal belongings (such as self-storage).

LEED FOR NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT

New land development projects or redevelopment projects containing residential uses, nonresidential uses, or a
mix. Projects may be at any stage of the development process, from conceptual planning through construction. It
is recommended that at least 50% of total building floor area be new construction or major renovation. Buildings
within the project and features in the public realm are evaluated.
·· LEED ND: Plan. Projects in conceptual planning or master planning phases, or under construction.
·· LEED ND: Built Project. Completed development projects.

CHOOSING BETWEEN RATING SYSTEMS

The following 40/60 rule provides guidance for making a decision when several rating systems appear to be
appropriate for a project. To use this rule, first assign a rating system to each square foot or square meter of the
building. Then, choose the most appropriate rating system based on the resulting percentages.

RSS
The entire gross floor area of a LEED project must be certified under a single rating system and is subject to all
prerequisites and attempted credits in that rating system, regardless of mixed construction or space usage type.

RATING SYSTEM SELECTION GUIDANCE

PERCENTAGE OF FLOOR AREA APPROPRIATE
FOR A PARTICULAR RATING SYSTEM

<40% 40% - 60% >60%

SHOULD NOT USE PROJECT’S TEAM SHOULD USE
THAT RATING SYSTEM CHOICE THAT RATING SYSTEM

·· If a rating system is appropriate for less than 40% of the gross floor area of a LEED project building or space,
then that rating system should not be used.
·· If a rating system is appropriate for more than 60% of the gross floor area of a LEED project building or space,
then that rating system should be used.
·· If an appropriate rating system falls between 40% and 60% of the gross floor area, project teams must
independently assess their situation and decide which rating system is most applicable.
 37

Location and
Transportation (lt)

LOCATION AND TRANSPORTATION

OVERVIEW
The Location and Transportation (LT) category rewards thoughtful project team decisions about building location
and how that location affects commuting patterns. The transportation sector is responsible for about one-quarter
of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions worldwide,1 and these emissions increased 17.5% from 1990 to 2010.2
A significant portion of these emissions come from conventional commuting—that is, commuting in a single-
occupancy vehicle that runs on conventional fossil fuel. Transportation infrastructure and commuting patterns are

LT
often intertwined with land-use patterns, and decentralized, disjointed transportation infrastructure can contribute
to sprawling, inefficient land development. Thus, alternative transportation is an important part of a project’s overall
environmental performance.
Understanding the transportation patterns of tenants and providing transportation demand management tools
are important first steps, but tracking building occupants’ behavior is essential to determining whether projects are
achieving results. Building operators and owners who are well informed about their occupants’ travel patterns will be
able to develop policies and incentives that can encourage changes in transportation habits.

1. International Council on Clean Transportation, Passenger Vehicles, theicct.org/passenger-vehicles (accessed March 22, 2013).
2. cta.ornl.gov/data/chapter11.shtml, Table 11.7.
 61

Sustainable
Sites (ss)
OVERVIEW
The Sustainable Sites (SS) category rewards decisions about the environment surrounding the building, with credits
that emphasize the vital relationships among buildings, ecosystems, and ecosystem services. It focuses on restoring
project site elements, integrating the site with local and regional ecosystems, and preserving the biodiversity that

SUSTAINABLE SITES
natural systems rely on.
Earth’s systems depend on biologically diverse forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and other ecosystems, which are
often referred to as “natural capital” because they provide regenerative services. A United Nations study indicates
that of the ecosystem services that have been assessed worldwide, about 60% are currently degraded or used
unsustainably.1 The results are deforestation, soil erosion, a drop in water table levels, extinction of species, and
rivers that no longer run to the sea. Recent trends like exurban development and sprawl encroach on the remaining
natural landscapes and farmlands, fragmenting and replacing them with dispersed hardscapes surrounded by
nonnative vegetation. Between 1982 and 2001 in the U.S. alone, about 34 million acres (13 759 hectares) of open

SS
space (an area the size of Illinois) was lost to development—approximately 4 acres per minute, or 6,000 acres a day.2
The rainwater runoff from these hardscape areas frequently overloads the capacity of natural infiltration systems,
increasing both the quantity and pollution of site runoff. Rainwater runoff carries such pollutants as oil, sediment,
chemicals, and lawn fertilizers directly to streams and rivers, where they contribute to eutrophication and harm
aquatic ecosystems and species. A Washington State Department of Ecology study noted that rainwater runoff from
roads, parking lots, and other hardscapes carries some 6.3 million gallons of petroleum into the Puget Sound every
year—more than half of what was spilled in the 1989 Exxon Valdez accident in Alaska.3
Project teams that comply with the prerequisites and credits in the SS category use low-impact development
methods that minimize construction pollution, reduce heat island effects and light pollution, and mimic natural
water flow patterns to manage rainwater runoff.
In LEED v4, the SS category combines traditional approaches with several new strategies. These include working
with conservation organizations to target financial support for off-site habitat protection (Site Development—

1. UN Environment Programme, State and Trends of the Environment 1987–2001, Section B, Chapter 5, unep.org/geo/geo4/report/05_Biodiversity.pdf.
2. U.S. Forest Service, Quick Facts, fs.fed.us/projects/four-threats/facts/open-space.shtml (accessed September 11, 2012).
3. Cornwall, W., Stormwater’s Damage to Puget Sound Huge, Seattle Times (December 1, 2007), seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2004045940_ecology01m.html
(accessed on September 14, 2012).
62

Protect or Restore Habitat credit), using low-impact development to handle a percentile storm event (Rainwater
Management credit), using three-year aged SRI values for roofs and SR values for nonroof hardscape (Heat Island
Reduction credit), and creating a five-year improvement plan for the project site (Site Improvement Plan credit).
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
SS
 139

WE
WATER EFFICIENCY
Water
Efficiency (WE)
OVERVIEW
The Water Efficiency (WE) section addresses water holistically, looking at indoor use, outdoor use, specialized uses,
and metering. The section is based on an “efficiency first” approach to water conservation. As a result, each prerequisite
looks at water efficiency and reductions in potable water use alone. Then, the WE credits additionally recognize the use
of nonpotable and alternative sources of water.
Conservation and the creative reuse of water are important because only 3% of Earth’s water is fresh water, and of
that, slightly over two-thirds is trapped in glaciers.1 Typically, most of a building’s water cycles through the building
and then flows off-site as wastewater. In developed nations, potable water often comes from a public water supply
system far from the building site, and wastewater leaving the site must be piped to a processing plant, after which it is
discharged into a distant water body. This pass-through system reduces streamflow in rivers and depletes fresh water
aquifers, causing water tables to drop and wells to go dry. In 60% of European cities with more than 100,000 people,
groundwater is being used faster than it can be replenished.2
In addition, the energy required to treat water for drinking, transport it to and from a building, and treat it for
disposal represents a significant amount of energy use not captured by a building’s utility meter. Research in California
shows roughly 19% of all energy used in this U.S. state is consumed by water treatment and pumping.3
In the U.S., buildings account for 13.6% of potable water use,4 the third-largest category, behind thermoelectric power
and irrigation. Designers and builders can construct green buildings that use significantly less water than conventional
construction by incorporating native landscapes that eliminate the need for irrigation, installing water efficient fixtures,
and reusing wastewater for non-potable water needs. The Green Building Market Impact Report 2009 found that LEED
projects were responsible for saving an aggregate 1.2 trillion gallons (4.54 trillion liters) of water.5 LEED’s WE credits
encourage project teams to take advantage of every opportunity to significantly reduce total water use.

CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES
The WE category comprises three major components: indoor water (used by fixtures, appliances and processes,
such as cooling), irrigation water, and water metering. Several kinds of documentation span these components,
depending on the project’s specific water-saving strategies.

1.  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Water Trivia Facts, water.epa.gov/learn/kids/drinkingwater/water_trivia_facts.cfm (accessed September 12, 2012).
2.  Statistics: Graphs & Maps, UN Water, http://www.unwater.org/statistics/en/ (accessed July 9, 2014).
3.  energy.ca.gov/2005publications/CEC-700-2005-011/CEC-700-2005-011-SF.PDF
4.  USGBC, Green Building Facts, http://www.usgbc.org/articles/green-building-facts
5.  Green Outlook 2011, Green Trends Driving Growth (McGraw-Hill Construction, 2010), aiacc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/greenoutlook2011.pdf
(accessed September 12, 2012).
140

Site plans: Plans are used to document the location and size of vegetated areas, and the locations of meters and
submeters. Within the building, floorplans show the location of fixtures, appliances, and process water equipment
(e.g., cooling towers, evaporative condensers), as well as indoor submeters. The same documentation can be used in
credits in the Sustainable Sites category.

Fixture cutsheets: Projects must document their fixtures (and appliances as applicable) using fixture cutsheets or
manufacturers’ literature. This documentation is used in the Indoor Water Use Reduction prerequisite and credit.

Alternative water sources: A project that includes graywater reuse, rainwater harvesting, municipally supplied
WE

wastewater (purple pipe water), or other reused sources, is eligible to earn credit in WE Credit Outdoor Water Use
Reduction, WE Credit Indoor Water Use Reduction, WE Credit Cooling Tower Water Use, and WE Credit Water
Metering. But the team cannot apply the same water to multiple credits unless the water source has sufficient water
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

volume to cover the demand of all the uses (e.g., irrigation plus toilet-flushing demand).

