**Environmental Performance Criteria**

**Guide for New Data Centers**

**DRAFT based on LEED NC 2.2**

23 December 2008

**FOREWORD**

The project to develop this Environmental Performance Criteria (EPC)
Guide for Data Centers is a Lawrence Berkeley National Labs (LBNL)
project funded by the California Energy Commission (CEC) program. The
goal of the project was similar to a previous LBNL/CEC project to
develop an EPC for laboratories for subsequent submission to the US
Green Building Council (USGBC) for consideration and adoption.

The CEC commissioned LBNL to customize a data center specific
Environmental Performance Criteria because data centers present both a
challenge and an opportunity in the development and implementation of
sustainable design, construction and operation practices. Issues such as
mission critical 24/7 operations; energy and water use intensity in data
centers; are not addressed adequately in the current USGBC, LEED NC 2.2
Guideline to adequately meet the data center sector's requirements for
quantifiable sustainable and energy efficient design.

The project goal is to build flexibility into this Guide to allow users
to consider the whole building life cycle, regional climatic issues,
partial and full-load design and specific innovation and design concepts
applicable to data centers. The document is not intended to establish
regulatory requirements, but is designed to serve as a voluntary guide
for early adopters of sustainable data center design, construction and
operation practices, to encourage continuous improvement in the data
center sector, and to provide the industry's collective knowledge and
guidance to the USGBC in their development of a data center specific
LEED NC standard. Although this guide is intended for new data center
design and construction, many of the ideas are directly applicable to
existing data centers.

The application intent of this EPC is for both purpose-built stand alone
buildings and a new or data center renovation within a larger overall
building. If is also envisioned that this EPC will apply to different
types of data centers, including enterprise, co-location, Telco,
web-hosting, etc. When applying the EPC to a new construction data
center within a larger overall building, the intent would be to apply
the EPC checklist and ASHRAE 90.1 model to the only the data center and
the direct mechanical and electrical support systems as described in the
EPC based upon its percent of energy use.

LEED NC 2.2 as currently written would be used for the office or
commercial space in the building, including the existing LEED credits
related to occupant comfort and environmental impact due to higher
occupancy per square foot such as alternative transportation, etc. which
are not applicable to the data center space. In mixed-use buildings
where the non data center space is \<10% of the total building space, at
the Owner's discretion, the Data Center EPC may be used for the entire
building.

Where the non data center space is \>10%, than the prorate methodology
using both the EPC and LEED NC 2.2 shall be used. Where both share a
common facilities infrastructure such as a central cooling system, the
central cooling energy would be allocated based upon their respective
energy use.

By requesting the USGBC to apply building use specific checklists and
standards to mixed-use buildings in this way enables the credits to be
specific to the energy and environmental impact of the building type.
The level of LEED certification that the overall building would achieve
would be determined by the score achieved for both the data center and
the rest of the building based upon the ratio of overall building energy
use.

In keeping with the both the California Energy Commission's goal to
enlist industry involvement and collaboration in the development of the
EPC, LBNL reached out to the key data center industry organizations,
including ASHRAE TC9.9, The Green Grid, The Uptime Institute, 24x7, the
European Commission, the Critical Facilities Roundtable, and the Silicon
Valley Leadership Group.

Each of these organizations assigned key members of these technical
committees to contribute to the core EPC draft development team and
following completion of the draft, submit it for formal review and
comments. Each organization has agreed to complete their formal review
by January 31, 2009. Following the review process by the sponsoring
organizations, LBNL will complete a final consensus draft for formal
adoption by each of the member organizations for submission to the
USGBC.

Following adoption of the final draft standard, each organization has
also agreed to encourage their member companies to voluntarily trial-run
this standard as a guideline in the design and development of new data
centers, including comparing and where applicable, publically releasing
the building's score against both the LEED and EPC checklists. This
industry information will be extremely valuable in the final drafting of
a LEED standard for data centers.

By working together collaboratively, the key stakeholders in the data
center industry will provide a common voice to encourage the USGBC to
move forward with a data center specific LEED NC standard in 2009.

The California Energy Commission has expressed their interest in
continuing their support of this collaborative industry effort by
sponsoring a follow-on effort to develop a similar EPC for existing data
centers.

**NOTES:**

-   This DRAFT is in development and is available for informational
    purposes only. It is not an official release of the United States
    Green Building Council, (USGBC).

```{=html}
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```
-   This draft only contains credits and prerequisites that are being
    modified or added to LEED NC Version 2.2. All other credits and
    prerequisites will remain the same.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   This draft does not contain submittals.

```{=html}
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```
-   This draft was developed by the drafting committee by reviewing the
    current LEED design criteria for new commercial buildings and
    deleting credits considered not applicable to data centers;
    accepting credits deemed applicable as currently written; modifying
    credits as required to make them applicable; or by adding new
    credits applicable specifically to data centers. This draft includes
    a "rationale" for deletion, modification and additions of credits
    and prerequisites. The rationale will be included in the final
    document submitted to the USGBC for review and consideration for
    informational purposes only.

**ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:**

+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| **Data Center EPC |                                    |            |
| Project Team:**   |                                    |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
|                   |                                    |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Paul Proggens     | The California Energy Commission   |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Geoffrey Bell     | LBNL                               |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Paul Mathew       | LBNL                               |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Dale Sartor       | LBNL                               |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Bill Tschudi      | LBNL                               |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Ray Pfeifer       | Silicon Valley Leadership Group    |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
|                   |                                    |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| **Contributors:** | 365 Main                           |            |
|                   |                                    |            |
| Jean Paul         |                                    |            |
| Balajadia         |                                    |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Bill Baxter       | UBS                                |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Aryn Bergman      | Glumac Engineers                   |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Rudy Bergthold    | Cupertino Electric                 |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Ken Brill         | The Uptime Institute               |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| David Boston      | The Uptime Institute               |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Daniel Bower      | Goldman Sachs                      |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| BJ Buter          | Citigroup                          |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Bob Cassiliano    | The 7X24 Exchange                  |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Pepe Castells     | SAVVIS                             |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Tim Chadwick      | Alfa Tech Cambridge                |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Ishtiaq Christi   | Southern California Edison         |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Alan Claassen     | IBM                                |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Steve Clark       | Teledata                           |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Michael Cohen     | Advanced Data Centers              |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Dennis Cronin     | Gilbane                            |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Joseph Dunn       | Syska Hennessy                     |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| David Flynn       | Disney Animation                   |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Nick Gangemi      | DataAire                           |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Rich Garrison     | Alfa Tech Cambridge                |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Linda Gee         | LSI Logic                          |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Scott Good        | CB Richard Ellis                   |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Jon Haas          | Intel                              |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Bill Hart         | Fidelity Investments               |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Ted Hight         | Target                             |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Magnus Herrlin    | Ancis                              |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Mark Hydeman      | Taylor Engineers                   |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Roland Ignacio    |                                    |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Hormoz Janssens   | Interface Engineering              |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Greg Jeffers      | McKenneys                          |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Richard Jones     | Chattsworth Products               |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Steve Johnson     | CB Richard Ellis                   |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Christopher       | Syska Hennessy                     |            |
| Johnston          |                                    |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Michael Jump      | 7X24 Exchange                      |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Susan Kessler     | HP-EYP                             |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Kishor Khankari   | Syska Hennessy                     |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Bill Kosik        | HP-EYP                             |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Jim Kowalke       |                                    |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Lauren Kuntz      | Glumac Engineers                   |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Mike Lavazza      | Cisco Systems                      |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Bill Leedecke     | Vanguard                           |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Chris Malone      | Google                             |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| KC Mares          | Megawatt Consulting                |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| William Mazzetti  | Rosendin Electric                  |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Doug McLellan     | HP-EYP                             |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Mark Monroe       | Sun Microsystems                   |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Bruce Myatt       | Critical Facilities Roundtable     |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Michael Nicholes  | Glumac Engineers                   |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Chris Page        | Yahoo!                             |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Mike Patterson    | Intel                              |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Rick Pavlak       | Heapy                              |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| John Peterson     | HP-EYP                             |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Paul Peoples      | Target                             |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| John Pflueger     |                                    |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Jack Pouchet      | Emerson Network Power              |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Joe Prisco        | IBM                                |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Cindy Quan        | Goldman Sachs                      |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| David Quirk       | Verizon Wireless                   |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Tom Reed          | Kling Stubbins                     |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Kathleen Reid     | Intel                              |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Ralph Renne       | Net App                            |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Terry Rodgers     | Syska Hennessy                     |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Jeremy Rodriguez  | VM Ware                            |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Gregg Rudinski    | Morgan Stanley                     |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Mike Ryan         | Sun Microsystems                   |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Earl Sacerdoti    | Modius                             |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| David Schirmacher | Goldman Sachs                      |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Randy Scott       | Skyline Construction               |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Michael Schwarz   | Kling Stubbins                     |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Bob Seese         | Advanced Data Centers              |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| David Shroyer     | Net App                            |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Darrell Smith     | Cisco Systems                      |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Vali Sorrell      | Syska Hennessy                     |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Fred Stack        | Emerson Network Power              |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Victor Steffen    | Syska Hennessy                     |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Mike Steinmann    | Glumac Engineers                   |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Steve Straus      | Glumac Engineers                   |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Mark Thiele       | VM Ware                            |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Roger Tipley      | HP                                 |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Joe Tobolski      | Accenture                          |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Teresa Tung       | Accenture                          |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Pitt Turner       | The Uptime Institute               |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Bill Weihl        | Google                             |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+
| Roy Zeighami      | HP                                 |            |
+-------------------+------------------------------------+------------+

