Eduardo asks: How does the credit allocation/calculation system work under LEED certification process for building projects (i.e. Shopping Malls) considering the deployment of LED lighting as well as clean energy generators such as solar panels and micro wind turbines on the rooftop of the structure? Thanks

Answer: Hi Eduardo, each LEED Certification project is different and may be considered for certification under a variety of certification tracks that LEED offers.

Each LEED rating system is tailored to fit a specific type of property, for instance a shopping mall, if it was new, could fit well under LEED BD+C (Building Design and Construction), LEED ID+C (Interior Design and Construction), or if specific changes were made perhaps LEED EB (Existing Buildings) or LEED for Retail.

The bottom line is that, whatever the characteristics of your project, the job will be evaluated by the design, commissioning and construction teams overseeing the certification through the lens of five basic and one "special" sustainability criteria:

1) Sustainable Sites
2) Water Efficiency
3) Energy and Atmosphere
4) Materials and Resources
5) Indoor Environmental Quality
6) Innovation in Design

Within each category, there may be prerequisites to earning credits in that category. A project MUST comply with the prerequisites in order to achieve LEED Certification, even at the most basic level. Failing to achieve one prerequisite will scuttle the entire project.

In LEED ID+C (formerly LEED CI - i.e. for Commercial Interiors), there are points that can be earned for performance in the BUILDING as a whole and points that can be earned just for the TENANT SPACE that the tenant is focused on.

An example of a point earned for the BUILDING is a site that has a green roof that covers 100% of the roof's surface area (minus any considerations for solar panels, mechanical equipment, etc...). The LEED CI project could earn 1 Point for having that 100% green roof which serves the entire building. This is why it's important for tenants to choose buildings wisely before deciding to pursue LEED Certification.

Alternatively, a LEED CI project that achieves a 15% reduction in lighting power demand, in the TENANT SPACE, would also earn 1 Point towards LEED certification. Such an achievement might be possible with LED lighting, although there are requirements to using LEDs which sometimes hinder their application in LEED. To address your question about on-site renewable energy, solar panels and/or wind turbines can contribute points toward the BUILDING in LEED CI if the power provided to the BUILDING is at least 5% of the total requirement for the building.

Hope this helps!
Green-Buildings.com

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