Occupancy calculations: The Indoor Water Use Reduction prerequisite and credit require projections based on
occupant’s usage. The Location and Transportation and Sustainable Sites categories also use project occupancy
calculations. Review the occupancy section in Getting Started to understand how occupants are classified and
counted. Also see WE Prerequisite Indoor Water Use Reduction for additional guidance specific to the WE section.

METERING AND TRACKING

The WE credits have significant synergies between installing water meters and documenting savings. Table 1 details
the role of water meters in the WE credits.

TABLE 1. Water metering requirements

Metering
WE prerequisite Reading Performance Credit Reporting
requirement or Baseline length
or credit frequency period length requirement method
option

Option 2,
Prerequisite Metered Water No increase in
Monthly
Indoor Water Use: at least 12 months 12 months water usage Form
summaries
Use Reduction 80% of fixtures from baseline
and fittings

Third-party data
Prerequisite Whole building
Monthly Install meter, tool, USGBC-
Building Level and associated
summaries report data approved
Water Metering grounds
template

Credit Outdoor Option 3, Show 30%

Monthly
Water Use Irrigation Meter At least 3 years 12 months reduction from Form
summaries
Reduction Installed baseline

Option 2,
Credit Indoor Metered Water
Monthly Show reduction
Water Use Use: at least 12 months 12 months Form
summaries from baseline
Reduction 80% of fixtures
and fittings

None; cooling
towers can be
Credit Cooling
metered for
Tower Water
points under WE
Use
Credit Water
Metering

Irrigation,
indoor plumbing
fixtures and Install meters;
Third-party data
fittings, Weekly, record data at
Credit Water tool, USGBC-
cooling towers, including whole- least weekly and
Metering approved
domestic hot building meter report; analyze
template, form
water, reclaimed time trends
water, other
process water
 193

EA
Energy and

ENERGY AND ATMOSPHERE

Atmosphere (ea)
OVERVIEW
The Energy and Atmosphere (EA) category approaches energy from a holistic perspective, addressing energy use
reduction, energy-efficient design strategies, and renewable energy sources.
The current worldwide mix of energy resources is weighted heavily toward oil, coal, and natural gas.1 In addition
to emitting greenhouse gases, these resources are nonrenewable: their quantities are limited or they cannot be
replaced as fast as they are consumed.2 Though estimates regarding the remaining quantity of these resources vary,
it is clear that the current reliance on nonrenewable energy sources is not sustainable and involves increasingly
destructive extraction processes, uncertain supplies, escalating market prices, and national security vulnerability.
Accounting for approximately 40% of the total energy used today,3 buildings are significant contributors to these
problems.
A well-run facility is not only more energy efficient but also more healthful and comfortable for its occupants. In
existing buildings, the focus is on improving building operations. Through the auditing or commissioning process,
inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement are identified and prioritized, generally according to cost and
benefit. The many no- and low-cost items often uncovered during this process can generate savings and efficiencies
without significant capital investment. In an operationally effective and efficient building, the staff understands
what systems are installed and how they function. Metering and ongoing commissioning allow staff to track energy
use and identify issues on a consistent basis. Staff must have training, both initially and on a continuing basis, so that
they can learn new methods for optimizing system performance.
Existing building commissioning is generally a set of discrete tasks that include monitoring system performance,
executing functional tests, and verifying equipment operation. The timeline of these activities can extend anywhere
from six to 18 months, depending on staff time, seasonal variations, and identified issues. Ongoing commissioning
organizes those tasks into a repeating cycle of 24 months or less over the lifetime of the building. Some aspects of
monitoring-based commissioning, including submetering, point trending, and energy analysis, can be incorporated
into an ongoing commissioning program to help improve the process and identify issues in real time.

1. iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/kwes.pdf
2. cnx.org/content/m16730/latest/
3. unep.org/sbci/pdfs/SBCI-BCCSummary.pdf
194

The commissioning process is focused on making the project building run as efficiently and use as little energy
as possible; supplying that remaining energy use from renewables on the project site or purchased green power goes
a step beyond. Nonfossil fuel energy helps balance the demand on traditional sources and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.
The EA category recognizes that the reduction of fossil fuel use extends far beyond the walls of the building.
Projects can contribute to increasing the electricity grid’s efficiency by enrolling in a demand response program.
Demand response allows utilities to call on buildings to decrease their electricity use during peak times, reducing
the strain on the grid and the need to operate more power plants, thus potentially avoiding the costs of constructing
new plants. Permanent peak loading shifting addresses many of the same issues as demand response but results in
demand reduction on a continuous basis, rather than just when an event is called.
The American Physical Society has found that if current and emerging cost-effective energy efficiency measures
are employed in new buildings and in existing buildings as their heating, cooling, lighting, and other equipment
is replaced, the growth in energy demand by the building sector could fall from a projected 30% increase to zero
between now and 2030.4 The EA section supports the goal of reduced energy demand through credits related to
EA

reducing usage, designing for efficiency, and supplementing the energy supply with renewables.
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

4. Energy Future: Think Efficiency, Chapter 3, Buildings (American Physical Society, September 2008), aps.org/energyefficiencyreport/report/energy-bldgs.pdf
(accessed September 13, 2012).
 311

Materials and
Resources (mr)

MR
MATERIALS AND RESOURCES
OVERVIEW
The longest part of a building’s life cycle is the use phase, commonly referred to as the operations phase. To target
environmental impact reductions during building operations, the Materials and Resources (MR) credit category
focuses on the constant flow of products being purchased and discarded to support building operations. The life
cycle of these products and materials—from extraction, processing, and transportation to use and disposal—can
cause a wide range of environmental and human health harms. To reduce these burdens and thus the overall
impact of a building during its operations phase, project teams should take a close look at the purchasing and waste
management operations in existing buildings.

PURCHASING FOR BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND RENOVATION

Although renovations to existing buildings generally cause less harm than new construction, the associated materials
have already had a significant environmental impact by the time they arrive on site. The extraction or harvesting,
manufacture, and transport of these materials contribute to water and air pollution, the degradation of habitats,
and the depletion of natural resources. In addition, the introduction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and
other contaminants to the site can degrade the building’s indoor environmental quality before occupancy begins.
Establishing an environmentally preferred purchasing policy for construction materials used for maintenance and
renovations not only ensures a consistent approach to material selection but also helps reduce environmental harm
by specifying low-VOC, sustainably harvested, or reused materials. Implementing such a policy creates the market
demand needed to drive manufacturers to produce materials in a more environmentally preferable way.

PURCHASING FOR ONGOING OPERATIONS

In addition to the big expenses incurred during facility maintenance and renovations, buildings also require
significant amounts of products, from floor wax to furniture to toilet paper, to ensure smooth operations. Though
often overlooked, these ongoing purchases can have a large environmental impact. Like construction materials,
312

the products are associated with environmental burden both before and after they are used in the building. Unlike
construction materials, however, these ongoing purchases are often the responsibility of several individuals in
different departments, locations, and sometimes companies. An environmental purchasing plan, with procedures,
guidelines, and designated responsibilities, is therefore necessary. This MR section addresses both the purchasing
and implementation challenges facing existing building projects.

WASTE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS

A significant amount of waste is generated by daily building operations and maintenance activities. Landfill disposal
has wide-ranging effects, including soil and groundwater contamination, release of methane and carbon dioxide,
and land degradation. Today commercial and institutional buildings typically account for 35% to 45% of total
municipal solid waste. The commercial building industry can greatly reduce waste going to landfills and incinerators
by targeting two large categories: paper (office paper, paperboard, cardboard) and organics (yard trimmings, food
scraps, and wood).
Another important ongoing maintenance waste stream to consider is hazardous waste. One of the most toxic and
most common sources of indoor pollution is mercury, which is found in all fluorescent lamps. Standard fluorescent
lamps offer high efficiency and long life and are therefore widely used; they light 96% of commercial floor space in
the United States.1 Once removed from a building, they often become part of the municipal solid waste stream and
contribute to air, land, and water contamination. Properly storing both new and spent lamps on site and ensuring
their safe disposal reduce the environmental damage.
MR

Both building maintenance and renovation inevitably produce construction and demolition waste. The safe
storage, installation, and disposal of base building elements, such as carpets, paint, casework, furniture, and lamps,
contribute to a healthy environment inside and outside the building. Because renovation and maintenance activities
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

can affect indoor air quality, it is important to comply with safe storage recommendations for materials and follow
correct protocols when painting, installing carpets, and working with other base building elements. Reducing
contamination during construction and before occupancy can help minimize potential problems, thereby enhancing
occupants’ comfort, lowering absenteeism, and improving productivity. Taking time during construction to clean
and protect ventilation systems and building spaces can extend the lifetime of ventilation systems and improve their
efficiency, reducing energy use.

CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES

REQUIRED PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS

Each prerequisite and credit outlines the exact scope of the requirements. The prerequisite and credit requirements
are divided into two categories: products that are purchased on an ongoing basis, such as lamps, paper goods, or
office equipment, and materials purchased for periodic maintenance or renovation work.