**List of New and Modified Credits**

***Sustainable Sites***

Credit 4.1 Alternative Transportation, Public Transportation Access
*(deleted)*

Credit 4.2 Alternative Transportation, Bicycle Storage and Changing
Rooms *(deleted)*

Credit 4.3 Alternative Transportation, Low-emitting and Fuel-Efficient
Vehicles *(deleted)*

Credit 4.4 Alternative Transportation, Parking Capacity *(deleted)*

Prerequisite 2 Fuel Storage and Handling, Storm Water Discharge
Protection *(added)*

Credit 5.3 Site Development, Impacts to Local Infrastructure

(Power Grid), Sewage (Cooling Tower) *(added)*

Credit 5.4 Site Development, Noise Impacts (Generators, Cooling Towers)
*(added)*

Credit 5.5 Site Development, Air Quality & Emissions Impacts *(added)*

  ----------- ----------------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -------
                                                                    

  ----------- ----------------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -------

***Water Efficiency***

Credit 2.0 Innovative Wastewater Technologies *(changed)*

Credit 3.3 Water Use Reduction, 20%\> Total Building Water Use *(added)*

***Energy & Atmosphere***

Prerequisite 1 Fundamental Commissioning & Energy Efficiency Validation
*(changed)*

Prerequisite 4 Minimum Energy Metering & Reporting of DCiE Metric
*(added)*

Credit 1 Enhanced Energy Sub-Metering & Automated Reporting

of Metrics of Performance *(added)*

Credit 2 Optimize Infrastructure Energy Performance, Above ASHRAE 90.1
*(changed)*

Credit 3 On-Site Renewable Energy *(changed)*

Credit 4 On-Site Generation, Based upon Reduction in Source Energy
*(added)*

Credit 5 Enhanced Commissioning *(changed)*

Credit 7, Enhanced Environmental Measurement & Verification *(changed)*

Credit 8, Green Power *(changed)*

***Materials and Resources***

Credit 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials *(deleted)*

Credit 7 Certified Wood *(deleted)*

***Indoor Environmental Quality***

Prerequisite 2 Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control *(deleted)*

Credit 2.0 Increased Ventilation *(deleted)*

Credit 4.3 Low-Emitting Materials: Carpet Systems *(deleted)*

Credit 4.4 Low-Emitting Materials: Composite Wood & Agrifiber Products
*(deleted)*

Credit 5 Indoor Chemical and Pollution Source Control *(deleted)*

Credit 6.2 Controllability of Systems: Thermal Comfort *(deleted)*

Credit 7.0 Acoustic Environment *(added)*

Credit 7.1 Thermal Comfort, Design *(deleted)*

Credit 7.2 Thermal Comfort, Verification *(deleted)*

Credit 8.1 Daylighting and Views: Daylight for 75% of Spaces *(deleted)*

Credit 8.2 Daylighting and Views: Views for 90% of Spaces *(deleted)*

***Innovation in Design***

Credit 1.1 Innovation in Design *(Changed)*

Credit 1.2 through 1.8 Innovation in Design *(Changed)*

EPC DRAFT 12-23-08

**Sustainable Sites**

**Credits 4.1 -- 4.4 Alternative Transportation** *(deleted credits)*

**Rationale for Deletion**

Data centers are designed to house computing equipment and have a very
small number of building occupants per square foot as compared to
commercial buildings. Therefore, the transportation impact of the
occupants is not significant when compared to the data center building
energy usage, hence the reason for deleting these commuting impact
credits.

**Credits 4.1 -- 4.4** **Alternative Transportation** *(deleted
credits)*

**Rationale for Deletion**

Data centers are designed to house computing equipment and have a very
small number of building occupants per square foot

**Prerequisite 2** **Fuel Storage & Handling, Storm Water Discharge
Protection** *(new prerequisite)*

**Intent**

Prevent the release of hydrocarbons and other pollutants from oil spills
or leaks that

may occur during re-fueling of all on-site storage into the soil, ground
water and storm system.

**Requirements**

Means to prevent leaks or spills of all oils from being released into
the storm drain

system or back into the environment. Oils are as defined by the US EPA
CFR Title 40 Parts 110 and 112.

**Potential Technologies & Strategies**

Consider the installation of shut-off valves and filter media inserts in
storm water catch

basins that require storm events to be filtered to capture hydrocarbons
and other fine

pollutants, oil/water separators and designs to capture vent pipe
overflows during filling or running operations.

**Credit 5.3** **Site Development, Impacts to Local Infrastructure**
*(new credit)*

**Intent**

To incent the consideration of the impact to local infrastructure during
the data center

center site selection and development process. As a minimum, impacts to
be

considered shall include site source energy generation emissions and
transmission losses;

municipal water supply, sewage and waste water treatment systems.

**Requirements**

As part of the site selection process, the data center design team shall
assess the

potential sites and compare the impact to local infrastructure including
the

need for additional utility sub-station and transmission capacity, water
and waste water

storage and pumping stations and waste water treatment capacity.

