<div dir="ltr">Dear Josh<br><br>There is in general no single answer to your question. The energy performance rating method and Appendix G is concerned with establishing a benchmark you can compare your building with. The benchmark is the baseline building. As a benchmark building, there is no goal from a LEED perspective to make this a quality building with the strictest building code possible applied. Rather, the rating authorities seek to make it a standardized benchmark to which all buildings can be compared, across all parts of the world regardless of local standards. Other parts of the LEED certification seeks to improve the quality of your building as much as possible, and forces you to apply the strictest code possible, as you point out.<br>
<br>Generally, local code must be met in your baseline building if it is met in your proposed building, but there are many exceptions. Appendix G first states that the proposed and baseline building should be identical. Appendix G then proceeds to describe the only ways you are allowed to let the two models differ. This means that given that you are designing your proposed building in accordance with local code, your baseline building will also have to comply with this code except for the parameters which Appendix G lets differ between the proposed and baseline buildings. There are therefore times you will have to let your baseline model comply with local code, and times where you do not have to. I am listing a few examples:<br>
<br>Cases where baseline building must comply with local code:<br><br>Many times, your baseline building must comply with local codes. For instance if your local code forces you to limit vertical fenestration to 35% of your building gross above-grade wall area, then this will also be the case for the baseline building, in accordance with Table G3.1, No. 5 in ASHRAE 90.1-2004. Another aspect of your baseline building that will have to comply with local code is any regulation on dimensions. Appendix G clearly states that the baseline building dimensions must be equivalent to the proposed design in the same section as mentioned above.<br>
<br>Note also that the prerequisite of applying Appendix G is to comply with sections 5.4, 6.4, 7.4, 8.4, 9.4, and 10.4 of 90.1. In at least one instance, these requirements force you to apply local code (see section <a href="http://6.4.3.8">6.4.3.8</a>). I don't know these standards by heart, so you will have to read through them and find out exactly where local code might be prescribed.<br>
<br>Cases where your baseline building does not have to comply with local code:<br><br>However, Table G3.1 lists parameters that will be different in the baseline and proposed buildings. In these instances, if local code places restrictions on lighting power, for example, then your baseline building will not have to meet local standards. Instead, you will be rewarded for complying with local regulations stricter than 90.1, as the baseline building will have lighting power determined by section 9.2 of ASHRAE 90.1-2004.<br>
<br>Another example is if local code places restrictions on efficiencies of HVAC equipment. In this case you model equipment in accordance with Appendix G for the baseline building, which might be less stringent than local requirements used in your proposed building. You will then be rewarded for complying with local code as the energy consumption of the proposed building will be lower than for the baseline building.<br>
<br>So keep in mind that in general baseline and proposed building should be modeled identically. Then, let your baseline building differ only in the ways stipulated by Appendix G, which sometimes allow you to let your baseline building perform worse than what local code requires.<br>
<br>Good luck with your model and feel free to contact me for any further clarification.<br><br><br>Sincerely yours,<b><br><br><br>Ulrik Welle-Strand Horn </b><br>Sustainability Engineer<br><div><br><b>Silpa Inc.</b><br><font size="1"><b>s</b> i m p l e . <b>s</b> c i e n t i f i c . <b>s</b> u s t a i n a b l e<br>
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<font size="1"><div>AMERICAS | MIDDLE EAST | ASIA<br>
<a href="http://www.silpainc.com/" target="_blank">www.silpainc.com</a><br></div><font size="2"><br></font></font><font size="2">India: +91.90080.96083</font><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 6:49 PM, Talbert, Joshua <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jtalbert@hallam-ics.com" target="_blank">jtalbert@hallam-ics.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
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<p>Hello my Energy Modeling Friends:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I had a question about defining the baseline with respect to a LEED energy model. My local state code has a slightly more stringent energy code then 90.1 for our region, but I haven't found anywhere in LEED NC v2.2 that my baseline has
to be defined with respect to my Local Energy code. I know in other LEED credits that they require you to use the more stringent code when showing LEED compliance, but I can't find that same instruction with respect to defining the Baseline model per Appendix
G. Have any of you had experience with this, and can say whether I have to meet my Local Code with the baseline or just Appendix G?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thank you for your help and input.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Josh</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Joshua W. Talbert, P.E., LEED-AP</p>
<p>Hallam///ICS</p>
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