Calculating your LEED v4.1 project’s carbon emissions reduction

The most exciting change in LEED BD+C and ID+C v4.1 is the explicit addition of carbon pollution from building operations: nine points are now available for reductions in carbon emissions. The Energy and Atmosphere Minimum Energy Performance prerequisite and Optimize Energy Performance credit calculate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions by comparing GHG emissions of the proposed building to the baseline building. Use the emissions factors reported in the National Inventory Report, submitted by Canada to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to calculate GHG emissions by energy source. These emissions factors are readily found in the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Greenhouse Gas Emissions Technical Reference (Greenhouse Gas Emissions).

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