QUALIFYING PRODUCTS AND EXCLUSIONS

The MR section related to maintenance and renovation addresses “permanently installed building products,” which
as defined by LEED refers to products and materials that create the building or are attached to it. Examples include
structure and enclosure elements, installed finishes, framing, interior walls, cabinets and casework, doors, and roof.
Most of these materials fall into Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) 2012 MasterFormat Divisions 3-10, 31,
and 32. Some products addressed by MR credits fall outside these divisions.
For the Operations and Maintenance rating system, furniture must be included in credit calculations and treated
consistently across credits. Also included are items purchased to maintain furniture.
Excluded from MR credits are all mechanical, plumbing, and electrical equipment (MEP), specialty items (e.g.,
elevators, escalators, process equipment, fire suppression systems), and products purchased for temporary use on
the project (e.g., formwork for concrete).

1. U.S. Department of Energy. 2003 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, 2006,
http://www.eia.gov/emeu/cbecs2003/detailed_tables_2003/detailed_tables_2003.html (accessed May 2008)
 313

DETERMINING PRODUCT COST

Calculations for purchasing credits are based on product and material cost, which excludes labor required for
installation or replacement. Preferably, taxes, shipping, and delivery costs on purchases should be excluded but may
be included, provided they are either included or excluded consistently throughout the calculations.

DETERMINING MATERIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF AN ASSEMBLY

Many sustainable criteria in the MR category apply to the entire product, as is the case for product certifications and
programs. However, some criteria apply to only a portion of the product. The portion of the product that contributes
to the credit could be either a percentage of a homogeneous material or the percentage of qualifying components
that are mechanically or permanently fastened together. In either case, the contributing value is based on weight.
Examples of homogeneous materials include composite flooring, ceiling tiles, and rubber wall base. Examples of
assemblies (parts mechanically or permanently fastened together) include office chairs, demountable partition
walls, premade window assemblies, and doors.
Calculate the value that contributes toward credit compliance as the percentage, by weight, of the material or
component that meets the criteria, multiplied by the total product cost (Figure 1, Table 1).
Product value ($) = Total product cost ($) x % meeting sustainble criteria

Cotton fabric 5% (certified

by Rainforest Alliance)

MR
Fastening hardware 2% Plastic component 25%
(25% recycled content) (10% post-consumer recycled content)
Arm rest plastic 5%
(10% post-consumer recycled content)

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES

Metal base 20% Steel post 8% Wheels 5%

(25% recycled content) (40% recycled content) (10% post-consumer
recycled content)

Percentage (%) denotes assembly components by weight

Figure 1. Sustainably produced components of $500 office chair

314

TABLE 1. Example calculation for $500 office chair

Percentage of component Value of

Percentage of product,
Chair component Value of component meeting sustainability sustainability
by weight
criteria criteria

25% preconsumer
Fastening hardware 2% $10 $2.50
recycled content

100% certified by
Cotton fabric 5% $25 $25.00
Rainforest Alliance

10% postconsumer
Plastic component 25% $125 $12.50
recycled content

10% postconsumer
Armrest 5% $25 $2.50
recycled content

25% preconsumer
Metal base 20% $100 $25.00
recycled content

40% preconsumer
Steel post 8% $40 $16.00
recycled content

5% postconsumer
Wheels 5% $25 $1.25
recycled content

Total value contributing to credit $84.75

MR

SELECTING AN APPROPRIATE PURCHASING TRACKING SYSTEM

Several credits in the MR section depend on tracking product purchasing decisions and materials types or streams.
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When deciding on a tracking system, make sure that the strategy works for the project team. A good tracking system
is user-friendly, readily accessible, and easily coordinates multiple purchases from a variety of sources. Issues to
consider include users’ computer skills and accessibility, language barriers, and the need to merge information from
multiple sources.
For example, if many individuals make purchases, an electronic tracking system may make it easier to share or
combine purchase data. Standardized tracking tools ease the process of tracking the purchases of different parties
and aggregating the data. Keep in mind that some vendors may not have ready access to computers for logging
product deliveries.

Steps for using a tracking system proceed as follows:

1. Review current purchasing practices to evaluate which items already meet the requirements and what changes
need to be made.
2. Log all purchases.
3. Identify which purchases meet the credit criteria.
4. Calculate the percentage, by cost, of portions of materials or assemblies that meet the criteria (in those cases
where only a portion of a material meets the criteria).
5. Calculate the total percentage, by cost, of materials that meet the credit criteria.

It is recommended that teams pilot the chosen tracking system for one or two months before using it for LEED
certification so that any problems can be addressed before the performance period.

MULTITENANT BUILDINGS
Because certification applies to whole buildings, it may be challenging for multitenant buildings to earn certain
credits, especially in the MR category. All portions of a building under the site management’s control are expected
to comply with the credit requirements. If it is not possible to gather to necessary information on purchasing or
waste management to document credit achievement, or if the LEED applicant does not have control over the
entire building, the project team may exempt up to 10% of the building’s gross floor area (see Getting Started).
Multifamily buildings are allowed to exclude resident purchasing from tracking completely. If a multifamily building
is mixed use, the nonresidential portions of the building must still include a minimum of 90% of the area in credit
calculations.
 315

Collecting waste information in multitenant buildings. Generally, waste collection falls under the responsibility
of building management, through a service contract for the entire building. If waste collection or portions of waste
collection (e.g., hazardous waste) are not under the site management’s control, it is recommended that teams
prioritize meeting local regulations for waste disposal, then focus on prerequisite achievement and, last, credit
achievement.

Collecting purchasing information in multitenant buildings. The products, materials, and furniture (as
applicable) purchased by tenants are included in the MR purchasing credits. It is recommended that project
teams test the building-wide purchasing tracking systems before the start of the performance period. Establish a
relationship with the primary purchaser in each tenant space to encourage participation, accurate reporting, and
notification when relevant purchases will be made. Provide support (e.g., training in using the tracking tool) and
clearly indicate what information is needed.

Excluding tenant purchases in credit documentation. If additional tenants beyond those in the excluded 10%
gross floor area choose not to provide purchasing data, the purchases for those tenant spaces must be estimated and
assumed to be noncompliant. To estimate these tenants’ purchases, extrapolate the purchasing rate from elsewhere
in the building on a per occupant or area basis, and assume that the purchases meet none of the criteria. Integrate
the estimated data from the nonparticipating tenants into the whole-building purchasing data (for participating and
nonparticipating tenants) to determine compliance for the whole building (Table 2).

MR
TABLE 2. Example compliance calculation with nonparticipating tenants

Actual purchase rate for participating tenants

Tenant Floor area (ft2) Total purchases Compliant purchases

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES

Jones Hotelier 75,000 $2,000 $1,500

Big Red Offices 60,000 $1,000 $750

Total 135,000 $3,000 $2,250

Total purchases / ft of participating tenants

2
$0.022

Estimated purchase rate for nonparticipating tenants

Estimated total Estimated compliant

Tenant Floor area (ft2)
purchases purchases

$0.022 x 15,000 ft2

Cranky’s Depot 15,000 $0
= $330

Whole-building results

Tenant Floor area (ft2) Total purchases Compliant purchases

Jones Hotelier 75,000 $2,000 $1,500

Big Red Offices 60,000 $1,000 $750

Cranky’s Depot (estimated) 15,000 $330 $0

Total 150,000 $3,330 $2,250

Percentage compliant purchases 67.57%

 401

Indoor
Environmental
Quality (eq)

EQ
OVERVIEW

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

The Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) category rewards decisions made by project teams about indoor air quality,
thermal and visual comfort, and occupants’ satisfaction. Green buildings with good indoor environmental quality
protect the health and comfort of building occupants. High-quality indoor environments also enhance productivity,
decrease absenteeism, improve the building’s value, and reduce liability for building designers and owners.1
The relationship between the indoor environment and the health and comfort of building occupants is complex
and still not fully understood. Local customs and expectations, occupants’ activities, and the building’s site, design,
and construction are just a few of the variables that make it difficult to quantify and measure the direct effect of a
building on its occupants.2 The EQ section encourages project teams to develop policies and programs based on
proven methods that prioritize the health and comfort of the building occupants and to measure performance with
well-established indicators.
Ventilation has a large effect on the health and well-being of a building’s occupants. Existing buildings’ HVAC
systems may have fallen out of calibration or were never designed to provide adequate amounts of outside air for
diluting contaminants. The EQ section focuses on optimizing existing HVAC systems and minimizing sources
of contaminants, such as cleaning products and laser printers. (Emissions from products used in renovations,
maintenance work, and furniture are addressed in the Materials and Resources credit category.) The EQ category
also encourages building owners to determine priorities for improving the indoor environment by surveying
occupants.

