Lessons Learned for Better LEED Submissions

Lessons Learned for Better LEED Submissions October 2009

Purpose of Presentation Understanding the LEED documentation process Understanding how and when to collect information. Understanding how to track your progress Understand the tools available to improve LEED certification effort. What is LEED? Third party design review using prescribed method of demonstrating achievement of Sustainable Design goals.

Why is LEED Important US Buildings Impacts on Resources 39% of total Energy Consumption 71% of Electrical Consumption 39% of Carbon Emissions 30% of Raw Material Use 30% of Waste output 12% of potable water consumption

Value to Owners USGBC statistics from past projects Cost to Owner 1.8% increase in construction cost

Value to Owners USGBC statistics from past projects Cost to Owner 1.8% increase in construction cost Advantage of Sustainable Designs 8-9% decrease in operating costs 3.5% Increase in occupancy 3% rent increase 7.5% Increase in building value 6.6% Improvement in ROI

LEED Project Work Flow Integrating LEED into Work Flow Ensure a Quality Delivery

How Has The Workflow Changed? Understand Project Certification Requirements Enhanced Commissioning Preliminary LEED Assessment Set Free for Work Accordingly Green Requirements in Specifications Green Cost Estimates Trade-off Decisions Commissioning Implement O&M Practices Monitor CO2 Manage Energy Performance Sustainability Values Commitment to LEED or Other Goals Green Lead Designer Preliminary LEED assessment Green Selection Criteria (Pentagon) Green Requirements Enforced Pre 10% 30% 60% Contract Negotiation Bidding Construction Ops Design Design Design Design Docs Identify LEED Project Administrator Set Budget Set Roles and Responsibilities Charter Team to Get Everyone on Board Preliminary LEED Point Count Commissioning Energy Modeling Client Commits to O&M Practices Green Cost Estimates Preliminary LEED Point Count Green Requirements or Green Alt/Adds Contractor Education Verify Cost Estimate Construction Waste Recycling HVAC Filtration Build Flushing Out Commissioning

Negotiation Negotiation Understand Project Certification Requirements Enhanced Commissioning Preliminary LEED Assessment Set Free for Work Accordingly Pre 10% 30% 60% Contract Negotiation Bidding Construction Ops Design Design Design Design Docs

Negotiation

Pre Design Pre Design Identify LEED Project Administrator Identify project assets Set Roles and Responsibilities Charter Team to Get Everyone on Board Preliminary LEED Point Count Negotiation Pre 10% 30% 60% Contract Design Design Design Design Docs Bidding Construction Ops

Predesign - The Charrette

The Charrette Record

The Charrette Building an Action Plan

10% Design 10% Design Sustainability Values Negotiation Pre 10% 30% 60% Contract Design Design Design Commitment Design to Docs LEED Bidding or Other Construction Goals Ops Green Lead Designer Preliminary LEED assessment

10% Design - Tracking Progress

30% Design 30% Design Commissioning Energy Modeling Client Commits to O&M Practices Green Cost Estimates Preliminary LEED Point Count Negotiation Pre 10% 30% 60% Contract Design Design Design Design Docs Bidding Construction Ops

60% Design 60% Design Green Requirements in Specifications Negotiation Pre 10% 30% 60% Contract Design Design Design Green Design Cost Estimates Docs Bidding Construction Ops Trade-off Decisions Commissioning

60% Design - Tracking Progress

Contract Documents Contract Docs Green Requirements or Green Alt/Adds Contractor Education Verify Cost Estimate Negotiation Pre 10% 30% 60% Contract Design Design Design Design Docs Bidding Construction Ops

Bidding Bidding Green Selection Criteria (Pentagon) Green Requirements Enforced Pre 10% 30% 60% Contract Negotiation Bidding Construction Ops Design Design Design Design Docs

Construction Preconstruction Meeting Topics Construction Site Preparations and Sediment Control Construction Waste Recycling 30% 60% Contract HVAC Design Filtration Design Docs Photo Records Build Flushing Out Commissioning Pre 10% Negotiation Bidding Construction Ops Design Design

MR CREDIT Preconstruction - Reviewing Responsibilities

Ops Ops Implement O&M Practices Follow Planned Maintenance practices Manage Energy Performance Pre 10% 30% 60% Contract Negotiation Bidding Construction Ops Design Design Design Design Docs

LEED Project Organization Keeping Track of Work Starting Your Project Documentation

Managing Information In-house Provide a central place for LEED data storage Easy Review Easy Compilation Easy to Archive and share with future LEED project

Managing Information In-house

Managing Information On-Line

LEED Project Documentation How to Get What You Want How to Improve Your Submissions

Documentation - Specification Tips Spec Section 01 81 13 Sustainable Design Requirement Explain goals to contractor Spell out contractors responsibility Require Preconstruction Conference LEED Action Plan Monthly Reports Spell out submittal requirements Construction Credits Material Cost, Recycled Content, Mfg/extraction location Specific LEED requirements

Documentation - Specification Tips Continued Product specs Repeat Submittal requirements specific to each section. Why? Div 1 specs typically stay with general. Product specs are sent to each vendor preparing submittal The general is going to prepare the submittal Require that Critical performance requirements be Highlighted in the Submittal. Best to ask for separate cover in the spec for LEED information.

