Hi Terri,

Thanks for your question on the submission of utility bills (or lack thereof) to LEED to earn the EA Credit 1.

Let me begin by saying that I assume you are referring to the LEED for New Construction 2009 rating system. The reason I say that, is because the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance 2009 rating system DOES require utility bills to be submitted, because EA Prerequisite 2 states that the building must meet an Energy Star rating of at least 69, or an alternative method is used to benchmark the facility against similar buildings using actual facility energy use data.

There is a fundamental difference between LEED NC and LEED-EB:O&M, just as there is a difference between the "Designed to Earn Energy Star" certification and earning the Energy Star Label. For LEED NC and the "Designed to Earn Energy Star" certification, the energy efficiency is calculated or simulated and compared to a baseline building performance because the building hasn't been constructed yet.

After the building is constructed and 12 months of utility bills have been collected, the building is then eligible to earn the Energy Star Label. After this time it the building owner could also apply for LEED-EB:O&M and ensure the facility systems are operating as designed as well as other sustainable features in operating and maintaining a facility have been incorporated.

Also, the new LEED 2009 rating systems have a set of Minimum Performance Requirements that must be met for certification. One of those requirements is that "All certified projects must commit to sharing with USGBC and/or GBCI all available actual whole-project energy and water usage data for a period of at least 5 years. This period starts on the date that the LEED project begins typical physical occupancy if certifying under New Construction, Core & Shell, Schools, or Commercial Interiors, or the date that the building is awarded certification if certifying under Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance."

Therefore, even for a LEED NC project, utility bills will be submitted to USGBC for a period of 5 years.

I hope this answers your question!

Thanks,
Dave