Energy Efficiency Best Management Practices: Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite for LEED Existing building (O+M)
The Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite for LEED Existing building (O+M) is designed to promote continuity of information to ensure that energy-efficient operating strategies are maintained and provide a foundation for training and system analysis. This prerequisite applies to O+M: Existing Buildings and O+M: Interiors.
To meet this prerequisite, building owners must conduct an energy audit that meets both the requirements of the ASHRAE preliminary energy use analysis and an ASHRAE Level 1 walk-through assessment identified in the ASHRAE Procedures for Commercial Building Energy Audits or equivalent.
In addition to the energy audit, building owners must prepare and maintain a current facilities requirements and operations and maintenance plan that contains the information necessary to operate the project efficiently. The plan must include a current sequence of operations for the building, the project occupancy schedule, equipment run-time schedules, setpoints for all HVAC equipment, setpoints for lighting levels throughout the project, minimum outside air requirements, any changes in schedules or setpoints for different seasons, days of the week, and times of day, a systems narrative describing the mechanical and electrical systems and equipment in the project, and a preventive maintenance plan for equipment described in the systems narrative.
To document compliance with this prerequisite, building owners must provide the audit date, ASHRAE preliminary energy use analysis and ASHRAE Level 1 audit summary, current facility requirements (CFR) and operations and maintenance plan (OMP) or an excerpt thereof, and for data centers, preliminary assessment results from the DC Pro Profiling Tool.
By following these best management practices for energy efficiency, building owners can ensure that their buildings are operating at maximum efficiency, reducing energy consumption and costs while promoting sustainability.
| Requirements | Documentation |
|---|---|
| Conduct an energy audit that meets ASHRAE requirements or equivalent | Audit date, ASHRAE preliminary energy use analysis, ASHRAE Level 1 audit summary |
| Prepare and maintain a current facilities requirements and operations and maintenance plan | Current facility requirements (CFR) and operations and maintenance plan (OMP) or an excerpt thereof |
| Include the following in the plan: | 1. Current sequence of operations for the building, 2. Project occupancy schedule, 3. Equipment run-time schedules, 4. Setpoints for all HVAC equipment, 5. Setpoints for lighting levels throughout the project, 6. Minimum outside air requirements, 7. Changes in schedules or setpoints for different seasons, days of the week, and times of day, 8. Systems narrative describing the mechanical and electrical systems and equipment in the project, 9. Preventive maintenance plan for equipment described in the systems narrative |