855773520-LEED-v5-ID-C-Reference-Guide-Launch-Edition-1 - Page 189

Extracted Content

PATH 4. BASE BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY

When developers and owners are identifying leasing opportunities for their fit-out, targeting high-performing buildings will allow the tenant fit-outs to optimize their energy performance.

ASHRAE 90.1 or ENERGY STAR® For projects that are in a building that meets ASHRAE 90.1-2022, or for buildings that achieve an ENERGY STAR® score of at least 75, two points can be earned under this path.

Previously LEED-certified base building For projects located in a previously LEED-certified base building, coordinate with the building owner or facility manager to gather information about the rating system, the version of the rating system, the level of certification, and the number of points achieved for the respective Energy Efficiency credits. Points are awarded according to Table 5.

Option 2. Energy Simulation

Option 2 rewards future source energy improvement below a Performance Index Target (PIt) documented per ASHRAE 90.1, Appendix G PRM. The credit structure prioritizes efficiency over on-site renewable energy, setting the performance improvement thresholds five times higher for Path 2 (including on-site renewable contribution) than for Path 1 (excluding on-site renewable contribution).

Assessment of credit compliance often requires simple additional calculations applied to the outputs from the ASHRAE 90.1, Appendix G PRM energy models used to document EAp2: Minimum Energy Efficiency, adjusting the metric, treatment of renewable energy, and/or BPF .

• Future source energy . The future source energy metric must be used to assess credit compliance even when a different metric is used to document prerequisite compliance.

• BPF . For substantial alterations or initial build-outs, Performance Index Target (PIt) must be calculated using LEED-published BPFs derived for the future source energy metric.

• Treatment of on-site renewable energy .

o The on-site renewable energy contribution must either be fully excluded for Path 1 or

fully included for Path 2.

o The Performance Index Target (PIt) includes no adjustments for renewable energy,

unlike ASHRAE 90.1-2022 which adjusts for prescriptively required on-site renewable energy.

Further energy savings may also be documented for plug and process and/or district energy efficiency measures that do not contribute toward prerequisite compliance.

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Interior Design and Construction, April 2025 Launch Edition 178