In addition, the design team shall calculate the equivalent GHG
emissions for each site

based upon the data center's proposed total source energy requirement,
using the

ENERGY STAR CO2e emission factor, Table 8.1.1 --A for each fuel in the
data center's

total annual energy fuel mix. The data center may use up to 25% of
off-site renewable

electricity; (renewable energy certificates or "green power") and may
subtract the

associated CO2e emissions from the total CO2e emissions for the
building, provided the

contracts have duration of at least 2 years.

To apply for this point, the data center developer shall include this
comparison in their

application along with a justification of how the site selected provided
the least impact

to local infrastructure and the environment, based upon total source GHG

emissions from energy generation and transmission.

**Potential Technologies & Strategies**

Consider sites with higher percentages of energy generated from
renewable sources, including solar and wind power; hydroelectric; and
geo-thermal. Also consider sites with existing local infrastructure,
such as the ability to use waste heat and adequate electric sub-stations
and power transmission, water and sewage lines.

**Rationale for Addition**

Data centers consume up to 100 times more energy per square foot than
commercial

buildings and may create a significant impact to both local
infrastructure and the resulting

GHG emissions depending upon where they are sited. Reducing the need for

construction of power and water infrastructure and selecting a site
where the source

energy is generated and delivered at the lowest GHG emissions should be
encouraged.

**Credit 5.4** **Site Development, Noise Impacts** *(new credit)*

**Intent**

To incent the consideration of the noise impact of the data center in
the site development

process. As a minimum, impacts to be considered shall include the site
noise from

stand-by generators, exhaust fans, air-cooled chillers, cooling towers
or evaporative coolers. One point each is available for normal and
emergency operations of the data center for reducing the sound level
below the locally mandated requirement by a minimum of 10%.

**Requirements**

As part of the site development process, the data center design team
shall assess

the potential noise impact to neighbors including evaluating
alternatives for equipment

placement on the building or site, sound barriers, etc. to not increase
the

noise levels adjacent to the site from current levels before
development.

To apply for these points, the data center developer shall include
calculations by the designer which show sound levels at the property
line are less than required by the local planning authority. Where the
existing sound levels at the property line already exceed the level
required by the local planning authority, the design team needs to
demonstrate that no additional noise is added to the surrounding
environment either during normal and emergency operation of the facility
at its full connected load design capacity. In addition where the sound
level from offsite noise is above the level required by the local
planning authority at the site boundary, the building itself should be
sited and the spaces within the building acoustically located to provide
isolation from outside noise.

**Potential Technologies & Strategies**

Consider locating engine generators, cooling towers or evaporative
coolers inside the

facility and/or the use of sound barriers or retaining walls,
attenuators, or other means

to reduce the noise impact of the equipment to the environment from
engine exhaust

systems, as well as the radiator fans on the engine and the fans in
cooling towers or

evaporative coolers. Consider the use of slower speed or more sound
efficient

fans. Consider ground source well water to cool engine generators which
eliminate the

radiator fans. Consider alternative sources of engine generator power
such as fuel cells

or energy storage systems.

**Rationale for Addition**

Data centers, especially during emergency operations where they are
running large diesel

generators for extended periods of time, or those that utilize combined
heat

and power generation systems may create a significant noise impact to
the surrounding

environment, depending upon where they are sited and how the equipment
is selected or

attenuated. Cooling tower or evaporative cooler fans can be extremely
noisy, especially

on the hottest days when the fans run at their highest speed. Reducing
the noise impact

beyond the site property line should be encouraged.

**Credit 5.5** **Site Development, Air Quality and Emissions Impacts**
*(new credit)*

**Intent**

To incent the consideration of the air quality and emissions impacts of
the data center in

the site development process. As a minimum, impacts to be considered
shall include the

emissions from engine generators and on-site power generation systems.
Consideration of alternative low emission impact power systems such as
solar and fuel cells should be encouraged.

**Requirements**

As part of the site development process, the data center design team
shall assess the potential air quality impact to the environment
including evaluating alternatives for

equipment selection, emissions reduction, on-going maintenance and
testing, etc. to minimize the air quality and emissions impact of the
facility.

To apply for this point, the data center developer shall include
calculations by the designer that show that the Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) or
Carbon Monoxide (CO) emissions

are a minimum of 10% better than the local code requirement, unless the
local code requirement is equal to the Bay Area Air Quality Management
District emission limits, effective 1/12/2012 for all stationary
internal combustion engines, Regulation 9, Rule 8. In these locations,
the designer need only demonstrate that the proposed emissions will meet
this level vs. exceeding the local code in order to apply for this
credit. The designer shall also assure that the emissions of the
equipment selected meets or exceeds EPA Tier 2 standards.

**Potential Technologies & Strategies**

Consider selecting standby generators and power generation systems and
emissions reduction systems that exceed the current requirements or use
other means

to improve the air quality and reduce the emissions impact of the data
center to the environment.

Institute a management operation procedure to only perform monthly
testing of generators during morning hours and on good air days,
including verification methodology such as generator run log and/or
owners written operating procedures.

**Rationale for Addition**

Data centers, especially during emergency operations where they are
running large diesel

generators for extended periods of time, or those that utilize on-site
power generation systems may create a significant air quality or
emissions impact to the surrounding environment, depending upon where
they are sited and how the equipment is selected or the emissions are
treated. Reducing the air quality and emissions impact to the
environment should be encouraged.

12-23-08

**Water Efficiency**

**WE Credit 2:** **Innovative Wastewater Technologies** *(changed
credit)*

**Intent**

Reduce generation of wastewater and potable water demand, while
increasing the local aquifer recharge.

**Requirements**

Options 1 or 2 may be used when applying for this credit, but the
following change to the calculation of total building use to include
other than potable water is required. Calculate and document baseline of
annual total building water and wastewater use and on-site irrigation
water use. The baseline for the proposed facility must include the total
building water usage excluding evaporated water if utilized in
calculations of wastewater and potable water demand for credit. The
method used to develop the baseline must be included with documentation
of this credit.

**Rationale for Change**

Central cooling systems in data centers, especially those using cooling
towers utilize a significant amount of water for blow-down and should be
included in the total building water calculations.

**WE Credit 3.3:** **Water Use Reduction: 20% or Greater Reduction**
*(new credit)*

**Intent**

Maximize water efficiency within the data center to reduce the burden on
municipal water supply and wastewater systems.

**Requirements**

Calculate and document baseline of annual total building water use
wastewater. The baseline for the proposed facility must include the
total building water usage including evaporated cooling system water
usage, including cooling tower blow down, if utilized in calculations of
wastewater and potable water demand for credit. The method used to
develop the baseline must be included with documentation of this credit
and the base and proposed building design must maintain the same level
of minimum water solubility.

Employ strategies that in aggregate use less water than the total
building water use baseline calculated for the building (not including
irrigation).

> **% Reduction Water Efficiency Points**
>
> 20% 2
>
> 30% 4
>
> 40% 6

**Potential Technologies & Strategies**

Consider reuse of storm water and grey water for non-potable
applications such as cooling tower makeup, emergency storage, etc.
Consider condensate re-use and rainwater reclamation. Consider equipping
cooling tower(s) with drift eliminators. Design cooling tower systems to
limit the amount of water used for blow down by using other means other
than chemical treatment to prevent equipment scaling while achieving
higher number of cycles of concentration for makeup water or discharge
conductivity. Consider airside free cooling technologies which reduce
water consumption where climatic conditions are favorable. Also consider
ground source cooling technologies such as wells, buried ground loops,
lake and river cooling where appropriate.

