Environmental and health related criteria for buildings - ANEC

IBO - Environmental and Health related Criteria for Buildings
The primary energy requirement of the building including all upstream processes of energy
generation and raw materials extraction for the delivery of energy are not considered in
“LEED for Homes”.
Greenhouse gas emissions from energy processes (for the operation of buildings – heating,
ventilation, cooling, etc.) are not explicitly assessed. Corresponding LCA indicators are only
considered in conjunction with the use of non-HCFC-refrigerants or refrigerants with low
GWP (global warming potential) and/or ODP (ozone depletion potential) for HVAC-systems
and renewable electricity generation systems. Optimisation measures are restricted either
to the main causes of pollutant emissions (HCFC, products with high GWP and/or ODP) or to
electricity applications and therefore offer only a limited range of possible further measures
(use of renewable energy for heating, hot water preparation, passive cooling systems, night
venting, etc.)
An overall assessment of the whole lifetime from cradle to grave or cradle to cradle (including
energy for the production of materials, the construction process, maintenance and
refurbishment cycles and disposal or re-use at the end of life-time) is not included in LEED.
LEED for Homes’ energy criteria will be revised till 2012, following the new ENERGY STAR
for Homes Version 3 (edited in 2011).
LEED-NC v2009
The more comprehensive criteria catalogue of LEED-NC v2009 which is primarily applicable
for commercial and institutional buildings and high-rise residential buildings of all sizes
deepens the energy indicators.
Additionally, the commissioning of building energy systems and the implementation of a
measurement and verification (M&V) plan (including meter specifications) are required for
more complex buildings (compared to single-family houses and small residential buildings up
to three storeys). The period of measurement and verification must cover at least 1 year of
post-construction occupancy and corrective actions have to be taken if the energy savings
are not being reached.
Renewable Energy Sources
Furthermore, the use of green power is awarded which means that the grid-source is based
on renewable energy technologies on a net zero pollution basis. At least 35% of the
building’s electricity must be provided from on- or off-site renewable sources (all purchases
shall be based on the quantity of energy consumed, not the cost) and the energy contract
has to last a minimum of two years. The renewable energy (e.g. solar, water, wind, biomass,
and geothermal sources) must be certified as green by the Green-e Energy program or its
equivalent (http://www.green-e.org).
Contrary to LEED for Homes, credits can also be earned for energy produced from on-site
renewable sources as a percentage of the building’s annual energy cost, the range of
assessment starts from 1% up to 13% renewable energy from on-site sources (which means
“located within the project site”). A higher percentage than 13% (besides green power) does
not earn more points. Best level could be more ambitious as European building assessment
Final Report 71 31 03 2011