 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
 |
 |
|
|||
 |
 |
 |
|
|||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
 |
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
"GREEN" Cooling Capacity in the Least Space.
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Let's look at the actual heart of the programs and the various levels and factors that effect LEED certification ratings.
LEED Certifications
LEED-NC (New Construction)
LEED-CI (Commercial Interiors)
LEED-EB (Existing Buildings)
LEED-CS (Core and Shell)
LEED-H (Homes)
LEED-ND (Neighborhood Development)
LEED-NC
LEED-NC has been widely used for over four years, and is continuing to shape the building industry. There are seven prerequisites and six point categories.
Prerequisites
Construction Activity Pollution Prevention, SS Prerequisite 1
Fundamental Commissioning of the Building Energy Systems, EA Prerequisite 1
Minimum Energy Performance (ASHRAE 90.1), EA Prerequisite 2
Fundamental Refrigerant Management, EA Prerequisite 3
Storage & Collection of Recyclables, MR Prerequisite 1
Minimum IAQ performance (ASHRAE 62), EQ Prerequisite 1
Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control, EQ Prerequisite 2
Points System
Five categories of performance and one category for innovation in design make up the design points system. Totaled together, these points determine your certification level. The level of certification depends upon the total number of points. As you can see in the table below, energy and indoor environmental quality factors make up half of the available basic points. HVAC solutions from ClimaCool® are a perfect fit for these categories and can also offer additional points for enhanced solutions.
Six categories for accumulating points |
||
1. Sustainable sites |
14 Points |
|
2. Water efficiency |
5 Points |
|
3. Energy and atmosphere |
17 Points |
|
4. Materials and resources |
13 Points |
|
5. Indoor environmental quality |
15 Points |
|
6. Innovation & Design Process |
5 Points |
|
Total: 69 Points |
||
Certification Levels
Optimized Energy Performance, EA Credit 1
Since the LEED program assigns additional points based upon increased efficiency over ASHRAE 90.1 requirements; equipment selection can greatly affect the total number of points. Buildings designed around the FLEX Series Modular Chillers can contribute up to 4 points for existing construction or 2 points for new construction. This is based on the fact that ClimaCool® Modular Chillers can be over 14% more energy efficient than the requirements in ASHRAE 90.1.
Enhanced Refrigerant Management, EA Credit 4
ClimaCool®'s commitment to environmentally friendly design is reflected in the development of new products with zero ozone depletion refrigerant HFC-407C.
Measurement & Verification, EA Credit 5
Building management controls are becoming increasingly popular in the commercial marketplace. ClimaCool® DDC controls allow the building owner to gain a LEED point if used for monitoring and optimizing building energy usage. Plus, DDC controls from ClimaCool® provide maximum flexibility with all of the most popular protocols LonWorks, BACnet, Modbus and Johnson N2.
Controllability of Systems: Thermal Comfort, EQ Credit 6.2
ClimaCool® Modular Chillers provide flexibility because they are separate units and can be combined in different size banks. This allows different portions of each building to be controlled separately which allows specific groups occupying the building to have different temperature set points. So whether you or your tenant are inside an OR suite, class room, or data center, the surrounding temperatures can be unique to that space.
Thermal Comfort: Design & Verification, EQ Credit 7.1 & 7.2
Long term tenant productivity and well being are the two most important goals for these credits. Thermal comfort inside buildings plays a major role in both of these goals. Study after study proves that when people are comfortable and healthy they are more productive and when students are comfortable they test better. Providing and verifying air conditioning performance is what ClimaCool® equipment does!
Category |
Factor |
Points |
Optimized Energy Performance, EA Credit 1 |
System performance compared to ASHRAE 90.1 |
up to 4 |
Enhanced Refrigerant Management, EA Credit 4 |
Systems without HCFC's- HFC-407C refrigerant. |
1 |
Measurement & Verification, EA Credit 5 |
Monitor & optimize building energy & water consumption- DDC controls |
1 |
Controllability of Systems: Thermal Comfort, EQ Credit 6.2 |
Provide level of thermal comfort by specific groups & comply with ASHRAE 62.1 & 55- dedicate certain banks to certain areas. |
1 |
Thermal Comfort: Design & Verification, EQ Credit 7.1 & 7.2 |
Comply with ASHRAE 55: Provide & measure thermal comfort in building to promote productivity & health. |
2 |
Innovation & Design Process, ID Credits 1.1-4 & 2 |
Up to 4 points for exceptional performance above requirements set by LEED. An additional point may be earned for an involved LEED accredited professional. |
5 |
Total potential ClimaCool® Solution Points |
14 |
The industry LEEDer: Innovation & Design Process, ID Credit 1-1.4 & 2
In summary, ClimaCool® equipment offers the designer substantial flexibility in maximizing LEED points, while minimizing up-front installation costs and decreasing overall building operating costs. LEED certification is based upon long-term environmental impact, so HVAC equipment selection is extremely important in determining building sustainability and life cycle costs. ClimaCool®'s reputation for high quality products and leadership in the industry provides the building owner with peace of mind. Our mission as the world's most progressive leader in the modular chiller industry reveals our commitment to excellence not only in the design and manufacture of our products, but in our people and services. Let ClimaCool® be your answer to LEED building design.
