BASIC DOCUMENTATION
I07-1 Energy Narrative + Schematic Drawing
READY AUDIT
A narrative that includes a basic schematic of the energy system and describes the energy system, including:
- Building’s anticipated needs, including all subsystems of the energy-using systems.
- Energy use of a typical building of comparable climate, size, use, and occupancy.
- Project teams using a project-specific baseline pathway must also explain the methodology used in the calculation.
- Energy production design strategies and schematics.
- Descriptions of how energy reductions will be achieved.
- Summary reports from energy models or calculations to support claimed energy reductions.
- Baseline and target EUIs must be listed.
- Descriptions of all backup power systems, implementation, and anticipated usage per year.
- Confirmation of a lack of combustion or a description of any combustion in or connected to the project and combustion phase-out plan if applicable. See Table 7-4 for details per project type.
- Combustion-based DES phase-out plan, if applicable. Plans must describe a detailed timeline of the phase-out, including anticipated dates and actions for the remaining life of the equipment, how changes will be implemented, and how the plan will be funded.
Input and output reports establishing the project’s baseline EUI and anticipated EUI with supplemental calculations highlighting the project’s baseline EUI, target EUI, and anticipated EUI.
- Projects using ASHRAE 90.1-2019 must submit whole building energy simulation data in accordance with ASHRAE 90.1-2019, Appendix G.
- Projects using a building with similar size and function must submit all metering or database output data used to calculate the baseline EUI.
- If the project is connecting to a municipal storm or wastewater system, or is using exception WT-008, calculations showing pumping energy required to transport the water for the relevant strategy must be provided.
I07-2 Energy Use Data
A brief narrative regarding the project’s energy use over the performance period, including lessons learned from building operations.
FINAL AUDIT
Twelve months of performance data in one of the following formats is required:
- Copies of utility bills for a continuous 12-month period, beginning with the designated start date of the performance period.
- Billing data spreadsheet from utility as verification that data are for the project.
- If utility data are not available, metered data from a private system such as a building management system may be accepted if accompanied by a letter from the project engineer or consultant on their letterhead verifying that the provided data are correct.
- If the project is connecting to a municipal storm or wastewater system, or using exception WT-008, pumping energy required to transport the water for the relevant strategy must be included as indicated in Project Energy Needs.
Descriptions of renewable energy systems showing that the system(s) are additional, from allowed sources, attributed to the project, educational, identifiable, and metered are required.
- Include the construction start date of each renewable system and the project construction start date. If the project construction start date follows the renewable energy construction start date, provide documentation showing that the systems were pre-planned for utilization and attribution to additional buildings.
- Include schematics and photos of systems if not already provided
If the project does not have ownership of renewable systems, contracts must be provided proving an agreement of at least 15 years for renewable systems.
If the project does not have energy bills (due to no connection to a utility or to being sub-metered from a larger-scale utility meter), also include:
- A letter, signed and stamped by the energy or mechanical engineer and cosigned by the project owner, substantiating that this is the case.
Additionally, if applicable, provide results of the first 12 months of the project’s combustion-based DES phase-out plan. The results must include steps of the phase-out plan that have been completed and provide reasoning for any changes in the timeline provided during the Ready Audit.
I07-3 Energy Tracking Tables
FINAL AUDIT
Completed Energy Production and Demand Table based on 12 months of performance data.
- Energy consumption from pumps must be accounted for in accordance with I05 – Responsible Water Use and I06 – Net Positive Water as indicated in Project Energy Needs.
I07-4 Embodied Carbon Reduction Documentation
READY AUDIT
Provide descriptions of the efforts taken in design and construction to meet the embodied carbon threshold including:
- A calculation quantifying the total embodied carbon of primary and exterior assemblies (lifecycle stages A1-A5) according to Table 7-2.
- A quantitative analysis of the primary drivers of the project’s total embodied carbon.
- The total embodied carbon for A1-A3 with a summary of how this total was calculated; the total embodied carbon for A4 with a summary of how this total was calculated; and the total embodied carbon for A5 with a summary of how this total was calculated.
