855773644-LEED-v5-BD-C-Reference-Guide-Launch-Edition - Page 391

Extracted Content

o Ensuring that installation, maintenance, and removal of refrigeration-containing

equipment is performed by appropriately certified refrigeration personnel, including in tenant spaces.

o Performing an annual audit and calibration of automatic leak detection systems.

o For equipment without automatic leak detection systems, checking pressure loss and

leaks at least as frequently as follows at the following minimum intervals for equipment containing refrigerant with total GWP as follows: every 24 months for 50 tCO2e or less; every 12 months for 50 to 500 tCO2e; every 3 months for more than 500 tCO2e.

o Identifying the maximum time frame for repairing leaks.

o Making leakage testing and repair twice as frequent if the total annual refrigerant

recharge/leakage exceeds 1%.

AND/OR

Option 3. GreenChill Certification for Food Retailers (1–2 points)

Available to projects where food retailing constitutes more than 20% of the project’s gross area.

Demonstrate achievement of the Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Certification program for projects in the U.S. For international projects, comply with the relevant GreenChill requirements for the certification level.

• GreenChill Silver certification (1 point)

• GreenChill Gold or Platinum certification (2 points)

For all options

District Energy

Projects with district energy must comply with the requirements of this credit at the district facility or see additional guidance for interpretation of credit requirements.

REQUIREMENTS EXPLAINED

The credit builds on the EAp5: Fundamental Refrigerant Management requirements and rewards teams who further minimize or eliminate refrigerant impacts for their projects. Refrigerants used in equipment that provides thermal comfort, service water heating, process heating or cooling, or refrigeration for food storage or other process application in buildings are powerful greenhouse gases, typically causing over one thousand times the detrimental impact than carbon dioxide. As projects electrify heating and service water heating systems with heat pumps, mitigation of refrigerant impact becomes increasingly important.

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, April 2025 Launch Edition 381