Help Keep Sites Sustainable & Maximize Materials & Resources
ClimaCool® Module Chillers provide the most amount of cooling in the least amount of space. This allows the size of the mechanical rooms to decrease in turn shrinking the overall floor plan of the building. For new construction, Sustainable Sites credits 5.1 & 5.2 encourage minimizing overall building dimensions in order to protect the natural habitat.
ClimaCool® Modular Chiller's small size also decreases the amount of required demolition for existing buildings. Each unit fits through a 3' doorway, can be moved about existing buildings on a dolly, and in most cases fit inside a passenger elevator. Re-using percentages of existing walls, floors, and roofs help gain a point for Materials & Resources Credits 1.1 & 1.2 respectively.
LEED & Green Building
Green Building
Ten years ago, the theory of high performance "green" buildings was hard to define and the practice even more obscure. All of that is rapidly changing. Over $100 million worth of construction registers for certification under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) every day. From reflective roofs and super-efficient windows to flexible access floors and ultra-efficient HVAC systems, a wealth of new technologies is adding function, value and high performance to today's commercial buildings. Integrated design processes allow project teams to take full advantage of these technologies and at the lowest first costs. Thanks to LEED and other programs such as ENERGY STAR, common benchmarks, support tools and opportunities are emerging to offer market differentiation for buildings that create higher private and public value.
Recover Higher First Costs - If Any
Asking if a high performance green building costs more than a conventional alternative is a little like asking which is more expensive, an efficient car or an inefficient one? The answer, of course, depends on factors such as the make, model, features and driving preferences. Many green buildings cost no more to build, or even less than the alternatives - because resource-efficient strategies often allow downsizing of more costly mechanical, electrical and structural systems. The average cost premium for building green is 1-2%. Some case studies actually report a lower green first cost!
Design for Cost-Effectiveness
A high performance green building is an efficient building. Savings in water consumption up to 40% and in energy costs of 30 - 50% are common through integrated planning, site orientation, energy-saving technologies, on-site renewable energy producing technologies, light reflective materials, natural daylight, ventilation, downsized/efficient HVAC, and other equipment.
Enhance Health and Well-Being
High performance green buildings typically offer healthier environments for tenants. A new survey of laboratory and field research suggests rich opportunities ahead for owners and occupants alike to better understand and take advantage of various green building features to enhance worker well-being and performance. No wonder businesses such as Toyota, Bank of America, and many government organizations are beginning to use high performance buildings as a potent tool for recruiting and retaining the best employees.
Reduced Liability
Clean and healthy buildings can also reduce legal claims for the owner. BusinessWeek's June 5, 2000, cover story reported that "sick building" cases, often filed against building owner/operators, are becoming more and more common.
With the recent explosion in mold-related claims, insurance companies have begun to take defensive action with mold clauses and rate hikes. Some industry experts are even predicting that insurance companies will start linking lower premiums to high performance buildings.
Create Value for Tenants
According to the EPA, a tenant can save approximately $0.50 per square foot per year through cost management and operations strategies that cut energy use by 30%. The tenant's accumulated savings can represent $50,000 or more in a five-year lease of 20,000 square feet of office space. Savings can be even higher when incorporating a variety of high performance and flexible building design components.
Increased Property Value
An asset that maintains its value through higher occupancy and easier maintenance is easier to sell and may command a higher market valuation. There is growing confidence in the industry that a high performance green building can either capture lease premiums or present a more competitive property in an otherwise tough market. Reduced operating costs also generate increased cash flow, which helps free capital for other investments. As green buildings are increasing recognition of LEED and ENERGY STAR programs, the marketplace is expected to follow with a system of preferential pricing.
Take Advantage of Incentive Programs
With the increase in private and public benefits stemming from high performance green buildings, developers are eligible for even greater financial and regulatory incentives. New York, Maryland, Massachusetts and Oregon are on the leading edge of states offering tax credits for LEED Certified buildings. Portland (OR) and Seattle (WA) offer grants for energy modeling, commissioning and related costs. The private Green Building Loan Fund in Pittsburgh does much the same on a loan basis. Arlington County (VA) links preferred zoning considerations for LEED projects. Santa Barbara (CA) and Scottsdale (AZ) are some of the first jurisdictions to offer expedited permit reviews for buildings with certain high performance features. Please check out the complete list of incentives at www.usgbc.org.