855773644-LEED-v5-BD-C-Reference-Guide-Launch-Edition - Page 271

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REQUIREMENTS EXPLAINED

Option 1 applies only to projects without refrigerants. Projects with refrigerants must follow Option 2.

Option 1. No Refrigerants

Buildings with no refrigerant-containing equipment automatically meet the prerequisite. Option 1 criteria does not preclude the use of equipment containing less than 0.5 lbs. (225 g), such as standard residential refrigerators, small wine coolers, or portable space dehumidifiers.

OR

Option 2. Refrigerants

Teams pursuing this path must avoid hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerants, analyze alternatives for refrigerants with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) greater than 700, inventory all refrigerant-using equipment, and ensure no leaks from refrigerant-containing equipment.

NO HYDROCHLOROFLUOROCARBON (HCFC) REFRIGERANTS

Projects must not use HCFC refrigerants, which cause damage to the ozone layer and often have very high global warming potential (GWP).

Developed and developing countries In developed countries, government regulations have already phased out HCFC refrigerants for new equipment per the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.

In developing countries, teams must take precautions to limit selections to equipment that does not use HCFCs. Equipment specifications must disallow HCFCs such as R-22 used in air conditioners or R-123 commonly used in chillers.

EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE REFRIGERANTS

Global warming potential (GWP) measures the relative contribution of a substance toward heating the atmosphere compared to the same mass of carbon dioxide (CO2). For example, R410A with a GWP of 2,088 traps 2,088 times more heat in the atmosphere than CO2. This prerequisite references 100-year GWPs assessed in accordance with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report or later. Reviewing refrigerant properties during the design process allows teams to address high GWP refrigerants and find suitable alternatives before construction begins. As the industry continues

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, April 2025 Launch Edition 261