California Transit Association LEED Rating Systems

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California Transit AssociationLEED Rating
Systems

• November 6, 2008
• Monterey, CA

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Workshop On Green Development

• Speaker
• Jim Kumon, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP
• Sustainable Technology Coordinator
• Miralles Associates, Inc.
• jim_at_maiarchitects.com 626-791-7691 ext 291

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Overview

• Introduction
• LEED Rating Systems
• Selecting the Team
• Architects / Engineers / Contractors
• LEED Accredited Professionals
• Commissioning Agents
• How can I learn more?

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The Obligatory Green Images
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Influential figures in green building

• US Green Building Council
• Multi-disciplinary group administering Leadership
  in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating
  Systems
• 2030 Challenge
• Organization championing Carbon Emission
  Reduction through a strategy of green buildings
  and renewable energy
• ASHRAE
• Engineering association setting HVAC standards
  which are referenced by green building rating
  systems
• Build It Green
• California non-profit that administers
  residential program called GreenPoint Rated
• California governments with green building
  programs
• Dozens of cities and many counties with stand
  alone or referenced standards

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Why do we need rating systems?

• To drive market transformation
• To have national / local benchmarks of best
  practice
• To create a baseline for comparison
• To create designation that is a reliable brand
  for consumer choice
• To provide an evaluation tool, not an end goal
• LEED Systems, Green Point Rated, Energy Star

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Criticisms of LEED Rating Systems

• Still Valid (Continued evolution of systems
  needed)
• Not specific to my regions climate
• Some credits are against code where I live
• LEED doesnt go far enough
• Checklists encourage credit chasing
• No Longer as Valid (Market has changed over last
  5 years)
• Materials cost more
• Certification costs are too much
• Automatic markup in construction

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Risk or Opportunity?

• Green Building is a Risk Management Strategy
• Oil Prices
• Electricity Access and Prices
• Potable Water Access
• DOE EIA projects significant creation or
  renovation of total US building stock over the
  next 30 years
• Green Building as a Opportunity
• Facility master plans can leverage annual
  maintenance budgets
• Transportation providers who adapt to the
  changing built environment they serve will stay
  relevant

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LEED Rating Systems
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Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
LEEDCredit CategoriesSustainable Sites
(SS)Water Efficiency (WE)Energy Atmosphere
(EA)Materials Resources (MR)Indoor
Environmental Quality (EQ)Innovation Design
(ID)
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Addressing Building Lifecycle
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Starting the LEED Process
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Costs to registering a LEED Project

• Registration Fees
• USGBC Members   450.00Non-Members   
  600.00
• Initiation fee used to support and gain access to
  LEED Online USGBC administrative software for
  completing process used by all team members
• USGBC now gives rebates to projects which achieve
  Platinum certification

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What are the baseline requirements?

• Prerequisites are all or nothing, missing one
  disqualifies project
• Prerequisites for LEED for New Construction
• Construction Activity Pollution Prevention (SS)
• Fundamental Commissioning of the Building Energy
  Systems (EA)
• Minimum Energy Performance (EA)
• Fundamental Refrigerant Management (EA)
• Storage Collection of Recyclables (MR)
• Minimum IAQ Performance (EQ)
• Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control (EQ)

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What are the baseline requirements?

• Prerequisites for LEED for Existing Buildings
• Minimum Indoor Plumbing Fixture Efficiency (WE)
• Energy Efficiency Best Management Practices (EA)
• Minimum Energy Performance (EA)
• Fundamental Refrigerant Management (EA)
• Sustainable Purchasing Policy (MR)
• Solid Waste Management Policy (MR)
• Outdoor Air Introduction and Exhaust Systems (EQ)
• Green Cleaning Policy (EQ)
• Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control (EQ)

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How does a building get certified?

• Entire process is now done through online
  interface
• Register project with USGBC
• Determine Owners Project Requirements and Basis
  of Design
• Design project, determine credits not an
  absolute scale
• Certification submission can be done in one or
  two phases, after design and after construction,
  or all after construction
• Standardized templates for each credit filled out
  by team members
• Reference guides help instruct how to complete
• LEED APs come in handy
• Submission of electronic documentation, USGBC
  reviews 1-2 months, appeal if necessary
• No onsite inspections
• Certification Levels Certified, Silver, Gold,
  Platinum

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What does it cost to certify a LEED Project?
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LEED 2009

• A LEED is being updated in 2009
• LEED credit values are undergoing a
  scientifically grounded weighting exercise that
  allocates points to credits based on the
  importance of the environmental benefit realized
  by achievement of the credit requirements.
• Credit Changes of a Significant Nature
• A new Water Use Reduction prerequisite and
  increased incentive for Water Use Reduction
  credits
• Expanded options for Heat Island Effect-Non Roof
  materials
• Inclusion of permanent monitoring system for
  Thermal Comfort
• Alignment and clarification of Daylight and Views
  requirements
• Increased Minimum Energy Performance prerequisite
  and credit requirements and update to ASHRAE
  90.1-2007
• Increased incentive for On-Site Renewable Energy

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Whos Going to Help Me?