Assure that the building water systems provide for turn down of water
use as energy efficiency of the mechanical systems is improved. Design
the central water cooling system to use less water than the standard
design by selection and integration of the equipment, controls and
piping.

Consider alternative heat rejection systems such as dry-coolers, glycol,
etc. that eliminate the requirement for cooling towers.

**Rationale for Addition**

Cooling system water use can be very significant in data centers
depending upon location and climate. Reducing water use and the
resulting pumping energy and the energy, chemicals and resources
required to treat the resulting wastewater discharge should be
encouraged. Combining this credit with the domestic water efficiency
credit did not seem feasible because:

1.  • There is no way to document the baseline usage in a similar manner
    to domestic water fixtures (which uses the minimum specifications in
    the 1992 Energy Policy Act).

    • The two points available for the domestic water credit does not
    sufficiently reward the effort to reduce cooling system water use in
    data centers. Data centers are very technical facilities that have a
    variety of possible options to design a sustainable project that
    this credit rewards.

    • The methods, strategies and technologies for domestic and process
    water use are different.

EPC DRAFT 12-23-08

**Energy & Atmosphere**

**Prerequisite 1:** **Commissioning & EPC Validation of the Building
Energy Systems** *(Modification of the existing LEED prerequisite)*

**Intent**

Verify that the data center's energy related systems are installed,
calibrated and perform according to the owner's project requirements,
basis of design, construction documents and that they meet the minimum
ASHRAE 90.1, 2007 standards for cooling system energy coefficient of
performance (COP); adjusted sensible coefficient of performance (ASCOP)
requirements and minimum requirements for electrical systems including
but not limited to the primary and distribution transformers,
Uninterruptible Backup Power Systems and batteries or other energy
storage system, Power Distribution Units (PDU) equipment. Commissioning
and energy efficiency validation will also address all mechanical
equipment including chillers or air conditioning compressors, heat
rejection equipment including dry coolers or cooling towers, thermal
storage systems, computer room air conditioning units, and all
associated pumps, heat exchangers, air or water economizers, make-up air
handlers or humidification systems, control air compressors and
automation and control systems required for building and computer room
heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Fundamental commissioning
will also address lighting and all other energy consuming systems
required for building operation.

**Benefits of Commissioning & Energy Efficiency Validation**

Benefits of commissioning and energy efficiency validation include
reduced energy use, lower operating costs, and verification that the
systems perform in accordance with the owner's project requirements and
that the energy efficiency design objectives have been met.

**Requirements**

The following commissioning and energy efficiency validation process
activities shall be completed by the commissioning/validation team, in
accordance with the Data Center EPC for New Construction 2.2 application
guide.

1.  Designate an individual as the Commissioning/Validation Authority
    (CVxA) to lead, review and oversee the commissioning/validation
    process activities.

    a.  The CVxA shall have documented commissioning and energy
        efficiency validation authority expertise in at least two data
        center projects of comparable scale or larger.

    b.  The individual serving as the CVxA shall be independent of the
        project's design and construction management though they may be
        employees of the firms providing those services. The CVxA may be
        a qualified employee or consultant to the Owner.

    c.  The CVxA shall report results, findings and recommendations
        directly to the Owner.

2.  The Owner shall document the Owner's Project Requirements (OPR). The
    design team shall develop the Basis of Design (BOD). The CVxA shall
    review these documents for clarity and completeness. The Owner and
    design team shall be responsible for updates to their respective
    documents.

3.  Develop and incorporate commissioning and validation requirements
    into the construction documents using the current ASHRAE/NIBS
    Guideline 0-05: Article 5,6 and 7 for the following systems at a
    minimum:

    a.  The mechanical plant, including chillers, heat rejection,
        thermal storage, pumps, air handlers, make-up air and
        humidification system, and cooling units for the computer and
        data processing room; mechanical and electrical support rooms
        and any other general administrative spaces

    b.  The electrical power transformation and distribution systems
        including on site utility sub-station equipment, building
        transformers, engine generators, uninterruptible backup power
        systems, and PDUs.

    c.  The building lighting system.

    d.  Renewable energy systems (solar, wind, etc.)

    e.  On-site power generation systems (cogeneration, fuel-cell)

4.  Develop and implement a commissioning and validation plan.

5.  Verify the installation and performance of the systems to be
    commissioned and validated at multiple load points to verify energy
    efficiency performance to design criteria during normal utility
    operations, maintenance operations and failure conditions.

6.  Include in the final commissioning/validation report the data
    centers DCiE (including all energy sources) at partial (25%, 50%,
    and 75%) and full design load conditions. Use artificial loads to
    simulate computer equipment load. For each load point, allow
    environmental conditions to stabilize for at least one hour before
    moving to the next partial load point. Identify computer room
    temperature and relative humidity conditions at representative cold
    aisle inlet at the top of the planned IT equipment racks for at
    least two points in each cold aisle in the data center, supply and
    return temperature and humidity if applicable at each computer room
    air handling unit. If measured conditions are different than design
    assumptions, project the energy required to achieve design
    conditions. Identify outside weather conditions during commissioning
    and the effect of any free-cooling benefit.

7.  Project the anticipated annual DCiE based on historical average
    weather conditions for the site, including component DCiE data for
    the mechanical and electrical systems components, including as a
    minimum: central cooling plant; including all chillers, heat
    rejection system (cooling towers or dry coolers), heat exchangers,
    and pumps); computer room or air handler fans; electrical
    transformation, storage and distribution losses; and on-site energy
    and power generation systems if applicable. The DCiE and its
    component constituents will be used for verification and acceptance
    by the Owner that the design and construction of the building's
    energy systems meets the project requirements.

8.  Prior to commissioning and validation, the CVxA shall review the
    operations and maintenance manuals provided by the Construction
    Manager for all mechanical, electrical, energy and power generation
    systems and following commissioning and validation provide written
    comments where systems operating conditions were found to be
    different than designed or documented in the manuals.

**Rationale for Modification**

Data centers are very technical facilities that have complex and
interacting mechanical and electrical systems that are unique to the
building type and that need to be commissioned and validated for
sustainable projects that this credit rewards.

**Prerequisite 2**: **Minimum Energy Performance Required**
*(Modification of the existing LEED prerequisite)*

**Intent**

Establish the minimum level of energy efficiency for the proposed
building and systems.

**Requirement 1:**

Design the building project to comply with ---

1.  \(a\) The mandatory provisions (Sections 5.4, 6.4, 7.4, 8.4, 9.4 and
    10.4) of ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007 (without amendments); and

    \(b\) The prescriptive requirements (Sections 5.5, 6.5, 7.5 and 9.5)
    or performance requirements (Section 11) of ASHRAE/IESNA Standard
    90.1-2007 (without amendments).

**Requirement 2:**

A team shall be formed and shall meet regularly as required over the
planning, design, construction and commissioning of the data center
project. The team shall be comprised of the following functions:

-   Owner's representative responsible for site selection and
    development for the project.

-   Owner's representative responsible for source and site energy
    utilization and green house gas emissions for the project.

-   Owner's representative responsible for the design and construction
    of the project.

-   Owner's facilities engineering and operations representative who
    will be responsible for operation of the mechanical and electrical
    plant for the project.

-   Owner's IT end-user group(s) and data center IT operations team who
    will own and operate the IT equipment in the data center.

-   One or more members of the Architectural/Engineering (A/E) and
    Construction Management team who will design and build the project.

