855773520-LEED-v5-ID-C-Reference-Guide-Launch-Edition-1 - Page 242

Extracted Content

District energy systems (DES)

Option 1. No Refrigerants or Low-GWP Refrigerants

PATH 1. NO REFRIGERANTS

Refrigerants cannot be used to generate any DES serving the project. Teams connected to a DES for any energy source should work directly with their provider to determine if compliance is met for this option.

PATH 2. LOW-GWP REFRIGERANTS

Teams can elect to include the refrigerant impacts from the DES in building-level calculations when compliance cannot be demonstrated for the project space or at the building-level. Where teams include DES equipment within the calculations, account for all new and existing equipment containing refrigerant from all DES serving the project. Teams must work with the district energy provider to determine the equipment type, refrigerant type, and refrigerant charge.

For projects that also have refrigerant-containing equipment within the building, the weighted average GWP can be determined using the percentage capacity from each source. For example, if 90% of the energy comes from a DES and 10% from systems on-site, teams can apply those percentages to respective DES and on-site equipment weighted average GWP values.

Retail Only

  • Meet Option 1 and/or Option 2 under the LEED BD+C: New Construction criteria.

AND/OR

Option 3. GreenChill Certification for Food Retailers

Option 3 offers another path, eligible for up to two points for projects with 20% or more gross floor area of food retail space. Food retail spaces include grocery stores, convenience stores, big-box wholesalers, and general merchandise retailers with large refrigeration sections. Additional spaces may include bakeries, seafood and meat markets, and juice and smoothie bars.

In 2007, the U.S. EPA launched a voluntary partnership program called GreenChill that works cooperatively with the food retail industry to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer and climate change. [59] A food retailer achieves Silver, Gold, or Platinum level.

59 “GreenChill Program”, U.S. EPA, November 4, 2024, accessed March 31, 2025, https://epa.gov/greenchill.

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Interior Design and Construction, April 2025 Launch Edition 231