General Tips on LEED Submissions Make your submissions easy to understand Don t over work your graphics. Use color and easy to read text. Test your graphics on others. Understand submittal requirements Submit only what is required. Be Consistent Data must be consistent across all credits Tell Your story A LEED submittal is more like an award application than a construction document.

LEED On-Line Getting Started

Template Tips Make sure your templates are filled out properly Make good use of the narratives Calculations embedded in templates are Accepted by USGBC Check the score at the bottom of the template Don t be afraid to experiment with the template to understand how changes impact you score.

Things to know Two types of credits Design Credits Construction Credits Two passes at each credit Can change credits after second pass but only get one shot Credits can be appealed after second pass. $500 fee per credit per appeal

Things to know - Review comments

LEED On-Line Submissions Know who makes the decisions Know When the Decisions need to be Made

Sustainable Site Credits Overview SS Credits Require Early planning

Water Efficiency Credit Overview WE credits Can Be Earned With Early Design Decisions

Energy and Atmosphere Overview EA credits Require Multi Discipline Coordination

Material and Resources Overview MR credits Require Good Specification Instructions to Contractor

Indoor Environmental Quality Overview EQ credits Require Good Specification Instructions to Contractor

WE CREDIT 3 Water Use Reduction Understanding Submission Requirements Design Credit Design Decisions Information that needs to be attached to the submittal Submission Requirements: The project s calculated occupants. The template will use a default oneto-one men to women ratio. Projects with special occupancy situations that result in unbalanced ratio may enter project specific data for this credit. The project s calculated design case water usage (flush and flow fixtures). This data is calculated using project specified fixture types and the project s mix of occupancy. Note: the project teams must provide the following information for each typical installed flush fixture type: fixture manufacturer, fixture model, flush rate in g/f or flow rate in gallons per minute (gpm)

WE CREDIT 3 Water Use Reduction Understanding Submission Requirements Design Credit Design Decisions Information that needs to be attached to the submittal Information that needs to be written on the template Submission Requirements: The project s calculated occupants. The template will use a default oneto-one men to women ratio. Projects with special occupancy situations that result in unbalanced ratio may enter project specific data for this credit. The project s calculated design case water usage (flush and flow fixtures). This data is calculated using project specified fixture types and the project s mix of occupancy. Note: the project teams must provide the following information for each typical installed flush fixture type: fixture manufacturer, fixture model, flush rate in g/f or flow rate in gallons per minute (gpm)

WE CREDIT 3 Water Use Reduction Understanding Submission Requirements Design Credit Design Decisions Information that needs to be written on the template Suggested QC Reviews: Schematic Design Narrative and first runs calculations Plan Review at 65% and Final Submission Requirements: The project s calculated baseline water usage (flush and flow fixtures). This data is calculated using typical fixture types (provided in the template) and the project s mix of occupants For projects using non-potable water for sewage conveyance, provide the total non-potable water supply (gal) available for sewage conveyance purposes Narrative describing the potable water reduction strategies employed by the project. For projects using non-potable water, include specific information regarding any reclaimed water usage (graywater reuse/rainwater reuse/on-site treated wastewater)

WE CREDIT 3.2 Water Use Reduction Understanding Submission Requirements Ultra Low Flow fixtures commonly being used in our specs. Fixture Typed Water Consumption Showers 1.5 gpm Toilet Flush Valves 1.1 gpf Toilet Dual Flush Valves.8 gpf 1.28gpf Low High Urinals 0.5 gpf Waterless Urinals 0 Lavatory 0.5 gpm with 15 second cut-off Kitchen Sink 1.5 gpm

WE CREDIT 3.2 Water Use Reduction Understanding Submission Requirements

WE CREDIT 3.2 Water Use Reduction Continued

WE CREDIT 3.2 Water Use Reduction Understanding Submission Requirements

MR CREDIT 2 Construction Waste Management Understanding Requirements Construction Credit Contractor Participation Information that needs to be attached to the submittal Submission Requirements: Complete the construction waste calculation tables in the Submittal Template. Tickets from recycler Tickets from the Landfill. Provide a narrative describing the project s waste management approach Photos of Recycling dumpsters in use. Suggested QC Reviews: Final Design Review Pre Construction Meeting Construction Progress Reports

MR CREDIT 2 Construction Waste Management Understanding Requirements Construction Credit Contractor Participation Information that needs to be attached to the submittal Information that needs to be written on the template Submission Requirements: Complete the construction waste calculation tables in the Submittal Template. Tickets from recycler Tickets from the Landfill. Provide a narrative describing the project s waste management approach Photos of Recycling dumpsters in use. Suggested QC Reviews: Final Design Review Pre Construction Meeting Construction Progress Reports

WE CREDIT 3.2 Construction Waste Management Understanding Requirements

MR CREDIT 2 Construction Waste Management Contractor s Records

WE CREDIT 3.2 Construction Waste Management Narrative Explanation

WE CREDIT 3.2 Construction Waste Management Check the bottom Line

EQ CREDIT 8.1 Daylight over 75% of space continued

EQ CREDIT 8.2 Views for 90% - Graphic Support Document