Section 2: Individual LEED Credit Reviews
LEED Credit EA-4:
In general, it is assumed that GSA projects do not
involve base building refrigeration systems. In
Ozone Depletion
addition, GSA's P100 notes that clean agent fire
extinguishing systems (including Halon systems)
cannot be installed in new construction or
renovation projects.
Intent:
Reduce ozone depletion and support early
Basis for Cost Assumption
compliance with the Montreal Protocol.
GSA's P100 defines acceptable HVAC refrigerants
Requirements:
through the EPA's Significant New Alternatives
Policy (SNAP), which was established to address
Install base building level HVAC and
Section 612 of the Clean Air Act (Stratospheric
refrigeration equipment and fire suppression
Ozone Protection). The SNAP refrigerant
systems that do not contain HCFC's or Halons.
alternatives include HCFC-123 and HCFC-22
(1 point)
(among other HCFC options), which do not
qualify under the LEED credit criteria.
Because GSA does not exclude the use of SNAP-
Cost Impact: Not Applicable
compliant HCFCs, Credit EA-4 is not included in
any of the Courthouse or Office Building
scenarios. In actual projects, however, it is possible
1
2
3
4
5
that the installed HVAC equipment will comply
with the credit requirements.
GSA
No
Low
Moderate
High
Standard
premium,
premium
premium
premium
(no cost)
psble svgs
(<50K)
(50-150K)
(>150K)
Vapor compression chillers using HFC refrigerants
can typically be purchased with minimal or no cost
Practical Applications
impact compared to HCFC chillers at similar
performance levels. With smaller equipment (e.g.,
heat pumps) there are currently limited options for
Achieving this credit will primarily require the
products that utilize HFCs. Costs for this type of
selection of HVAC equipment with zero ozone
equipment can be moderately more expensive than
depletion potential. Options include the following:
standard products that use HCFCs (e.g., R-22).
Vapor compression chillers with HFC
refrigerants (e.g., 134a, 407c)
Summary of First Cost Impacts
Absorption chillers
Packaged direct-expansion (DX) equipment
with HFC refrigerants (e.g., 410a)
Courthouse (New Construction, 262,000 GSF)
The U.S. Green Building Council has determined
The credit is not applicable.
that small HVAC units used to cool equipment
support rooms, such as computer, telephone, and
Office Building (Modernization, 306,600 GSF)
data rooms, are not considered part of the "base
building" system and are not subject to the
The credit is not applicable.
requirements of this credit. The capacity of this
ancillary equipment must represent less than 15
percent of the total installed HVAC capacity of the
building.
GSA LEED COST STUDY
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