1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Health Buildings Healthy People: A Vision for the 21st Century, epa.gov/iaq/pubs/hbhp.html
(October 2001) (accessed July 25, 2013).
2. Mitchell, Clifford S., Junfeng Zhang, Torben Sigsgaard, Matti Jantunen, Palu J. Lioy, Robert Samson, and Meryl H. Karol, Current State
of the Science: Health Effects and Indoor Environmental Quality, Environmental Health Perspectives 115(6) (June 2007).
402

CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES
FLOOR AREA CALCULATIONS AND FLOOR PLANS
For many of the credits in the EQ category, compliance is based on the percentage of floor area that meets the credit
requirements. In general, floor areas and space categorization should be consistent across EQ credits. Any excluded
spaces or discrepancies in floor area values should be explained and highlighted in the documentation. See Space
Categorization, below, for additional information on which floor area should be included in which credits.

SPACE CATEGORIZATION
The EQ category focuses on the interaction between the occupants of the building and the indoor spaces in which
they spend their time. For this reason, it is important to identify which spaces are used by the occupants, including
any visitors (transients), and what activities they perform in each space. Depending on the space categorization, the
credit requirements may or may not apply (Table 1).

Occupied versus unoccupied space

All spaces in a building must be categorized as either occupied or unoccupied. Occupied spaces are enclosed areas
intended for human activities. Unoccupied spaces are places intended primarily for other purposes; they are
occupied only occasionally and for short periods of time—in other words, they are inactive areas.

Examples of spaces that are typically unoccupied include the following:

·· Mechanical and electrical rooms
·· Egress stairway or dedicated emergency exit corridor
·· Closets in a residence (but a walk-in closet is occupied)
·· Data center floor area, including a raised floor area
·· Inactive storage area in a warehouse or distribution center
EQ

For areas with equipment retrieval, the space is unoccupied only if the retrieval is occasional.

Regularly versus nonregularly occupied spaces

Occupied spaces are further classified as regularly occupied or nonregularly occupied, based on the duration of the
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occupancy. Regularly occupied spaces are enclosed areas where people normally spend time, defined as more than
one hour of continuous occupancy per person per day, on average; the occupants may be seated or standing as they
work, study, or perform other activities. For spaces that are not used daily, the classification should be based on the
time a typical occupant spends in the space when it is in use. For example, a computer workstation may be largely
vacant throughout the month, but when it is occupied, a worker spends one to five hours there. It would then be
considered regularly occupied because that length of time is sufficient to affect the person’s well-being, and he or she
would have an expectation of thermal comfort and control over the environment.
Occupied spaces that do not meet the definition of regularly occupied are nonregularly occupied; these are areas
that people pass through or areas used an average of less than one hour per person per day.
 403

Examples of regularly occupied spaces include the following:

·· Airplane hangar ·· Hospital dialysis and ·· Natatorium
·· Auditorium infusion area ·· Open-office workstation
·· Auto service bay ·· Hospital exam room ·· Private office
·· Bank teller station ·· Hospital operating room ·· Reception desk
·· Conference room ·· Hospital patient room ·· Residential bedroom
·· Correctional facility cell or ·· Hospital recovery area ·· Residential dining room
day room ·· Hospital staff room ·· Residential kitchen
·· Data center network ·· Hospital surgical suite ·· Residential living room
operations center ·· Hospital waiting room ·· Residential office, den, workroom
·· Data center security ·· Hospital diagnostic and ·· Retail merchandise area and
operations center treatment area associated circulation
·· Dorm room ·· Hospital laboratory ·· Retail sales transaction area
·· Exhibition hall ·· Hospital nursing station ·· School classroom
·· Facilities staff office ·· Hospital solarium ·· School media center
·· Facilities staff workstation ·· Hospital waiting room ·· School student activity room
·· Food service facility dining area ·· Hotel front desk ·· School study hall
·· Food service facility kitchen area ·· Hotel guest room ·· Shipping and receiving office
·· Gymnasium ·· Hotel housekeeping area ·· Study carrel
·· Hospital autopsy and morgue ·· Hotel lobby ·· Warehouse materials-
·· Hospital critical-care area ·· Information desk handling area
·· Meeting room

Examples of nonregularly occupied spaces include the following:

EQ
·· Break room ·· Hospital short-term charting ·· Residential laundry area
·· Circulation space space ·· Residential walk-in closet
·· Copy room ·· Hospital prep and cleanup area in ·· Restroom

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

·· Corridor surgical suite ·· Retail fitting area
·· Fire station apparatus bay ·· Interrogation room ·· Retail stock room
·· Hospital linen area ·· Lobby (except hotel lobby)* ·· Shooting range
·· Hospital medical record area ·· Locker room ·· Stairway
·· Hospital patient room bathroom ·· Residential bathroom

*H
 otel lobbies are considered regularly occupied because people often congregate, work on laptops, and spend more time there
than they do in an office building lobby.

Occupied space subcategories

Occupied spaces, or portions of an occupied space, are further categorized as individual or shared multioccupant,
based on the number of occupants and their activities. An individual occupant space is an area where someone
performs distinct tasks. A shared multioccupant space is a place of congregation or a place where people pursue
overlapping or collaborative tasks. Occupied spaces that are not regularly occupied or not used for distinct or
collaborative tasks are neither individual occupant nor shared multioccupant spaces.

Examples of individual occupant spaces include the following:

·· Bank teller station ·· Hospital patient room ·· Open-office workstation
·· Correctional facility cell or day ·· Hotel guest room ·· Private office
room ·· Medical office ·· Reception desk
·· Data center staff workstation ·· Military barracks with personal ·· Residential bedroom
·· Hospital nursing station workspaces ·· Study carrel
404

Examples of shared multioccupant spaces include the following:

·· Active warehouse and storage ·· Gymnasium ·· Hotel housekeeping area
·· Airplane hangar ·· Hospital autopsy and morgue ·· Hotel lobby
·· Auditorium ·· Hospital critical-care area ·· Meeting room
·· Auto service bay ·· Hospital dialysis and ·· Natatorium
·· Conference room infusion area ·· Retail merchandise area and
·· Correctional facility cell or ·· Hospital exam room associated circulation
day room ·· Hospital operating room ·· Retail sales transaction area
·· Data center network ·· Hospital surgical suite ·· School classroom
operations center ·· Hospital waiting room ·· School media center
·· Data center security ·· Hospital diagnostic and ·· School student activity room
operations center treatment area ·· School study hall
·· Exhibition hall ·· Hospital laboratory ·· Shipping and receiving office
·· Facilities staff office ·· Hospital solarium ·· Warehouse materials-
·· Food service facility dining area ·· Hotel front desk handling area
·· Food service facility kitchen area

Occupied spaces can also be classified as densely or nondensely occupied, based on the concentration of occupants
in the space. A densely occupied space has a design occupant density of 25 people or more per 1,000 square feet (93
square meters), or 40 square feet (3.7 square meters) or less per person. Occupied spaces with a lower density are
nondensely occupied.

Table 1 outlines the relationship between the EQ credits and the space categorization terms. If the credit is listed, the
space must meet the requirements of the credit.
EQ

TABLE 1. Space types in EQ credits

Space category Prerequisite or credit

• Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance, ventilation rate procedure and natural ventilation procedure
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• Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies, Option 2, Filtration (Existing Buildings, Schools, Retail,
Occupied space Hospitality, Warehouses & Distribution Centers)
• Thermal Comfort, design requirements (Existing Buildings, Schools, Retail, Hospitality, Warehouses &
Distribution Centers)

• Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies, Option 2, Filtration (Data Centers)

• Thermal Comfort, design requirements (Data Centers)
• Interior Lighting, Option 2, strategy A
• Interior Lighting, Option 2, strategy D
Regularly occupied space
• Interior Lighting, Option 2, strategy E
• Interior Lighting, Option 2, strategy G
• Interior Lighting, Option 2, strategy H
• Daylight and Quality Views

Individual occupant space • Interior Lighting, Option 1

Shared multioccupant space • Interior Lighting, Option 1

Densely occupied space • Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies, Option 2 Carbon Dioxide Monitors

Table 2 outlines the relationship between the EQ credits and the space categorization terms specific to each rating
system (see Definitions). Unless otherwise stated, if the credit is listed, the space must meet the requirements of the
credit.
 405

TABLE 2. Rating system–specific space classifications

Rating system Space type Prerequisite or credit

• Thermal Comfort, control requirements*

Hospitality Guest rooms
• Interior Lighting*

Warehouses and
Office areas • Daylight and Quality Views, Option 2
Distribution Centers

Warehouses and Areas of bulk storage,

• Daylight and Quality Views, Option 2
Distribution Centers sorting, and distribution

*Hotel guest rooms are excluded from the credit requirements.

The following credits are not affected by space classifications:

·· Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control
·· Green Cleaning Policy
·· Indoor Air Quality Management Program
·· Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies, Option 1
·· Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies, Option 2, Outdoor Air Monitoring for Mechanically Ventilated Spaces
·· Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies, Option 2 Outdoor Air Monitoring for Naturally Ventilated Spaces
·· Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies, Option 2, Alarmed Openings for Naturally Ventilated Spaces
·· Interior Lighting, Option 2, Lighting Quality, strategy B
·· Interior Lighting, Option 2, Lighting Quality, strategy C
·· Interior Lighting, Option 2, Lighting Quality, strategy F
·· Green Cleaning—Custodial Effectiveness Assessment
·· Green Cleaning—Products and Materials

EQ
·· Green Cleaning—Equipment
·· Integrated Pest Management
·· Occupant Comfort Survey

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

TRICKY SPACES
Pay extra attention to how the following types of spaces are classified in specific credits.