• Building Your Green Building Team
• LEED Accredited Professionals and Commissioning
  Agents

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Starting the LEED Process
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What to look for in AEC team

• Recent changes in technology and building
  industry practices should have owners looking for
  the following
• LEED AP in each discipline if you are going for
  certification
• A/E using Building Information Modeling
• Energy and Carbon Assessment Modeling capability
  using programs such as Virtual Environment, Green
  Building Studio and Ecotect
• Integrated Project Delivery Involving all
  stakeholders and team members from early in the
  process in a highly collaborative manner

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What is a LEED AP?

• AP Accredited Professional
• 43,000 APs in the world
• LEED Professional Accreditation distinguishes
  building professionals with the knowledge and
  skills to successfully steward the LEED
  certification process
• They passed a written exam about a paperwork
  process

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What a LEED AP is not necessarily

• An expert on sustainability, carbon neutral
  design, renewable energy, etc.
• Someone with training in building design,
  engineering, facility management or environmental
  issues
• A fluent educator in green concepts
• Tree hugger
• An expert at every rating system or building type

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Why do you need an AP?

• Gets your project a LEED point
• Choose the right rating system
• Oversees process of A/E team, owner, contractor
  to ensure understanding of rating system
  requirements.
• Could be third party person, or could come from
  any member of the ownership, design or
  construction team
• Well versed in synergies and tradeoffs between
  credits which need to be evaluated during process
• Intimately familiar with how to fill out key
  documents, and can help with BOD, OPR, Innovation
  Credits

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Why would you hire a Cx Agent?

• Do you know what you are getting for your money
  now?
• Commissioning ensures you are getting what you
  paid for the guarantee
• Assures of quality
• Assures specified deliverables
• Looks out for OM from start to finish
• Meets designed operating efficiency
• Reduces contractor callbacks
• Reduces professional liability losses
• Oversees design and construction of all
  engineering systems to make sure they work with
  each other properly
• Link between designers, contractor and operator
• Helps with training and startup of system
• Increases actual energy efficiency performance,
  reduces utility demands, creates better indoor
  air quality and comfort

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Typical Costs of Cx by size

• An Initial Rule of Thumb Based on MEP Cost
• 2-3 of mechanical construction cost plus
• 1-2 of electrical construction cost
• A Rule of Thumb Based on Construction Cost
• Project less than 30M - 1.25-2 of Total Cost
• Project 30-50M - 1 of Construction cost
• Project more than 50M - 0.5-1 of Total Cost
• An average cost for Universities is 1 of Total
  Construction Cost
• Labs cost more to commission spec office
  buildings cost less
• On a square foot basis
• Commissioning costs can run from 0.50 - 3.00
• Retro-commissioning can cost from 0.10 to
  0.50/SF, and infrequently as high as 1.00/SF

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Okay, but do I really need to hire these extra
people? (Why arent I already getting these
services from the people I normally hire?)

• Cost cutting by AEC in the past led to sloppy end
  of project procedures and quality control
• Quality Control Paper Trail
• Particularly critical while industry is changing
  models of delivery, technology is changing, and
  not everyone has done green building
• AP and CxA provide holistic view of project not
  yet typical
• Reduces certification audits, OM problems later
• Green must be integral to the process, not tacked
  on late or considered extra - otherwise you
  will see cost premiums
• Some value will be lost if not included from the
  beginning

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Types of Commissioning Services
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How Can I Learn More?
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Additional Information

• Case Studies
• www.usgbc.org Resources / Project Profiles
• LEED Technical Workshops Calendar
• www.usgbc.org Education / USGBC Courses
• Rating Systems Checklists
• LEED - www.usgbc.org LEED / LEED Rating Systems
• EPA Energy Star - www.energystar.gov - Buildings
  and Plants
• Davis Langdon Green Buildings Research Reports
• www.davislangdon.com/USA/Research/
• What Does Green Really Cost?
• The Cost of Green Revisited 2007

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Sound Smart at the Cocktail Hour or your next
staff meeting

• LEED not LEEDS (its not a city in the UK)
• Projects are certified (Certified, Silver, Gold,
  Platinum)
• People are accredited (AP)
• The Es stand for Energy and Environmental
• Required for all LEED projects are the
• Basis of Design - BOD
• Owners Project Requirements - OPR
• There are several different LEED systems, they
  each have different credits and prerequisites,
  but follow the same six general categories
  (except Existing Buildings and Neighborhood
  Development)