-   Commissioning and Energy Efficiency Validation Authority who will
    independently evaluate the operational performance of the building,
    mechanical and electrical systems to the design.

Each function shall be represented by an individual who independently
and conscientiously represents the availability, performance, cost,
schedule and environmental impact interests of their function.

The team shall, at a minimum, do the following:

-   Determine and document the initial (1 year), near term (3 year) and
    ultimate required power and cooling requirements of the IT equipment
    to be housed in the data center. Because name plate data for IT
    equipment heat load is typically based upon the peak power
    requirement for the maximum available equipment configuration, where
    possible bench test the equipment the data center intends to house
    and use the measured power data at 100% utilization when calculating
    the total initial load requirements for computing and storage
    equipment power.

-   Because name plate or published efficiency data for mechanical and
    electrical systems is typically based upon full and not partial
    load, where possible measured data from a similar data center for
    the type of equipment the data center is intended to house, should
    be used for estimating system efficiency at the initial, near term
    and ultimately planned design load.

-   Document proposed future expansion plans for the data center
    including the planned IT and support power load for each addition or
    phase until the data center reaches the full design capacity.

-   Document allowances for IT growth for the first year following
    completion of the facility with separate categories for existing
    application growth, new applications and acquisitions and
    consolidations. The objective is to identify compounding safety
    factors that could result in future over capacity to eliminate
    inefficient operation at part load.

-   Document that the basis of design for the data center environmental
    conditions: (temperature, relative humidity and air quality) are
    based upon ASHRAE TC 9.9. Document the rationale for requiring
    environmental conditions at the inlet to the equipment outside the
    recommended ranges in applicable standards or equipment
    specifications, if operation outside the recommended ranges
    decreases energy efficiency of the data center.

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-   Determine the necessary level of redundancy required in the data
    center electrical and mechanical building systems required for the
    planned business use of the data center over its intended
    life-cycle, based upon the Uptime Institute's Tier Classification
    system designation and current specifications provided by the IT
    manufacturers.

**Technologies and Strategies**

Design the building envelope, mechanical and electrical plant (including
uninterruptible backup power systems, and critical load distribution,
mechanical systems for the computer rooms, building HVAC, lighting, and
other building systems to maximize energy performance. The ASHRAE
90.1-2007 User's Manual contains worksheets that can be used to document
compliance with this prerequisite. For projects pursuing points under EA
Credit 1, the computer simulation model may be used to confirm
satisfaction of this prerequisite.

If a local code has demonstrated quantitative and textual equivalence
following, at a minimum, the U.S. Department of Energy standard process
for commercial energy code determination, then it may be used to satisfy
this prerequisite in lieu of ASHRAE 90.1-2007. Details on the DOE
process for commercial energy code determination can be found at
[www.energycodes.gov/implement/determinations_com.stm]{.underline}.

**Rationale for modifying this prerequisite**

Requirement 2: The utilization level of data center's mechanical and
electrical systems is affected by the required level of redundancy in
data center's cooling and IT power conditioning systems. Within the
energy efficiency community, and less so within the user community,
there is a wide range of and debate over required levels of redundancy
and environmental conditions necessary for data centers. While the EPC
cannot prescribe a particular level of equipment redundancy; utilization
or environmental conditions that a data center should operate at, the
intent of this prerequisite is to ensure that owner's IT, critical
facilities infrastructure and design team do not use excessively
conservative requirements without due analysis and consideration of
alternatives.

Experience has shown that new projects often start out with assuming
high levels of IT load that in practice take years to develop. Until
this load develops, the data center operates at low utilization and is
typically energy inefficient. The Team should demonstrate that they
discussed initial and future load assumptions and investigated options
for making mechanical and electrical capacity increases correspond with
IT load increases to achieve a higher operating point by balancing load
and capacity for optimal energy efficiency. Another option to be
considered would be specifying a significantly higher level of part load
efficiency, (i.e. 15 to 40 percent loads) for uninterruptible backup
power systems and chillers than would be typical, so that if the IT load
did not develop as planned, the planned energy efficiency of the data
center would still be high. This plan should also require turning off
other installed equipment, such as computer room cooling units to
balance load with capacity.

**Prerequisite 4:** **Minimum Energy Metering** *(Added)*

**Intent**

By requiring that the data center DCiE from all energy sources be
measured and trended over time; the building owner and/or operator will
be able to verify that the building's energy related systems are
performing according to the basis of design.

**Requirements**

The data center shall be equipped at a minimum with energy metering to
provide total facility power and energy usage and total IT Equipment
power and energy usage on a historical basis. The number and type of
meters that are required to be installed shall be determined by the data
center design, but at the minimum shall be one percent accuracy,
full-scale and provided to meter all forms of energy to the data center,
(electricity, natural gas, steam, chilled water, one-pass cooling, etc.)
and at the output of the uninterruptible backup power systems or power
distribution units (PDUs) that serve the IT equipment. If the data
center uses on-site renewable energy or on-site energy generation, the
data center shall be equipped at a minimum with power and energy
metering to total power and energy input and output and net power and
energy to the utility and the building.

**Rationale for Addition**

Data center energy use can be very significant depending upon size and
design of the facility, the location and climate. Measuring power and
energy use on a historical basis provides a data center owner with the
information necessary to determine opportunities to improve their data
center's operational efficiency and how their data center compares with
similarly designed data centers.

Verify that the data center's energy related systems are installed,
calibrated and perform according to the owner's project requirements,
basis of design, construction documents and to enable the data center
operator to understand how the data center performs as IT equipment is
installed. The addition of these meters will also enable the data center
operator to participate in the Energy Star program and to benchmark the
data center's performance with similar data centers.

**Credit 1:** **Enhanced Energy Sub-metering & Automated Reporting of
Metrics of Performance** *(Added)*

**Intent**

By permanently installing enhanced energy sub-metering and automating
the ongoing reporting of its component constituents and performance
metrics, the building owner and/or operator will be able to verify that
the building's energy related systems are performing according to the
basis of design and manufacturer's specifications for efficiency
performance at both partial load and full-load conditions.

**Requirements**

The data center shall be equipped with energy metering to provide power
and energy usage for the facility's power transformation and
distribution systems, cooling systems and any on-site generation and
trending of these metrics on a historical basis. The number and type of
meters that are required to be installed shall be determined by the data
center design, but at the minimum shall be one percent accuracy,
full-scale and provided to sub-meter the electrical and mechanical
systems as follows:

1.  Lighting and lighting controls: power (kW) and consumption (kWh) by
    data center room.

2.  Electrical power (kW) and consumption (kWh) or other energy sources
    for all mechanical cooling systems including (chillers, cooling
    towers, chilled water and condenser water pumps, cooling tower sump
    heaters or equivalent mechanical equipment for DX systems.)

3.  Chilled water generation or equivalent for DX systems: tons, (based
    upon chilled water flow, supply and return temperature), and kW/ton
    or equivalent if other energy sources are used.

4.  Heating water or steam generation: energy kBTU/per energy unit
    input.

5.  Computer room cooling systems: power (kW) and consumption (kWH).

6.  Uninterruptible backup power systems: power (kW) input and power
    output (kW) and consumption (kWH) input and output for each
    uninterruptible backup power systems.

7.  Engine generator power equipment: power (kW) output and consumption
    (kWh) for each generator. Fuel consumption (diesel or natural gas)
    for all generators.