Residential
·· Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance and Environmental Tobacco Smoke have specific requirements and
considerations for residential projects.
·· See the Project Type Variations sections in Interior Lighting for guidance on providing appropriate
controllability in residential buildings.

Auditoriums
·· Exceptions to Daylight and Quality Views are permitted. See the Project Type Variations sections in Daylight
and Quality Views.

Gymnasiums
·· See the Project Type Variations section in Thermal Comfort for guidance on dealing with high levels of physical
activity.
·· An exception to the views requirements in Daylight and Quality Views is permitted. See the Project Type
Variations section in Daylight and Quality Views.

Transportation Terminals
·· For Interior Lighting, Option 1, Lighting Control, most of the areas in a transportation terminal can be
considered shared multioccupant. Most areas in transportation terminals are also regularly occupied.
406

Dormitories and Military Barracks

·· These spaces fall in-between a work space and residence.
·· Dorm rooms or military barracks with personal workspaces are considered individual occupant spaces.
Military barracks without personal workspaces are considered shared multioccupant.

Industrial Facilities
·· For Interior Lighting, Option 1, Lighting Control, most of the active warehouse and storage areas are
considered multioccupant.
·· Most areas in industrial facilities are also regularly occupied.
EQ
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 557

Innovation (in)
OVERVIEW
Strategies for sustainable building operations are constantly evolving and improving. New technologies that
improve building operations and maintenance are continually introduced to the marketplace. The purpose of this
LEED category is to recognize projects for innovative and exemplary building features or practices that generate

INNOVATION
environmental benefits beyond those addressed or specified in the other credit categories.
Occasionally, a strategy results in building performance that greatly exceeds what is required in an existing LEED
credit. Other strategies may not be addressed by any LEED prerequisite or credit but warrant consideration for
their sustainability benefits. In addition, LEED is most effectively implemented as part of a cohesive team, and this
category addresses the role of a LEED Accredited Professional in facilitating that process.

IN
 569

Regional Priority (rp)

OVERVIEW
Because some environmental issues are particular to a locale, volunteers from USGBC chapters and the LEED
International Roundtable have identified distinct environmental priorities within their areas and the credits that
address those issues. These Regional Priority credits encourage project teams to focus on their local environmental
priorities.
USGBC established a process that identified six RP credits for every location and every rating system within
chapter or country boundaries. Participants were asked to determine which environmental issues were most salient
in their chapter area or country. The issues could be naturally occurring (e.g., water shortages) or man-made (e.g.,

REGIONAL PRIORITY
polluted watersheds) and could reflect environmental concerns (e.g., wa-ter shortages) or environmental assets
(e.g., abundant sunlight). The areas, or zones, were defined by a combination of priority issues—for example, an
urban area with an impaired watershed versus an urban area with an intact watershed.
The participants then prioritized credits to address the important issues of given locations. Because each LEED
project type (e.g., a data center) may be associated with different environmental impacts, each rat-ing system has its
own RP credits.
The ultimate goal of RP credits is to enhance the ability of LEED project teams to address critical environmental
issues across the country and around the world.

RP
 575

APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1. USE TYPES AND CATEGORIES

TABLE 1. Use Types and Categories

Category Use type

Food retail Supermarket

Grocery with produce section

Community-serving retail Convenience store

Farmers market

Hardware store

Pharmacy

Other retail

Services Bank

Family entertainment venue (e.g., theater, sports)

Gym, health club, exercise studio

Hair care

Laundry, dry cleaner

Restaurant, café, diner (excluding those with only drive-thru

service)

Civic and community facilities Adult or senior care (licensed)

Child care (licensed)

Community or recreation center

Cultural arts facility (museum, performing arts)

Education facility (e.g., K—12 school, university, adult

education center, vocational school, community college)

Government office that serves public on-site

Medical clinic or office that treats patients

Place of worship

Police or fire station APPENDICES

Post office

Public library

Public park

Social services center

Community anchor uses (BD+C and ID+C only) Commercial office (100 or more full-time equivalent jobs)

Adapted from Criterion Planners, INDEX neighborhood completeness indicator, 2005.

576

APPENDIX 2. DEFAULT OCCUPANCY COUNTS

Use Table 1 to calculate default occupancy counts. Only use the occupancy estimates if occupancy is unknown.
For the calculation, use gross floor area, not net or leasable floor area. Gross floor area is defined as the sum of
all areas on all floors of a building included within the outside faces of the exterior wall, including common areas,
mechanical spaces, circulation areas, and all floor penetrations that connect one floor to another. To determine gross
floor area, multiply the building footprint (in square feet or square meters) by the number of floors in the building.
Exclude underground or structured parking from the calculation.

TABLE 1. Default Occupancy Numbers

Gross square feet per occupant Gross square meters per occupant

Employees Transients Employees Transients

General office 250 0 23 0

Retail, general 550 130 51 12

Retail or service (e.g., financial, 600 130 56 12

auto)

Restaurant 435 95 40 9

Grocery store 550 115 51 11

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Medical office 225 330 21 31

R&D or laboratory 400 0 37 0

Warehouse, distribution 2,500 0 232 0

Warehouse, storage 20,000 0 1860 0

Hotel 1,500 700 139 65

Educational, daycare 630 105 59 10

Educational, K–12 1,300 140 121 13

Educational, postsecondary 2,100 150 195 14

Sources:
·· ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1–2004 (Atlanta, GA, 2004).
·· 2001 Uniform Plumbing Code (Los Angeles, CA)
·· California Public Utilities Commission, 2004–2005 Database for Energy Efficiency Resources (DEER) Update
Study (2008).
·· California State University, Capital Planning, Design and Construction Section VI, Standards for Campus
Development Programs (Long Beach, CA, 2002).
·· City of Boulder Planning Department, Projecting Future Employment—How Much Space per Person
(Boulder, 2002).
APPENDICES

·· Metro, 1999 Employment Density Study (Portland, OR 1999).

·· American Hotel and Lodging Association, Lodging Industry Profile Washington, DC, 2008.
·· LEED for Core & Shell Core Committee, personal communication (2003 - 2006).
·· LEED for Retail Core Committee, personal communication (2007)
·· OWP/P, Medical Office Building Project Averages (Chicago, 2008).
·· OWP/P, University Master Plan Projects (Chicago, 2008).
·· U.S. General Services Administration, Childcare Center Design Guide (Washington, DC, 2003).
 577

APPENDIX 3. RETAIL PROCESS LOAD BASELINES

TABLE 1A. Commercial kitchen appliance prescriptive measures and baseline for energy cost budget (IP units)

Baseline energy usage for energy modeling path Levels for prescriptive path

Baseline Baseline Prescriptive Prescriptive

Appliance Type Fuel Function
Efficiency Idle Rate Efficiency Idle Rate

Broiler, underfired Gas Cooking 30% 16,000 Btu/h/ 35% 12,000 Btu/h/ft2
ft2 peak input peak input

Combination ovens, Elec Cooking 40% steam 0.37P+4.5 kW 50% steam mode 0.133P+0.6400 kW
steam mode mode
(P = pan capacity)

Combination ovens, Gas Cooking 20% steam 1,210P+35,810 38% steam mode 200P+6,511 Btu/h
steam mode mode Btu/h

Combination ovens, Elec Cooking 65% 0.1P+1.5 kW 70% convection mode 0.080P+0.4989 kW
convection mode convection
mode

Combination ovens, Gas Cooking 35% 322P+13,563 44% convection mode 150P+5,425 Btu/h
convection mode convection Btu/h
mode

Convection oven, Elec Cooking 65% 2.0 kW 71% 1.6 kW

full-size

Convection oven, Gas Cooking 30% 18,000 Btu/h 46% 12,000 Btu/h
full-size

Convection oven, Elec Cooking 65% 1.5 kW 71% 1.0 kW

half-size

Conveyor oven, > Gas Cooking 20% 70,000 Btu/h 42% 57,000 Btu/h
25-inch belt

Conveyor oven, ≤ Gas Cooking 20% 45,000 Btu/h 42% 29,000 Btu/h
25-inch belt

Fryer Elec Cooking 75% 1.05 kW 80% 1.0 kW

Fryer Gas Cooking 35% 14,000 Btu/h 50% 9,000 Btu/h

Griddle (based on Elec Cooking 60% 400 W/ft2 70% 320 W/ft2
3 ft model)

Griddle (based on Gas Cooking 30% 3,500 Btu/h/ft2 38% 2,650 Btu/h/ft2
3 ft model)

Hot food holding Elec Cooking na 40 W/ft3 na 21.5V Watts

cabinets (excluding
drawer warmers
and heated display)
0 < V < 13 ft³ (V =
volume)

Hot food holding Elec Cooking na 40 W/ft3 na 2.0V + 254 Watts

cabinets (excluding
APPENDICES

drawer warmers
and heated display)
13 ≤ V < 28 ft³

Hot food holding Elec Cooking na 40 W/ft3 na 3.8V + 203.5 Watts

cabinets (excluding
drawer warmers
and heated display)
28 ft³ ≤ V

Large vat fryer Elec Cooking 75% 1.35 kW 80% 1.1 kW

578

TABLE 1A (CONTINUED). Commercial kitchen appliance prescriptive measures and baseline for energy cost budget (IP units)

