USGBC LEED-AP-ID+C - LEED AP Interior Design + Construction (LEED AP ID+C) V4

For the Water Efficiency Prerequisite, Indoor Water Use Reduction, cooling towers and evaporative condensers must have makeup water meters to measure the amount of water used, conductivity controllers to optimize water quality and minimize consumption, and overflow alarms to prevent excess water use.

References: The LEED v4 Indoor Water Use Reduction Calculator is a tool that includes assumptions for baseline water use and helps in documenting water use reduction strategies, which would involve the use of makeup water meters and conductivity controllers1. Additionally, the LEED v4 reference guide for water efficiency credits outlines the need for water use reduction and the strategies to achieve it, which align with the requirements of makeup water meters and conductivity controllers2.

To comply with the Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite, Fundamental Refrigerant Management, especially for a server room that requires 24-hour cooling, it’s essential to use refrigerants that have no ozone depletion potential and low global warming potential. CFC-free refrigerants in tenant cooling units are necessary to meet this prerequisite, as they minimize the environmental impact of the refrigerants used.

References: The LEED reference guide for Interior Design and Construction outlines the requirements for the Fundamental Refrigerant Management prerequisite. It specifies that projects must not use CFC-based refrigerants or must plan to phase out such refrigerants in favor of alternatives with lower environmental impact12.

In the context of LEED AP Interior Design + Construction, public restrooms are considered nonregularly occupied spaces. This classification is based on the nature of the space usage, which does not require continuous thermal comfort controls due to the intermittent and brief occupancy. Therefore, thermostats in such spaces can be eliminated during value engineering to optimize resource allocation without compromising the comfort of regular occupants.

References:

LEED v4: Interior Design + Construction Guide1.

LEED BD+C: Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Thermal Comfort2.

Pilot-Credits EQpc114: Learning controls for thermal comfort3.

The LEED project boundary is defined to include all contiguous land associated with the project and supports its typical operations. This encompasses land altered due to construction and features primarily used by the project’s occupants, such as parking, sidewalks, and landscaping1. Therefore, the correct statement when defining the project boundary is option D, which aligns with the LEED guidelines that require the inclusion of contiguous land altered as a result of construction within the project boundary.

References:

LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction1.

LEED Reference Guide for Interior Design and Construction2.

The Commissioning (Cx) agent for Energy and Atmosphere Credit, Enhanced Commissioning, must be independent of the project’s design and construction management to avoid conflicts of interest. This ensures that the Cx agent can objectively assess the project’s performance and adherence to design intentions.

References: The LEED v4 reference guide for Interior Design and Construction specifies that the Cx agent should not be an employee of the design firm to maintain independence1. Additionally, the LEED AP with Specialty Candidate Handbook outlines the importance of the Cx agent’s independence in the commissioning process2.

For a tenant targeting LEED Platinum certification with the help of a LEED AP ID+C consultant, the Integrated Process Worksheet is a crucial tool. To achieve an additional point, the worksheet requires analyses that foster an integrative approach. Specifically, for ID+C projects, the worksheet mandates the completion of energy-related systems analysis1. This is in line with the integrative process credit that encourages project teams to explore synergies across various building systems, leading to more sustainable and efficient designs.

References:

Integrative Process Worksheet for the Integrative Process credits in the BD+C and ID+C rating systems1.

LEED v4 for Interior Design and Construction checklist2.

 The Integrative Process Credit under LEED AP Interior Design + Construction V4 emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach that includes various phases of a project. The correct phases that should be included to comply with the intent of this credit are Discovery, Design and Construction, Occupancy, Operations, and Feedback. This approach ensures that sustainable strategies are integrated from the earliest stages of the project and continue through to post-occupancy to maximize performance and sustainability.

References: The LEED v4 Reference Guide for Interior Design and Construction provides detailed guidance on the Integrative Process Credit, highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach that spans the entire project timeline12.

The LEED Location & Transportation Credit, specifically the Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses, encourages projects to be situated in areas with a variety of services within walking distance. This credit is designed to promote walkability and reduce vehicle use, thereby lowering transportation emissions. Choosing a location within 1/2 mile of four different basic services supports these goals by providing employees with easy access to common destinations, which can be reached by walking rather than driving.

References: The LEED v4 for Interior Design and Construction reference guide details the requirements for the Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses credit, including the necessity for proximity to various services to encourage walkability1. Additionally, the LEEDuser website provides insights into achieving this credit by locating the project within a mixed-use area with accessible services2.

The Water Efficiency Prerequisite for Indoor Water Use Reduction in LEED AP ID+C V4 focuses on reducing the aggregate indoor water consumption by 20 percent from the baseline. This includes water usage by appliances such as residential clothes washers and dishwashers, which are common contributors to indoor water use.

References: The LEED v4 Indoor Water Use Reduction Calculator provides guidance on the baseline water consumption for various fittings and fixtures, including residential appliances1. Additionally, the LEED v4: Interior Design + Construction Guide outlines the requirements for achieving the prerequisite, emphasizing the reduction of indoor water use through efficient appliances2.

In the Water Efficiency Prerequisite for Indoor Water Use Reduction, the focus is on reducing potable water usage through efficient fixtures and appliances. The eligible appliances that fall under this prerequisite are residential clothes washers and dishwashers, as they are commonly used appliances within buildings and contribute to indoor water use. These appliances must meet certain efficiency standards, such as being ENERGY STAR certified or equivalent, which ensure they use less water than conventional models.

References:Specification of appliances under the Water Efficiency Prerequisite for Indoor Water Use Reduction, which includes standards and requirements for residential clothes washers and dishwashers, among other appliances .

Innovation Credit, Innovation, Option 3: Additional Strategies allows for the pursuit of exemplary performance in an existing LEED v4 prerequisite or credit that allows for such performance. In this case, achieving exemplary performance in the Indoor Environmental Quality Credit for Acoustic Performance can provide the additional point needed for LEED Platinum certification. This would involve surpassing the standard requirements for acoustic performance, thereby contributing to a superior indoor environment1.

References:

LEED v4 Reference Guide for Interior Design and Construction2.

LEED credit library for Innovation strategies3.

LEEDuser’s guide on NC-v4.1 INc1: Innovation1.