EA Credit 1: Optimize Energy Performance
1–10 Points
Two (2) points mandatory for all LEED for New Construction projects registered after June 26, 2007

Intent
Achieve increasing levels of energy performance above the baseline in the prerequisite standard to reduce environmental
and economic impacts associated with excessive energy use.

Requirements
Select one of the four compliance path options described below. Project teams documenting achievement using
any of these options are assumed to be in compliance with EA Prerequisite 2.

NOTE: LEED for New Construction projects registered after June 26th, 2007 are required to achieve at least two
(2) points under EAc1.

OPTION 1 — WHOLE BUILDING ENERGY SIMULATION (1–10 Points)
Demonstrate a percentage improvement in the proposed building performance rating compared to the baseline
building performance rating per ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004 by a whole building project simulation
using the Building Performance Rating Method in Appendix G of the Standard. The minimum energy cost
savings percentage for each point threshold is as follows:

New Buildings                Existing Building Renovations                                    Points

      10.5%                                               3.5%                                                                1

      14%                                                   7%                                                                   2

      17.5%                                              10.5%                                                               3

      21%                                                 14%                                                                   4

      24.5%                                              17.5%                                                               5

      28%                                                  21%                                                                  6

      31.5%                                              24.5%                                                               7

      35%                                                 28%                                                                   8

      38.5%                                              31.5%                                                               9

      42%                                                 35%                                                                 10

Appendix G of Standard 90.1-2004 requires that the energy analysis done for the Building Performance Rating
Method include ALL of the energy costs within and associated with the building project. To achieve points using
this credit, the proposed design—

• must comply with the mandatory provisions (Sections 5.4, 6.4, 7.4, 8.4, 9.4 and 10.4) in Standard 90.1-
  2004;
  
• must include all the energy costs within and associated with the building project; and
  LEED for New Construction Rating System v2.2
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• must be compared against a baseline building that complies with Appendix G to Standard 90.1-2004. The
  default process energy cost is 25% of the total energy cost for the baseline building. For buildings where the
  process energy cost is less than 25% of the baseline building energy cost, the LEED submittal must include
  supporting documentation substantiating that process energy inputs are appropriate.

Comply with the prescriptive measures of the ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Office Buildings
2004. The following restrictions apply:

• Buildings must be under 20,000 square feet.
  
• Buildings must be office occupancy.
  
• Project teams must fully comply with all applicable criteria as established in the Advanced Energy Design Guide for the climate zone in which the building is located.

OR

OPTION 3 — PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE PATH: Advanced Buildings™ Core Performance™ Guide
(2-5 Points)

Comply with the prescriptive measures identified in the Advanced Buildings™ Core Performance™ Guide
developed by the New Buildings Institute. The following restrictions apply:

• Buildings must be under 100,000 square feet.
  
• Buildings may NOT be health care, warehouse or laboratory projects.
  
• Project teams must fully comply with Sections One, Design Process Strategies, and Two, Core Performance
  Requirements.

• Three (3) points are available for all office, school, public assembly, and retail projects under 100,000 square feet that comply with Sections One and Two of the Core Performance Guide.
  
• Two (2) points are available for all other project types under 100,000 square feet (except health care, warehouse, or laboratory projects) that implement the basic requirements of the Core Performance Guide

• Up to two (2) additional points are available to projects that implement performance strategies listed in Section Three, Enhanced Performance. For every three strategies implemented from this section, one point is available.
  
• Any strategies applicable to the project may be implemented except:


• 3.1-Cool Roofs
  
• 3.8-Night Venting
  
• 3.13-Additional Commissioning

Note: projects registered after June 26, 2007 may not use this option

Comply with the Basic Criteria and Prescriptive Measures of the Advanced Buildings Benchmark™ Version 1.1
with the exception of the following sections: 1.7 Monitoring and Trend-logging, 1.11 Indoor Air Quality, and
1.14 Networked Computer Monitor Control. The following restrictions apply:

• Project teams must fully comply with all applicable criteria as established in Advanced Buildings Benchmark
  for the climate zone in which the building is located.

Potential Technologies & Strategies
Design the building envelope and systems to maximize energy performance. Use a computer simulation model
to assess the energy performance and identify the most cost-effective energy efficiency measures. Quantify energy
performance as compared to a baseline building.
If a local code has demonstrated quantitative and textual equivalence following, at a minimum, the U.S. Department
of Energy standard process for commercial energy code determination, then the results of that analysis may
be used to correlate local code performance with ASHRAE 90.1-2004. Details on the DOE process for commercial
energy code determination can be found at www.energycodes.gov/implement/determinations_com.stm.