Baseline energy usage for energy modeling path Levels for prescriptive path

Baseline Baseline Prescriptive Prescriptive

Appliance Type Fuel Function
Efficiency Idle Rate Efficiency Idle Rate

Large vat fryer Gas Cooking 35% 20,000 Btu/h 50% 12,000 Btu/h

Rack oven, double Gas Cooking 30% 65,000 Btu/h 50% 35,000 Btu/h

Rack oven, single Gas Cooking 30% 43,000 Btu/h 50% 29,000 Btu/h

Range Elec Cooking 70% 80%

Range Gas Cooking 35% na 40% and no standing na

pilots

Steam cooker, Elec Cooking 26% 200 W/pan 50% 135 W/pan
batch cooking

Steam cooker, Gas Cooking 15% 2,500 Btu/h/ 38% 2,100 Btu/h/pan
batch cooking pan

Steam cooker, high Elec Cooking 26% 330 W/pan 50% 275 W/pan
production or cook
to order

Steam cooker, high Gas Cooking 15% 5,000 Btu/h/ 38% 4,300 Btu/h/pan
production or cook pan
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

to order

Toaster Elec Cooking na 1.8 kW average na 1.2 kW average

operating operating energy
energy rate rate

Ice machine, IMH Elec Ice 6.89 – na 37.72*H-0.298 kWh/100 na

(ice-making head, 0.0011H lb ice
H = harvest ice), H kWh/100
≥ 450 lb/day lb ice

Ice machine, IMH Elec Ice 10.26 – na 37.72*H-0.298 kWh/100 na

(ice-making head), 0.0086H lb ice
H < 450 lb/day kWh/100
lb ice

Ice machine Elec Ice 8.85 – na 22.95*H-0.258 + 1.00 na

RCU (remote 0.0038H kWh/100 lb ice
condensing unit, kWh/100lb
w/o remote ice
compressor), H <
1,000 lb/day

Ice machine Elec Ice 5.10 na 22.95*H-0.258 + 1.00 na

RCU (remote kWh/100 kWh/100 lb ice
condensing unit), lb ice
1600 > H ≥ 1000
lb/day

Ice machine Elec Ice 5.10 na -0.00011*H + 4.60 na

RCU (remote kWh/100 kWh/100 lb ice
condensing unit), lb ice
APPENDICES

H ≥ 1600 lb/day

Ice machine SCU Elec Ice 18.0 – na 48.66*H-0.326 + 0.08 na

(self-contained 0.0469H kWh/100 lb ice
unit), H < 175 lb/day kWh/100
lb ice

Ice machine self- Elec Ice 9.80 na 48.66*H-0.326 + 0.08 na

contained unit, H ≥ kWh/100 kWh/100 lb ice
175 lb/day lb ice
 579

TABLE 1A (CONTINUED). Commercial kitchen appliance prescriptive measures and baseline for energy cost budget (IP units)

Baseline energy usage for energy modeling path Levels for prescriptive path

Baseline Baseline Prescriptive Prescriptive

Appliance Type Fuel Function
Efficiency Idle Rate Efficiency Idle Rate

Ice machine, water- Elec Ice 4.0 na 3.68 kWh/100 lb ice na

cooled ice-making kWh/100
head, H ≥ 1436 lb/ lb ice
day (must be on
chilled loop)

Ice machine, water- Elec Ice 5.58 – na 5.13 – 0.001H kWh/100 na

cooled ice-making 0.0011H lb ice
head, 500 lb/day < kWh/100
H < 1436 (must be lb ice
on chilled loop)

Ice machine, water- Elec Ice 7.80 – na 7.02 – 0.0049H na

cooled ice-making 0.0055H kWh/100 lb ice
head, H < 500 lb/ kWh/100
day (must be on lb ice
chilled loop)

Ice machine Elec Ice Banned Banned Banned Banned

water-cooled once-
through (open
loop)

Ice machine, water- Elec Ice 11.4 – na 10.6 – 0.177H kWh/100 na

cooled SCU (self- 0.0190H lb ice
contained unit), H kWh/100
< 200 lb/day (must lb ice
be on chilled loop)

Ice machine, Elec Ice 7.6 na 7.07 kWh/100 lb ice na

water-cooled self- kWh/100
contained unit, H ≥ lb ice
200 lb/day (must
be on chilled loop)

Chest freezer, solid Elec Refrig 0.45V + na ≤ 0.270V + 0.130 kWh/ na

or glass door 0.943 kWh/ day
day

Chest refrigerator, Elec Refrig 0.1V + 2.04 na ≤ 0.125V + 0.475 kWh/ na

solid or glass door kWh/day day

Glass-door reach-in Elec Refrig 0.75V + 4.10 na ≤ 0.607V + 0.893 kWh/ na

freezer 0 < V < kWh/day day
15 ft³

Glass-door reach-in Elec Refrig 0.75V + 4.10 na ≤ 0.733V – 1.00 kWh/ na

freezer 15 ≤ V < kWh/day day
30 ft³

Glass-door reach-in Elec Refrig 0.75V + 4.10 na ≤ 0.250V + 13.50 kWh/ na

freezer, 30 ≤ V < kWh/day day
50 ft³

Glass-door reach-in Elec Refrig 0.75V + 4.10 na ≤ 0.450V + 3.50 kWh/ na

APPENDICES
freezer, 50 ≤ V ft³ kWh/day day

Glass-door reach-in Elec Refrig 0.12V + 3.34 na ≤ 0.118V + 1.382 kWh/ na

refrigerator, 0 < V kWh/day day
< 15 ft³

Glass-door reach-in Elec Refrig 0.12V + 3.34 na ≤ 0.140V + 1.050 kWh/ na

refrigerator, 15 ≤ V kWh/day day
< 30 ft³

Glass-door reach-in Elec Refrig 0.12V + 3.34 na ≤ 0.088V + 2.625 kWh/ na

refrigerator, 30 ≤ V kWh/day day
< 50 ft³
580

TABLE 1A (CONTINUED). Commercial kitchen appliance prescriptive measures and baseline for energy cost budget (IP units)

Baseline energy usage for energy modeling path Levels for prescriptive path

Baseline Baseline Prescriptive Prescriptive

Appliance Type Fuel Function
Efficiency Idle Rate Efficiency Idle Rate

Glass-door reach-in Elec Refrig 0.12V + 3.34 na ≤ 0.110V + 1.500 kWh/ na

refrigerator, 50 ≤ kWh/day day
V ft³

Solid-door reach-in Elec Refrig 0.4V + 1.38 na ≤ 0.250V + 1.25 kWh/ na

freezer, 0 < V < kWh/day day
15 ft³

Solid-door reach-in Elec Refrig 0.4V + 1.38 na ≤ 0.400V – 1.000 kWh/ na

freezer, 15 ≤ V < kWh/day day
30 ft³

Solid-door reach-in Elec Refrig 0.4V + 1.38 na ≤ 0.163V + 6.125 kWh/ na

freezer, 30 ≤ V < kWh/day day
50 ft³

Solid-door reach-in Elec Refrig 0.4V + 1.38 na ≤ 0.158V + 6.333 kWh/ na

freezer, 50 ≤ V ft³ kWh/day day

Solid-door reach-in Elec Refrig 0.1V + 2.04 na ≤ 0.089V + 1.411 kWh/ na

refrigerator, 0 < V kWh/day day
< 15 ft³
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

Solid-door reach-in Elec Refrig 0.1V + 2.04 na ≤ 0.037V + 2.200 kWh/ na

refrigerator, 15 ≤ V kWh/day day
< 30 ft³

Solid-door reach-in Elec Refrig 0.1V + 2.04 na ≤ 0.056V + 1.635 kWh/ na

refrigerator, 30 ≤ V kWh/day day
< 50 ft³

Solid-door reach-in Elec Refrig 0.1V + 2.04 na ≤ 0.060V + 1.416 kWh/ na

refrigerator, 50 ≤ kWh/day day
V ft³

Clothes washer Gas Sanitation 1.72 MEF na 2.00 MEF na

Door-type dish Elec Sanitation na 1.0 kW na 0.70 kW

machine, high temp

Door-type dish Elec Sanitation na 0.6 kW na 0.6 kW

machine, low temp

Multitank rack Elec Sanitation na 2.6 kW na 2.25 kW

conveyor dish
machine, high temp

Multitank rack Elec Sanitation na 2.0 kW na 2.0 kW

conveyor dish
machine, low temp

Single-tank rack Elec Sanitation na 2.0 kW na 1.5 kW

conveyor dish
machine, high temp
APPENDICES

Single-tank rack Elec Sanitation na 1.6 kW na 1.5 kW

conveyor dish
machine, low temp

Undercounter dish Elec Sanitation na 0.9 kW na 0.5 kW

machine, high temp

Undercounter dish Elec Sanitation na 0.5 kW na 0.5 kW

machine, low temp

The energy efficiency, idle energy rates, and water use requirements, where applicable, are based on the following test methods:
 581