8.  On-site renewable energy power generation: production power (kW) and
    production (kWH), and site specific weather characteristics
    (irradiance, wind, and temperature)

9.  On-site power generation: production power (kW) and production
    (kWh).

The points shall be awarded on a sliding scale for sub-metering the
electrical and mechanical systems as follows:

**Data Center with no on-site renewable or power generation:**

Requirement 1: 1 Point

Requirements 2-5: 3 Points

Requirement 6-7: 2 Points

**Data Center with on-site renewable and/or power generation:**

Requirement 1: 1 Point

Requirements 2-5: 2 Points

Requirements 6-7: 2 Point

Requirements 8-9: 1 Point

**Rationale for Addition**

Data center energy use can vary significantly depending upon size and
design of the facility, the location and local weather conditions.
Measuring energy use and reporting these metrics provides a data center
owner with the baseline information necessary to determine opportunities
to improve their data center's operational efficiency and how their data
center compares with similarly designed data centers in their climate
zone.

**EA Credit 2:** **Optimize Energy Performance** *(Modification of the
existing credit)*

**Intent**

Achieve increasing levels of energy performance above the baseline in
the prerequisite standard to reduce environmental and economic impacts
associated with excessive energy use.

**Requirements**

Achieve increasing levels of energy performance above the baseline in
the prerequisite standard to reduce environmental and economic impacts
associated with excessive energy use.

The 90.1 baseline requirements for a new Data Center (Class 1 as defined
in the ASHRAE Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environment) shall
have a DCiE Equal to or less than the DCIE specified in Table 1
depending upon Climate Zone and Data Center Type (Tier I thru Tier IV as
defined in the Uptime Institute Tier Classifications Define Site
Infrastructure Performance). The DCiE shall be based upon full build out
or design DCiE and not startup DCiE which will generally be higher and
unable to the requirements of Table 1.

![](media/image1.wmf){width="3.6479166666666667in" height="6.0in"}

Table 1: DCIE by Climate Zone & Data Center Type, ASHRAE TC9.9
Committee, 4/28/08

Project teams documenting achievement using a whole building energy
simulation are assumed to be in compliance with EA Prerequisite 2. The
Project Team shall perform a whole building energy simulation including
technology systems at both 100% design load and at the partial load
conditions of the data center as determined in Prerequisite 2, Rule 2 at
the end of the first year's operation.

If the demonstrated percentage improvement in the proposed building
performance rating compared to the baseline building performance rating
at partial data center design power load is less than 75% of the
percentage improvement at full data center design power load, then the
points achieved shall be reduced by a factor of 2.

NOTE: EPC for New Construction projects are required to achieve at least
ten (10) points under EAc2.

WHOLE BUILDING ENERGY SIMULATION INCLUDING TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS (10--34
Points)

Demonstrate a percentage improvement in the proposed building
performance rating compared to the baseline building performance rating
per ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007 (without amendments) by a whole
building project simulation using the Building Performance Rating Method
in Appendix G of the Standard (with changes as indicated below).

The minimum energy cost savings percentage for each point threshold is
as follows:

New Buildings Existing Building Renovations Points

  -------------------- ---------------------------------- ----------------
  5.0%                 2.0%                               10

  7.0%                 3.5%                               14

  9.0%                 5.0%                               18

  10.5%                7.0%                               24

  12.0%                8.0%                               28

  14%                  10.5%                              30

  16.0%                12.0%                              32

  17.5%                14.0%                              34
  -------------------- ---------------------------------- ----------------

Appendix G of Standard 90.1-2007 requires that the energy analysis done
for the Building Performance Rating Method include ALL of the energy
costs within and associated with the building project, including the IT
equipment load. To achieve points using this credit, the proposed
design---

-   must comply with the mandatory provisions (Sections 5.4, 6.4, 7.4,
    8.4, 9.4 and 10.4) in Standard 90.1-2007 (without amendments);

-   must include all the energy costs within and associated with the
    building project; and must be compared against a baseline building
    that complies with Appendix G to Standard 90.1-2007 (without
    amendments). The baseline building rating shall include the
    electrical requirements and corresponding cooling loads for the
    technology systems.

For EA Credit 2, technology system electrical loads shall be identical
for both the baseline building performance rating and for the proposed
building performance rating. However, project teams may follow the
Exceptional Calculation Method (ASHRAE 90.1-2007 G2.5) to document
measures that reduce technology system electrical requirements.
Documentation of technology system electrical requirements energy
savings shall include a list of the assumptions made for both the base
and proposed design, and theoretical or empirical information supporting
these assumptions.

**Potential Technologies & Strategies**

Design the building envelope and systems to maximize energy performance.
Use a computer simulation model to assess the energy performance and
identify the most cost-effective energy efficiency measures. Quantify
energy performance as compared to a baseline building.

If a local code has demonstrated quantitative and textual equivalence
following, at a minimum, the U.S. Department of Energy standard process
for commercial energy code determination, then the results of that
analysis may be used to correlate local code performance with ASHRAE
90.1-2007. Details on the DOE process for commercial energy code
determination can be found at
[www.energycodes.gov/implement/determinations_com.stm](http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/determinations_com.stm).

Changes to Appendix G of Standard 90.1-2007 to be used for data center
projects:

G1,4 c. -- The input and output reports must include the energy
breakdown of the following component (where applicable):

+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Component                  | Notes                               |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | **IT Equipment**           | Include the full design kW/rack     |
|   |                            | power for all compute and storage   |
|   | **Mechanical Systems**     | servers, networking equipment and   |
|   |                            | any other technology equipment that |
|   |                            | will be located in the computer and |
|   |                            | data processing rooms.              |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Computer and Computer      | Include all mechanical systems      |
|   | Hardware Process (formerly | (heating, cooling,                  |
|   | called mainframe water     | dehumidification, humidification,   |
|   | cooling)                   | ventilation and exhaust systems     |
|   |                            | that directly support computer      |
|   |                            | equipment or indirectly support the |
|   |                            | computer equipment (like            |
|   |                            | uninterruptible backup power        |
|   |                            | systems and battery room make-up    |
|   |                            | and exhaust and other mechanical    |
|   |                            | and electrical support spaces)      |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | CRAC -- Air Cooled         | Include both the computer room unit |
|   |                            | with internal refrigeration         |
|   |                            | compressor and external condensing  |
|   |                            | unit                                |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | CRAH -- Water Cooled       | Include indoor unit and heat        |
|   |                            | rejection equipment but not pumping |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | CDPR -- Water Cooled with  | Include indoor unit and heat        |
|   | Economizer Coil            | rejection equipment but not pumping |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | CDPR -- Glycol Cooled      | Include indoor unit and dry cooler  |
|   |                            | but not pumping                     |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | CDPR -- Glycol Cooled with | Include indoor unit and dry cooler  |
|   | Economizer Coil            | but not pumping                     |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | CPPR -- Chilled Water      | Include only indoor unit            |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Heat Rejection             | Only use for chilled water systems  |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Open Cooling Towers        | Use for indoor packaged water       |
|   |                            | cooled chillers                     |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Fluid Coolers              | Use for indoor packaged water       |
|   |                            | cooled chillers                     |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Evaporative-cooled         | Use for indoor water chiller with   |
|   | Condensers                 | remote condenser                    |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Air-cooled Condensers      | Use for indoor water chiller with   |
|   |                            | remote condenser                    |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Fans                       |                                     |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | CDPR Air Conditioning      |                                     |
|   | Units                      |                                     |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Other indirect support     | e.g. chiller room, mechanical       |
|   | equipment                  | substation room, uninterruptible    |
|   |                            | backup power systems room, battery  |
|   |                            | rooms, load bank substation room    |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Pumping                    |                                     |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Chilled Water              |                                     |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Condenser Water            |                                     |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Glycol                     |                                     |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Heating Hot Water          |                                     |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Spray Pumps                | For evaporative cooled rejection    |
|   |                            | equipment                           |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Heating                    |                                     |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Humidification and         |                                     |
|   | Dehumidification           |                                     |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | **Electrical Systems**     |                                     |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Lighting                   | For CDPR and support areas only     |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Primary MV to LV           | =kW~in~ -- kW~out~                  |
|   | Transformer                |                                     |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Uninterruptible backup     | =kW~in~ -- kW~out~                  |
|   | power systems              |                                     |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   | Power Distribution Units   | =kW~in~ -- kW~out~                  |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   |                            |                                     |
+---+----------------------------+-------------------------------------+

