LEED Independent Study 2008

Matthew Ziff, Associate Professor

Interior Architecture Ohio University

Presented by Alicia Westgerdes

LEED basics

• Commercial interiors, existing buildings, schools and new construction are areas where LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification has become increasingly important

• LEED is sponsored by the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council), a non-profit organization that attempts to create industry standards and goals of achievement in partnership with industry and design leaders

LEED basics

• In order to achieve a certification rank by the USGBC, a project/building must submit a proposal to gain points

• The subsequent number of points achieved is granted status by the USGBC

• Contingent on points, a project/building’s status can be: certified, silver, gold, or platinum

LEED basics

• The focus of this presentation is on CI (Commercial Interiors) and – the water use issues therein– innovation in design (new technologies)

• Though the points given for water use and stewardship are few, the cost-benefit analysis is often a factor in choosing to adopt water-saving technologies

• Points awarded for ID (Innovation in Design) are a bit amorphous, contingent on the USGBC committee overseeing, but can be an inexpensive means of achieving additional credits

LEED basics

• In the LEED process, a team of various disciplines is assembled and creates a framework in which to attempt certification

• There is a two-phase application process: design phase and construction phase

• The team must assemble the final packet of documentation during the construction phase, and the USGBC establishes each credit as “achieved” or “denied”

Water Usage

• The two potential categories regarding water usage, WEc1.1 and WEc1.2, are eligible for design-phase submittal (the early phase) thus submittal phase D.

• WEc stands for Water Efficiency credits

• The two categories (1.1 and 1.2) are not mutually exclusive

Water Usage

• The decision-makers for WEc1.1 and WEc1.2 vary:– E stands for Engineer, and s/he is the

specialist responsible for designing the WEc1.1 category

– A (Architect) and ID (Interior Designer) are the two options as specialists handling WEc1.2 design

Water Usage

• WEc1.1 and WEc1.2 credits are designed to help reduce the need and use of potable water for buildings.  The main ways that this is achieved is by recycling greywater, capturing rain water and using more efficient fixtures such as waterless urinals and water closets.

Water Usage

• Energy savings aren’t the only benefit:– Water conservation, reductions in

construction waste, and effective storm water management generate significant operational savings for the building owner, and reduce the demand on municipal infrastructures

Water Usage

Domestic water use in office buildings (toilets and faucets) accounts for roughly half of the total water use in commercial buildings

Water Usage

• Ways to save water:– Install/replace toilets with “low flow” types

• Average toilet uses at least 3.5 gallons per flush (gpf)

• Low-flow toilets typically use 1.6 gpf• A new high-efficiency toilet was recently

released on the market that achieves 1.28 gpf• Typical urinals use one gpf; new models use

only 0.5 gpf

Water Usage

Water Usage

• Conversion to a dual-flush system is simple; replace the existing handle with a specially designed dual-flush model.

• This change alone can lead to a 30% savings in water use

WEc1.1

Water Use Reduction: 20% reduction

Credit Value: 1 pointExemplary

Performance: 0 points

Submittal Phase: DDecision Maker: E

(specialist)

WEc1.1

Intent: to maximize water efficiency within tenant spaces to reduce the burden on municipal water supply and wastewater systems

WEc1.1

• Requirements: – Meet EPA act of 1992 fixture requirements– Reduce water use by 20%

WEc1.1

• GRAYWATER

Graywater systems filter and recycle water from

bathroom sinks, showers, and washing machines for use in flushing toilets and/or irrigating landscaping

Only about 5-10% of drinking water is used for drinking

For a typical building, reusing graywater can provide upwards of 50 to 100 gallons per day for outdoor use and toilet flushing,cutting water and sewer bills noticeably

WEc1.1

• Graywater schematic

WEc1.2

Water Use Reduction: 30% reduction

Credit value: 1 point

Exemplary Performance: 1 point

Submittal Phase: D

Decision Maker: A, ID (specialist)

WEc1.2

• Intent: to maximize water efficiency within tenant spaces to reduce the burden on municipal water supply and wastewater systems

WEc1.2

• Exemplary performance:– Option 1: 40% water

savings– Option 2: demonstrate

potable water use reduction in process and non-regulated water consuming fixtures. Process and non-regulated water use savings must be at least 10 % of total design regulated water use

WEc1.1 and WEc1.2

• One of the simplest ways to gain water use credits is through working with a landscape architect, and planting native species plants and/or decreasing the use of potable water for irrigation

key vocabulary

• Low-flow toiletsBlackwater: wastewater from toilets and urinalsComposting toilet: dry plumbing fixtures that contain

and treat waste via microbiological processesFixture sensors: motion sensors that automatically

turn on/off lavatories, sinks, water closets and urinals

Graywater: reusable water from sinks, showers, and laundry.

Waterless urinal: replaces the water flush with with a specially designed trap that contains a layer of buoyant liquid that floats above the urine layer, blocking sewer gas and urine odors from the room

Potable water: water suitable for drinkingProcess water: water used for industrial processes

and building systems

Innovation in Design• IDc means Innovation in Design credit• This heading in the LEED AP exam is

amorphous… credit is awarded for a myriad of implementations

• The project proposal must be submitted early in the building process, during the design phase

• Members at USGBC decide whether to award credits, and how many (1-4), contingent on the relative energy savings/environmental impact

Innovation in Design

• Approved ID credits may be pursued by any LEED project, but the project team must sufficiently document the achievement using the LEED credit equivalence process. This process includes identifying the proposed innovation credit intent, the proposed requirement(s) for compliance, the proposed submittal(s) to demonstrate compliance, and a summary of potential design approaches that may be used to meet the requirements

ID1.1-1.4 and IDc2

• The decision-maker in any ID category is the LEED AP individual

• This person can be of any specialty

• The submittal phase is D, which stands for the (early) design phase

IDc1.1-1.4

• Credit value: 1-4 points

• Exemplary performance: 0 points

• Submittal phase: D

• Decision mater: AP (specialist)

IDc1.1-1.4

• Intent: to provide design teams and projects the opportunity to be awarded points for exceptional performance above the requirements set by LEED

IDc1.1-1.4

• Requirements: identify the proposed innovation credit’s intent, requirement for compliance, proposed submittals to demonstrate compliance, and the design approach used

• A list of potential innovation designs is at : www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3569

IDc2

• Credit Value: 1 point

• Exemplary Performance: 0 points

• Submittal Phase: D

• Decision Maker: AP (specialist)

IDc2

• Intent: To support the design integration required by a LEED project, bringing many disciplines together, and streamline the certification process

• Requirements: A LEED AP must be a principal participant of the project team

IDc2

• One Innovation in Design credit can be easily achieved simply by having a LEED AP participate as a member of the project team

Conclusion

• The LEED AP examination is a challenging test, not simply for its insistence on familiarity with the latest construction technologies, but also because of the memorization required.

• Knowing how many credits are awarded for particular inclusions, knowing the principle decision-maker for various credits, and knowing the submittal phase are the starting blocks

Conclusion• The USGBC is the non-profit

organization responsible for setting the standards for green building.

• The LEED AP exam changes occasionally in order to keep current with the ever-changing context of green building technologies

Conclusion

• Hopefully, with the support of local, state, and federal government, the USGBC’s standards for buildings will become the hallmarks of good building; individuals, schools, and companies may someday be given tax credits and financial incentive to become responsible citizens

Resources

• http://www.usgbc.org/

• www.ppi2pass.com/errata

• Williams Leppo, Holly. LEED Prep: What You Really Need to Know to Pass the LEED NC v2.2 and CI v2.0 Exams. Professional Publications Inc. Belmont, CA. 2008.