ASTM F1275 Standard Test Method for Performance of Griddles

ASTM F1361 Standard Test Method for Performance of Open Deep Fat Fryers
ASTM F1484 Standard Test Methods for Performance of Steam Cookers
ASTM F1496 Standard Test Method for Performance of Convection Ovens
ASTM F1521 Standard Test Methods for Performance of Range Tops
ASTM F1605 Standard Test Method for Performance of Double-Sided Griddles
ASTM F1639 Standard Test Method for Performance of Combination Ovens
ASTM F1695 Standard Test Method for Performance of Underfired Broilers
ASTM F1696 Standard Test Method for Energy Performance of Single-Rack Hot Water Sanitizing, ASTM Door-Type Commercial Dishwashing
Machines
ASTM F1704 Standard Test Method for Capture and Containment Performance of Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Ventilation Systems
ASTM F1817 Standard Test Method for Performance of Conveyor Ovens
ASTM F1920 Standard Test Method for Energy Performance of Rack Conveyor, Hot Water Sanitizing, Commercial Dishwashing Machines
ASTM F2093 Standard Test Method for Performance of Rack Ovens
ASTM F2140 Standard Test Method for Performance of Hot Food Holding Cabinets
ASTM F2144 Standard Test Method for Performance of Large Open Vat Fryers
ASTM F2324 Standard Test Method for Prerinse Spray Valves
ASTM F2380 Standard Test Method for Performance of Conveyor Toasters
ARI 810-2007: Performance Rating of Automatic Commercial Ice Makers
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 72–2005: Method of Testing Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers with temperature setpoints at 38°F for medium-
temp refrigerators, 0°F for low-temp freezers, and -15°F for ice cream freezers

TABLE 1B. Commercial Kitchen Appliance Prescriptive Measures and Baseline for Energy Cost Budget (SI units)

Baseline energy usage for energy modeling path Levels for prescriptive path

Baseline Baseline Prescriptive Prescriptive

Appliance type Fuel Function
Efficiency idle Rate Efficiency idle Rate

Broiler, underfired Gas Cooking 30% 50.5 kW/m2 35% 37.9 kW/m2

Combination oven, Elec Cooking 40% steam 0.37P + 4.5 kW 50% steam mode 0.133P + 0.6400
steam mode (P = pan mode kW
capacity)

Combination oven, Gas Cooking 20% steam (1 210P + 38% steam mode (200P + 6 511)/
steam mode mode 35 810)/3 412 3 412 kW
kW

Combination oven, Elec Cooking 65% 0.1P + 1.5 kW 70% convection mode 0.080P + 0.4989
convection mode convection kW
mode

Combination oven, Gas Cooking 35% (322P + 44% convection mode (150P + 5 425)/
convection mode convection 13 563)/3 412 3 412 kW
mode kW

Convection oven, Elec Cooking 65% 2.0 kW 71% 1.6 kW

full-size

Convection oven, Gas Cooking 30% 5.3 kW 46% 3.5 kW

full-size

Convection oven, Elec Cooking 65% 1.5 kW 71% 1.0 kW APPENDICES

half-size

Conveyor oven, > 63.5- Gas Cooking 20% 20.5 kW 42% 16.7 kW
cm belt

Conveyor oven, < 63.5- Gas Cooking 20% 13.2 kW 42% 8.5 kW
cm belt

Fryer Elec Cooking 75% 1.05 kW 80% 1.0 kW

Fryer Gas Cooking 35% 4.1 kW 50% 2.64 kW

Griddle (based on 90- Elec Cooking 60% 4.3 kW/m2 70% 3.45 kW/m2
cm model)
582

TABLE 1B (CONTINUED). Commercial Kitchen Appliance Prescriptive Measures and Baseline for Energy Cost Budget (SI units)

Baseline energy usage for energy modeling path Levels for prescriptive path

Baseline Baseline Prescriptive Prescriptive

Appliance type Fuel Function
Efficiency idle Rate Efficiency idle Rate

Griddle (based on 90- Gas Cooking 30% 11 kW/m2 33% 8.35 kW/m2
cm model)

Hot food holding Elec Cooking na 1.4 kW/m3 na (21.5*V)/0.0283

cabinets (excluding kW/m3
drawer warmers and
heated display) 0 < V <
0.368 m3 (V = volume)

Hot food holding Elec Cooking na 1.4 kW/m3 na (2.0*V +

cabinets (excluding 254)/0.0283 kW/m3
drawer warmers and
heated display) 0.368 ≤
V < 0.793 m3

Hot food holding Elec Cooking na 1.4 kW/m3 na (3.8*V +

cabinets (excluding 203.5)/0.0283
drawer warmers and kW/m3
heated display) 0.793
m3 ≤ V

Large vat fryer Elec Cooking 75% 1.35 kW 80% 1.1 kW

LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

Large vat fryer Gas Cooking 35% 5.86 kW 50% 3.5 kW

Rack oven, double Gas Cooking 30% 19 kW 50% 10.25 kW

Rack oven, single Gas Cooking 30% 12.6 kW 50% 8.5 kW

Range Elec Cooking 70% na 80% na

Range Gas Cooking 35% na 40% and no standing na

pilots

Steam cooker, batch Elec Cooking 26% 200 W/pan 50% 135 W/pan
cooking

Steam cooker, batch Gas Cooking 15% 733 W/pan 38% 615 W/pan
cooking

Steam cooker, high Elec Cooking 26% 330 W/pan 50% 275 W/pan
production or cook to
order

Steam cooker, high Gas Cooking 15% 1.47 kW/pan 38% 1.26 kW/pan
production or cook to
order

Toaster Elec Cooking na 1.8 kW average na 1.2 kW average

operating operating energy
energy rate rate

Ice machine IMH (ice- Elec Ice 0.0015 – na— ≤ 13.52*H-0.298 kWh/100 na
making head, H = ice 5.3464E-07 kg ice
harvest) H ≥ 204 kg/day kWh/kg ice
APPENDICES

Ice machine IMH (ice Elec Ice 0.2262 – na ≤ 13.52*H-0.298 kWh/100 na

making head) ice- 4.18E-04 kg ice
making head, H < 204 kWh/kg ice
kg/day

Ice machine, RCU Elec Ice 0.1951 – na ≤ 111.5835*H-0.258 + 2.205 na

(remote condensing 1.85E-04 kWh/100 kg ice
unit, w/o remote kWh/kg ice
compressor) H < 454
kg/day
 583

TABLE 1B (CONTINUED). Commercial Kitchen Appliance Prescriptive Measures and Baseline for Energy Cost Budget (SI units)

Baseline energy usage for energy modeling path Levels for prescriptive path

Baseline Baseline Prescriptive Prescriptive

Appliance type Fuel Function
Efficiency idle Rate Efficiency idle Rate

Ice machine RCU Elec Ice 0.1124 kWh/ na ≤ 111.5835*H-0.258 + 2.205 na

(remote condensing kg ice kWh/100 kg ice
unit) 726 > H ≥ 454
kg/day

Ice machine RCU Elec Ice 0.1124 kWh/ na ≤ -0.00024H + 4.60 na

(remote condensing kg ice kWh/100 kg ice
unit) H ≥ 726 kg/day

Ice machine SCU (self Elec Ice 0.3968 – na 236.59*H-0.326 + 0.176 na

contained unit), H < 79 2.28E-03 kWh/100 kg ice
kg/day kWh/kg ice

Ice machine SCU (self- Elec Ice 0.2161 kWh/ na 236.59*H-0.326 + 0.176 na
contained unit), H ≥ 79 kg ice kWh/100 kg ice
kg/day

Ice machine, water- Elec Ice 0.0882 na ≤ 8.11 kWh/100 kg ice na

cooled ice-making head, kWh/kg ice
H ≥ 651 kg/day (must be
on a chilled loop)

Ice machine, water- Elec Ice 0.1230 – na ≤ 11.31 – 0.065H na

cooled ice-making head, 5.35E-05 kWh/100 kg ice
227 ≤ H < 651 kg/day kWh/kg ice
(must be on a chilled
loop)

Ice machine, water- Elec Ice 0.1720 – na ≤ 15.48 – 0.0238H na

cooled ice-making head, 2.67E-04 kWh/100 kg ice
H < 227 kg/day (must be kWh/kg ice
on a chilled loop)

Ice machine, water- Elec Ice Banned Banned Banned Banned

cooled once-through
(open loop)

Ice machine water- Elec Ice 0.2513 – na ≤ 23.37 – 0.086H na

cooled SCU (self- 29.23E-04 kWh/100 kg ice
contained unit) H < 91 kWh/kg ice
kg/day (must be on a
chilled loop)

Ice machine, water- Elec Ice 0.1676 kWh/ na 15.57 kWh/100 kg ice na
cooled SCU (self- kg ice
contained unit) H ≥ 91
kg/day (must be on a
chilled loop)

