District Energy - 2009 3rd Quarter

LEED +
District Energy

The Rating System

and District Energy: What is IDEA’s role?

Tim Griffin, PE, IDEA USGBC Liaison

; Version 2.0 of the original district energy guideline, designed to provide an update for application to LEED for New Construction Version 2. 2.

; Version 1.0 of a new district energy guideline, designed to apply specifically to the new rating system LEED Version 3.0.

; Version 1.0 of a new district energy guideline designed to apply to the recently released LEED rating system for existing buildings, titled LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance.

Each of these guidelines will identify how to specifically address projects that are tied into district energy. The first two both apply to new construction and will be consistent with each other in their approach to applying LEED points to district energy. The only differences will be in their references to each specific rating system. The third is an entirely new creation that will attempt to address issues specific to existing buildings.

Editor's Note: : “LEED + District Energy” is a quarterly column providing information about the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® rating system and how it applies to buildings served by district energy systems.

In last quarter’s column, I introduced the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), described the philosophy and goals behind the organization’s LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ and talked about why it all matters to you as a district energy industry professional. (That column is available on p. 103 in the online version of the second quarter 2009 District Energy magazine at http://tinyurl.com/2q09LEED.) This quarter, I want to update you on what IDEA is doing for its members relative to this opportunity.

First, an update: Since last quarter, USGBC has released its latest version of the rating system for new construction and major renovations, titled LEED Version 3.0. As of the end of June 2009, all projects beginning the registration process for LEED certification will have to use this version of the rating system. Projects that registered before this timeframe have the option to use either Version 2. 2 or the new version.

Some of the key changes in LEED Version 3.0:

; The rating system scale now has 100 points instead of 69. The USGBC’s goal is to move all of its rating systems (for new construction, existing buildings, etc.) to the same point scale to avoid confusion.

; Regional credits have been added to provide some flexibility, recognizing the vast diversity within our nation.

; Energy optimization will now account for 19 percent, instead of 14. 5 percent, of the total points available, reflecting the USGBC’s desire to drive greater energy efficiency.

; With the new version’s release, the USGBC has announced its intention to standardize the release cycle for all of its rating systems to a three-year period, so the marketplace knows what to expect.

In response to a growing need for design teams to understand how to properly apply the LEED rating system when their projects are to be tied into district energy, USGBC created a task force, led by Mike Opitz, the USGBC’s vice president of LEED implementation, to develop the first district energy guideline. In early 2008, the USGBC released this guideline titled “Required Treatment of District Thermal Energy in LEED-NC” to clarify and standardize the approach. Since early this year, this task force has continued to meet regularly with the goal of releasing the following three new district energy guidelines:

What Is IDEA Doing?

IDEA has been involved with LEED both as a partner collaborating with the USGBC’s district energy task force and by helping association members understand how to apply LEED.

Working With the USGBC

Since the beginning of the year, IDEA has been working directly with the USGBC’s district energy task force in the development of all three guidelines mentioned above. The association has assembled a team of volunteers to help the USGBC review the proposed changes and suggest improvements that will allow the rating system to accurately account for district energy’s advantages. The team consists of members from Con Ed Steam Operations; NRG Thermal; Xcel Energy, Denver; Energy Systems Co., Omaha; The University of Texas at Austin; Chem-Aqua; FVB Energy; and RMF Engineering. During this period, I have had the privilege of working as the liaison between IDEA’s team and the USGBC’s team.

Our goal has been threefold: First, to develop a clear understanding of the USGBC’s goals and intentions. Second, to find ways in which district energy can help achieve those goals; and third, recommend changes to the guideline that will properly reflect the first two goals.