Energy and Atmosphere
Prerequisites first
Energy and Atmosphere is the heaviest category. Prerequisites include fundamental commissioning and verification, minimum energy performance modeled against an ASHRAE 90.1-2010 baseline, fundamental refrigerant management (no CFC-based refrigerants, or a phase-out plan), and energy metering. Credits then reward deeper performance: optimize energy performance, advanced commissioning, advanced energy metering, demand response, enhanced refrigerant management (no HCFCs, lower global warming potential), renewable energy production, and green power and carbon offsets.
Definitions that get tested
The commissioning authority must be independent of design and construction and is ideally retained by the owner; the CxA reviews the OPR and BOD, the commissioning plan, and performs functional performance testing. Enhanced commissioning adds design review and seasonal or post-occupancy verification. Green power must be Green-e Energy certified or equivalent and purchased for a defined multi-year term. Renewable energy produced on site is valued differently from purchased renewable energy certificates; RECs do not become on-site production just because they are renewable.
Traps
- Treating commissioning as an optional credit when it is a prerequisite.
- Confusing energy cost savings with site energy use savings; the performance path uses cost.
- Counting the same REC purchase in both renewable production and green power.
- Assuming any efficiency measure earns points without a model or prescriptive path documented.
Rule of thumb
Percentage improvement equals baseline cost minus proposed cost, divided by baseline cost, using the same energy rates and the same modeled scope on both sides.