Chest freezer, solid or Elec Refrig 15.90V + na 9.541V + 0.130 kWh/day na

glass door 0.943 kWh/
day

Chest refrigerator, solid Elec Refrig 3.53V + na ≤ 4.417V + 0.475 kWh/ na

or glass door 2.04 kWh/ day
APPENDICES
day

Glass-door reach-in Elec Refrig 26.50V + 4.1 na ≤ 21.449V + 0.893 kWh/ na

freezer, 0 < V < 0.42 m3 kWh/day day

Glass-door reach-in Elec Refrig 26.50V + 4.1 na ≤ 25.901V – 1.00 kWh/ na

freezer, 0.42 ≤ V < kWh/day day
0.85 m3

Glass-door reach-in Elec Refrig 26.50V + 4.1 na ≤ 8.834V + 13.50 kWh/ na

freezer, 0.85 ≤ V < kWh/day day
1.42 m3

Glass-door reach-in Elec Refrig 26.50V + 4.1 na ≤ 15.90V + 3.50 kWh/ na

freezer, 1.42 ≤ V m3 kWh/day day
584

TABLE 1B (CONTINUED). Commercial Kitchen Appliance Prescriptive Measures and Baseline for Energy Cost Budget (SI units)

Baseline energy usage for energy modeling path Levels for prescriptive path

Baseline Baseline Prescriptive Prescriptive

Appliance type Fuel Function
Efficiency idle Rate Efficiency idle Rate

Glass-door reach-in Elec Refrig 4.24V + na ≤ 4.169V + 1.382 kWh/ na

refrigerator, 0 < V < 3.34 kWh/ day
0.42 m3 day

Glass-door reach-in Elec Refrig 4.24V + na ≤ 4.947V + 1.050 kWh/ na

refrigerator, 0.42 ≤ V < 3.34 kWh/ day
0.85 m3 day

Glass-door reach-in Elec Refrig 4.24V + na ≤ 3.109V + 2.625 kWh/ na

refrigerator, 0.85 ≤ V < 3.34 kWh/ day
1.42 m3 day

Glass-door reach-in Elec Refrig 4.24V + na ≤ 3.887V + 1.500 kWh/ na

refrigerator, 1.42 ≤ V m3 3.34 kWh/ day
day

Solid-door reach-in Elec Refrig 14.13V + 1.38 na ≤ 8.834V + 1.25 kWh/ na

freezer, 0 < V < 0.42 m3 kWh/day day

Solid-door reach-in Elec Refrig 14.13V + 1.38 na ≤ 4.819V – 1.000 kWh/ na

freezer, 0.42 < V < kWh/day day
0.85 m3
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

Solid-door reach-in Elec Refrig 14.13V + 1.38 na ≤ 5.760V + 6.125 kWh/ na

freezer, 0.85 ≤ V < kWh/day day
1.42 m3

Solid-door reach-in Elec Refrig 14.13V + 1.38 na ≤ 5.583V + 6.333 kWh/ na

freezer, 1.42 ≤ V m3 kWh/day day

Solid-door reach-in Elec Refrig 3.53V + na ≤ 3.145V + 1.411 kWh/day na

refrigerator, 0 < V < 2.04 kWh/
0.42 m3 day

Solid-door reach-in Elec Refrig 3.53V + na ≤ 1.307V + 2.200 kWh/ na

refrigerator, 0.42 ≤ V < 2.04 kWh/ day
0.85 m3 day

Solid-door reach-in Elec Refrig 3.53V + na ≤ 1.979V + 1.635 kWh/ na

refrigerator, 0.85 ≤ V < 2.04 kWh/ day
1.42 m3 day

Solid-door reach-in Elec Refrig 3.53V + na ≤ 2.120V + 1.416 kWh/ na

refrigerator, 1.42 ≤ V m3 2.04 kWh/ day
day

Clothes washer Gas Sanitation 1.72 MEF 2.00 MEF

Door-type dish machine, Elec Sanitation na 1.0 kW na 0.70 kW

high temp

Door-type dish machine, Elec Sanitation na 0.6 kW na 0.6 kW

low temp

Multitank rack conveyor Elec Sanitation na 2.6 kW na 2.25 kW

APPENDICES

dish machine, high temp

Multitank rack conveyor Elec Sanitation na 2.0 kW na 2.0 kW

dish machine, low temp

Single-tank rack Elec Sanitation na 2.0 kW na 1.5 kW

conveyor dish machine,
high temp
 585

TABLE 1B (CONTINUED). Commercial Kitchen Appliance Prescriptive Measures and Baseline for Energy Cost Budget (SI units)

Baseline energy usage for energy modeling path Levels for prescriptive path

Baseline Baseline Prescriptive Prescriptive

Appliance type Fuel Function
Efficiency idle Rate Efficiency idle Rate

Single-tank rack Elec Sanitation na 1.6 kW na 1.5 kW

conveyor dish machine,
low temp

Undercounter dish Elec Sanitation na 0.9 kW na 0.5 kW

machine, high temp

Undercounter dish Elec Sanitation na 0.5 kW na 0.5 kW

machine, low temp

The energy efficiency, idle energy rates, and water use requirements, where applicable, are based on the following test methods:
ASTM F1275 Standard Test Method for Performance of Griddles
ASTM F1361 Standard Test Method for Performance of Open Deep Fat Fryers
ASTM F1484 Standard Test Methods for Performance of Steam Cookers
ASTM F1496 Standard Test Method for Performance of Convection Ovens
ASTM F1521 Standard Test Methods for Performance of Range Tops
ASTM F1605 Standard Test Method for Performance of Double-Sided Griddles
ASTM F1639 Standard Test Method for Performance of Combination Ovens
ASTM F1695 Standard Test Method for Performance of Underfired Broilers
ASTM F1696 Standard Test Method for Energy Performance of Single-Rack Hot Water Sanitizing, ASTM Door-Type Commercial Dishwashing
Machines
ASTM F1704 Standard Test Method for Capture and Containment Performance of Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Ventilation Systems
ASTM F1817 Standard Test Method for Performance of Conveyor Ovens
ASTM F1920 Standard Test Method for Energy Performance of Rack Conveyor, Hot Water Sanitizing, Commercial Dishwashing Machines
ASTM F2093 Standard Test Method for Performance of Rack Ovens
ASTM F2140 Standard Test Method for Performance of Hot Food Holding Cabinets
ASTM F2144 Standard Test Method for Performance of Large Open Vat Fryers
ASTM F2324 Standard Test Method for Prerinse Spray Valves
ASTM F2380 Standard Test Method for Performance of Conveyor Toasters
ARI 810-2007: Performance Rating of Automatic Commercial Ice Makers
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 72–2005: Method of Testing Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers with temperature setpoints at 3°C for
mediumtemp refrigerators, -18°C for low-temp freezers, and -26°C for ice cream freezers.

TABLE 2. Supermarket refrigeration prescriptive measures and baseline for energy cost budget

Prescriptive Baseline for

Item Attribute
Measure Energy Modeling Path

Commercial Refrigerator and Energy Use Limits ASHRAE 90.1-2010 ASHRAE 90.1-2010 Addendum g.
Freezers Addendum g. Table 6.8.1L Table 6.8.1L

Commercial Refrigeration Energy Use Limits ASHRAE 90.1-2010 ASHRAE 90.1-2010 Addendum g.
Equipment Addendum g. Table 6.8.1M Table 6.8.1M

APPENDICES
586

TABLE 3. Walk-in coolers and freezers prescriptive measures and baseline for energy cost budget

Baseline for
Item Attribute Prescriptive Measure
Energy Modeling Path

Envelope Freezer insulation R-46 R-36

Cooler insulation R-36 R-20

Automatic closer Yes No

doors

High-efficiency low- 40W/ft (130W/m) of door 40W/ft (130W/m) of door frame (low
or no-heat reach-in frame (low temperature), 17W/ temperature), 17W/ft (55W/m) of door frame
doors ft (55W/m) of door frame (medium temperature)
(medium temperature)

Evaporator Evaporator fan motor Shaded pole and split phase Constant-speed fan
and control motors prohibited; use PSC or
EMC motors

Hot gas defrost No electric defrosting Electric defrosting

Condenser Air-cooled condenser Shaded pole and split phase Cycling one-speed fan
fan motor and motors prohibited; use PSC or
control EMC motors; add condenser
fan controllers

Air-cooled condenser Floating head pressure controls 10°F (-12°C) to 15°F

design approach or ambient subcooling (-9°C) dependent on suction temperature
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

Lighting Lighting power 0.6 W/sq.ft. 0.6 W/sq.ft.

density (W/sq.ft.) (6.5 W/sq. meter) (6.5 W/sq. meter)

Commercial Refrigerator and Energy Use Limits na Use an Exceptional Calculation Method if
Freezers attempting to take savings

Commercial Refrigerator and Energy Use Limits na Use an Exceptional Calculation Method if
Freezers attempting to take savings

TABLE 4. Commercial kitchen ventilation prescriptive measures and baseline for energy cost budget

Strategies Prescriptive Measure Baseline

Kitchen hood control ASHRAE 90.1-2010 Section 6.5.7.1, except that ASHRAE 90.1-2010 Section 6.5.7.1 and Section G3.1.1
Section 6.5.7.1.3 and Section 6.5.7.1.4 shall apply Exception (d) where applicable
if the total kitchen exhaust airflow rate exceeds
2,000 cfm (960 L/s) (as opposed to 5,000 cfm
(2,400 L/s) noted in the ASHRAE 90.1-2010
requirements)
APPENDICES