**Rationale for Modification**

Because data centers are from 10-100 times as energy intensive as an
office building it is very difficult and expensive to attain the
percentage thresholds for commercial buildings. Accordingly, we have
decreased the thresholds while substantially increasing the energy
points to reflect that the energy systems are the most significant
environmental impact of data centers.

**EA Credit 3:** **On-site Renewable Energy** *(Modification of the
existing LEED credit)*

**Intent**

Encourage and recognize increasing levels of on-site renewable energy
self-supply in order to reduce environmental and economic impacts
associated with fossil fuel energy use and transmission distribution
losses.

**Requirements**

Use on-site renewable energy systems to offset building energy cost.
Calculate project performance by expressing the energy produced by the
renewable systems as a percentage of the average peak power (kW) of the
data center using the table below to determine the number of points
achieved.

Use the building annual energy cost calculated in EA Credit 2.

> **% Renewable Energy Points**
>
> 2.5% 2
>
> 5.0% 4
>
> 7.5% 6
>
> 12.5% 8
>
> 15.0% 10
>
> 20.0% 12

**Technologies and Strategies**

Assess the project for non-polluting and renewable energy potential
including solar, wind, geothermal, low-impact hydro, bio-mass and
bio-gas strategies. When applying these strategies, take advantage of
net metering with the local utility.

**Rationale for modification**

Because Data Centers are from 10-100 times as energy intensive as an
office building, the current availability and technology for on-site
renewable energy makes it possible, although difficult and expensive to
exceed the percentage thresholds for commercial buildings. Accordingly,
we have increased the thresholds while substantially increasing the
energy points.

**EA Credit 4:** **On-site Generation** *(New credit)*

**Intent**

Encourage and recognize increasing levels of on-site power generation in
order to reduce environmental and economic impacts associated with
fossil fuel energy use and transmission losses from utility power
plants.

**Requirements**

Use on-site generation energy systems to offset building energy cost.
Calculate project performance by expressing the energy produced by the
on-site systems as a percentage of reduction in source energy use and
using the table below to determine the number of points achieved.

Use the building annual source energy use calculated in EA Credit 2.

> **% On-Site Generation Energy Points**
>
> 7.5.0% 1
>
> 12.5% 2
>
> 15.0% 3

**Technologies and Strategies**

Assess the project for on-site energy generation potential including
fuel cell strategies. When applying these strategies, take advantage of
net metering with the local utility.

**Rationale for addition**

Because data Centers are anywhere from 10-100 times as energy intensive
as an office building, the current availability and technology for
on-site generation of energy makes it economically possible to reduce
source energy use by on-site energy generation in a data center.
Accordingly, we have added this strategy and energy points for achieving
certain levels of source energy reduction.

**EA 5: Enhanced Measurement and Verification** *(Modification of the
existing LEED credit)*

**Intent**

Provide for the ongoing environmental operating conditions and
accountability of building energy consumption over time.

**Requirements**

Develop and implement an enhanced Measurement & Verification (M&V) Plan
consistent with Option D: Calibrated Simulation (Savings Estimation
Method 2), or Option B: Energy Conservation Measure Isolation, as
specified in the *International Performance Measurement & Verification
Protocol (IPMVP) Volume III: Concepts and Options for Determining Energy
Savings in New Construction, April, 2003.*

The M&V period shall cover a period of no less than one year of
post-construction occupancy and provide a report of the environmental
operating conditions of the data center and the data center energy
performance metrics, DCiE. Hourly average DCiE shall be provided to
enable M&V of the data center energy efficiency performance over the
first year of operation.

**Technologies and Strategies**

Develop an M&V Plan to evaluate data center environmental operating
conditions and energy system performance. Characterize the building
and/or data center energy systems through energy simulation or
engineering analysis. Install the necessary measurement and metering
equipment to validate the data center environmental conditions and
measure energy use. Track performance by comparing performance at the
closest predicted partial load point (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) to actual
performance at a specific load point, broken down by temperature
differential across computer room cooling systems, average cold aisle
and hot aisle temperature differential by room zone where each zone is
pre-assigned a computer hardware load density, air flow or pressure
differential across the computer room, and temperature differential
across the central chilled water plant. Evaluate energy efficiency by
comparing actual performance to baseline performance.

While the IPMVP describes specific actions for verifying savings
associated with energy conservation measures (ECMs) and strategies, this
LEED credit expands upon typical IPMVP M&V objectives. M&V activities
should not necessarily be confined to energy systems where ECMs or
energy conservation strategies have been implemented. The IPMVP provides
guidance on M&V strategies and their appropriate applications for
various situations. These strategies should be used in conjunction with
monitoring and trend logging of significant energy systems to provide
for the ongoing accountability of building energy performance and the
establishment of seasonal profiles to assist operator predictability of
the use of free and partial free-cooling opportunity.

**Rationale for modification**

The purpose of including measurement of the data center environmental
conditions and the temperature differentials across the cooling systems,
along with total power and electrical consumption for the data center
and the IT equipment is to inform users of how utilization levels and
climatic changes affect the data center efficiency. Continuous
measurement of these data center environmental conditions and energy
efficiency metrics keeps real time information in front of the user to
show the effect of their actions. The measuring device can also serve as
an additional indicator of proper mechanical and electrical support
systems operation and maintenance.

**EA Credit 8**: **Renewable Source** **Power** *(Modification of the
existing LEED credit)*

**Intent**

Encourage the development and use of grid-source, renewable energy
technologies on a net zero pollution basis.

**Requirements**

Provide at least 7.5% of the building's electricity from renewable
sources by engaging in at least a two year renewable energy contract
with a Green-e certified REC provider. Renewable sources are as defined
by the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) Green-e products
certification requirements.

Use the building annual energy use (kWh) calculated in EA Credit 2.

> **% Renewable Energy Points**
>
> 7.5% 1
>
> 12.5% 2
>
> 15.0% 3
>
> 17.5% 4

DETERMINE THE BASELINE ELECTRICITY USE

Use the annual electricity consumption from the results of EA Credit 2.

**Technologies and Strategies**

Determine the energy needs of the building and investigate opportunities
to engage in a renewable source power contract. Green power is derived
from solar, wind, geothermal, biomass or low-impact hydro sources. Visit
www.green-e.org for details about the Green-e program. The power product
purchased to comply with credit requirements need not be Green-e
certified. Other sources of renewable power are eligible if they satisfy
the Green-e program's technical requirements. Renewable energy
certificates (RECs), tradable renewable certificates (TRCs), green tags
and other forms of green power that comply with Green-e's technical
requirements can be used to document compliance with EA Credit 6
requirements.