- A narrative describing actions taken to reduce project embodied carbon, including primary and exterior material reduction strategies and the phase(s) in which they occurred.
- List of interior products selected, comparing their embodied carbon value to the industry baseline. Due to the ever-evolving nature of online tools, the results of any assessments must be exported with a timestamp.
- Biogenic embodied carbon reduction calculations and sustainable sourcing certifications for products with claimed benefits. Biogenic carbon reductions must be counted separately from all other embodied carbon reductions.
- Photographs of any critical and hidden materials for embodied carbon reductions.
I07-5 Embodied Carbon Data
READY AUDIT
The input assumptions and results from the selected life cycle assessment tool, showing:
- The project’s primary and exterior materials’ embodied carbon baseline.
- The project’s primary and exterior materials’ embodied carbon after reductions.
- Embodied carbon of materials and construction (A1–A3, A4, and A5) of primary and exterior materials. Input assumptions for the A4 and A5 data must include the following:
- A4: Transportation of at least 90% of material to the site, by cost, and include distances, number of trips/shipments, estimated fuel use, and CO2e conversion factors.
- A5: All temporary equipment on site, hourly usage estimate, equipment name and estimated fuel use, and CO2e conversion factors.
Materials documentation supporting reductions in primary and exterior materials claimed in the narrative, such as:
- Basis of Design statements;
- LCA hot spot analyses;
- Material specifications; and
- Procurement requests or letters.
I07-6 Zero Ready Documentation
READY AUDIT
If not pursuing I08, provide descriptions of zero ready design strategies, applicable schematics, and advocacy documents (e.g., letters, emails).
I07-7 Fugitive Emissions Documentation
READY AUDIT
Provide one of the following:
- A commitment to reducing embodied and operational carbon within the MEP industry. A team member (preferably a member of the MEP engineering team) must establish and sign a company plan to reduce operational and embodied carbon on MEP systems, request low-GWP refrigerants during projects’ design phases, and request environmental product declarations (EPDs) for MEP products. OR
- Proof of individual or company commitment to the MEP 2040 Commitment. A project team member must show their commitment from their company’s statement on the MEP 2040 Why Sign? web page or from a confirmation email after signing the MEP 2040 Commitment.
Additionally, provide a maintenance plan for fugitive emissions that addresses the following:
- Inventory and tracking, equipment inspection, system retrofit, and end-of-life disposal for all equipment with refrigerants present;
- Identification of the individual or organization that will implement the routine maintenance plan at least once yearly; and
- A signed statement of compliance with Section 608 of the Clean Air Act by the project’s mechanical engineer.
See the Fugitive Emissions Resources for additional support.
FINAL AUDIT
Provide the results of at least one routine fugitive emissions maintenance review and descriptions of action(s) taken if leakages were detected.
I07-8 Case Study
FINAL AUDIT
Using the provided Case Study Template, all projects must provide detailed case study information describing the project team’s approach, highlighting any lessons learned or particularly rewarding outcomes.
At the time of certification, the case study information will be uploaded to the Institute’s website. These case studies are a means to celebrate projects celebrate projects and to educate the public about the successful implementation of ILFI’s ambitious programs and framework.
EXCEPTION DOCUMENTATION
Projects that use Exceptions or compliance paths that are not standard for all projects must submit additional documentation per the table below. Unless the exception is tied to the 12-month performance period, all Exception documentation must be submitted at the Ready Audit. If the project team is using an Exception that requires pre-approval, the project team must upload the ILFI ruling with their documentation.
I07-a Exception Narrative
A narrative describing the project’s need for the Exception, the approach to and implementation of the alternative solution, and compliance with Exception requirements, including calculations when needed.
I07-b Metering Documentation
Metering documentation or data showing compliance with Exception requirements.
I07-c Technical Documentation
Legal, financial, or contract documents showing compliance with Exception requirements.
I07-d Photographs
Photographs showing compliance with Exception requirements, including images of all components that will be changed from an existing state or are not readily visible by the completion of the performance period.