**Rationale for modification**

Data centers are from 10-100 times as energy intensive as an office
building. Thus it is much more difficult and expensive to achieve the
same percentage thresholds as commercial buildings. Accordingly, we
conservatively reduce the thresholds by dividing current LEED thresholds
by 2.

12-23-08

**Materials & Resources**

**Default Project Materials Cost**

**Used in credit calculations for EPC MRc3 and MRc4**

**Proposed modification:**

The LEED NC Default Project Materials Cost is currently 45% of the
project's total Construction Cost. The proposed EPC default project
materials cost is 21%, which is 24% less than the LEED NC Default
Project Materials Cost.

**Rationale:**

LEED NC allows projects to use 45% of the project's total construction
cost as a default value for the architectural trades' Material Cost
--the denominator for credits MRc3, MRc4 and MRc5. This default is based
on the construction cost of a commercial building, for which the EPC
committee determined MEP and equipment costs make up about 24% of the
total construction cost, (based upon an analysis done by the Labs 21
committee of 7 random projects.)

By comparison, MEP and equipment costs make up about 75% of a data
center project's construction cost; based on the EPC committee's
analysis of several data center projects. To account for the lower
percentage of architectural trade costs in a data center project, the
EPC committee multiplied 25% (the remainder of a data center's
construction cost after 75% for MEP and equipment is deducted) by the
LEED NC's assumption that 60% of the architectural trades construction
cost is material cost. (This LEED NC assumption was figured backwards by
the EPC committee based on the analysis that 76% of a commercial
building's construction cost is architectural (i.e. not MEP and
equipment): 45% \* 76% = 60%.) The outcome of this multiplication was a
revised architectural trades' material cost default of 15% for data
center projects.

The LEED AGL architectural trades' Material Cost default is tied to the
LEED NC default. If the LEED steering committee reduces the LEED NC
default, the LEED AGL default shall be proportionally reduced.

**MR Credit 3.1:** **Materials Reuse: 5%** *(modification to existing
credit)*

**Intent**

Reuse building materials and products in order to reduce demand for
virgin materials and to reduce waste, thereby reducing impacts
associated with the extraction and processing of virgin resources.

**Requirements**

Use salvaged, refurbished or reused materials such that the sum of these
materials constitutes at least 5%, based on cost, of the total value of
all materials including the MEP trades.

Mechanical and electrical equipment and materials such as computer room
cooling conditioning units, chillers, pipe and fittings, IT equipment
racks, floor tiles, transformers, paralleling switchgear, engine
generators, uninterruptible backup power systems and PDU equipment,
loadbanks, general electrical switchgear, electrical wire and cable may
be included in this calculation. Only include materials permanently
installed in the project.

**Technologies and Strategies**

Identify opportunities to incorporate salvaged materials into building
design and research potential material suppliers. Consider salvaged
materials such as raised floor supports and floor tiles, IT equipment
racks, electrical and mechanical equipment and components, etc.

**MR Credit 3.2:** **Materials Reuse: 10%** *(modification to existing
credit)*

**Intent**

Reuse building materials and products in order to reduce demand for
virgin materials and to reduce waste, thereby reducing impacts
associated with the extraction and processing of virgin resources.

**Requirements**

Use salvaged, refurbished or reused materials such that the sum of these
materials constitutes at least 5%, based on cost, of the total value of
all materials on the project, including the MEP trades.

Mechanical and electrical equipment and materials such as computer room
cooling conditioning units, chillers, pipe and fittings, IT equipment
racks, floor tiles, transformers, paralleling switchgear, engine
generators, uninterruptible backup power systems and PDU equipment,
loadbanks, general electrical switchgear, electrical wire and cable may
be included in this calculation. Only include materials permanently
installed in the project.

**Technologies and Strategies**

Identify opportunities to incorporate salvaged materials into building
design and research potential material suppliers. Consider salvaged
materials such as raised floor supports and floor tiles, IT equipment
racks, electrical and mechanical equipment and components, etc.

12-23-08

**Indoor Environmental Quality**

**EQ Credit 7:** **Data Center Acoustic Environment** (*New credit)*

**Intent**

Demonstrate that the acoustic design targets are 10% lower than industry
regulated levels.

**Requirement**

Establish acoustic design targets and implement acoustic design
strategies as required to exceed industry regulated levels for the
following specific interior sound control performance targets including:

1.  • Noise Criterion (NC)

    • Room Criterion (RC)

    • Building assembly Sound Transmission Class (STC)

    • Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class (OITC)

**Technologies and Strategies**

Specify building assemblies including interior partitions,
ceilings/floors, and exterior wall configurations to achieve specific
acoustic design targets.

**Rationale for Addition**

Attention to the acoustic environment of a data center is essential to
protect the health and safety of data center workers from sustained
noise levels that exceed 90 dB. The comfort of the data center users
remains important but must be secondary to their protection. Unlike
offices and other general purpose workspace, where ventilation air is
provided for occupant comfort, in data center's high air flow rates may
be required to cool the IT equipment; which may lead to a significantly
workplace noise levels.

The EPC cannot prescribe a particular acoustic environment, because
operational needs vary widely. The intent of this credit is to encourage
data center owners to ensure that noise levels

12-23-08

**Innovation & Design Process**

**ID Credit 1 -- 1.8:** **Innovation in Design** *(Modification of the
existing credits)*

**Intent**

To provide design teams and projects the opportunity to be awarded
points for performance above the requirements set by the EPC for New
Construction Green Data Center Rating System and/or innovative
performance in Green Data Center categories not specifically addressed
by the EPC.

**Requirements**

Credit 1.1 ( 1 point) In writing, identify the intent of the proposed
innovation credit, the proposed requirement for compliance, and the
design approach (strategies) that might be used to meet the
requirements.

Credit 1.2 through 1.8 (1 point each) Same as Credit 1.1

**Potential Technologies & Strategies**

The following is a list of suggested areas for data center innovation
credits. It is not meant to be an exhaustive or restrictive list, and
innovations not on the list may also be candidates for innovation
credits, provided that the strategies or measures demonstrate
quantifiable energy efficiency or environmental benefits.

-   Air Flow Management: Minimize the amount of recirculation of hot air
    and minimize by-pass air of cold air in the data center by designing
    physical separation or containment of either the hot or cold air
    streams. Successfully implemented, both measures result in energy
    savings and better thermal operating conditions.

> The recommended submittal to qualify for this measure is submission of
> the DOE DC Pro Air mixing metrics: Rack Cooling Index (RCI); Return
> Temperature Index (RTI) for the data center. RCI is a measure of how
> effectively the equipment is cooled and maintained within an intake
> temperature specification and should be ≥96%. RTI is a measure of the
> level of by-pass air or recirculation air in data centers and should
> be 100%, ±5%.

-   Implement and utilize "free cooling" techniques, such as airside
    economizing, waterside economizing, indirect evaporative cooling,
    and heat wheel cooling -- where applicable and to the maximum extent
    possible

-   Passive cooling systems that eliminate the requirement for
    additional air distribution fan power

-   Hot Water Heating using Heat Recovery from Data Center to serve
    adjacent spaces or facilities

-   Reduction of Hazardous Materials on-site: Reduction of on-site
    hazardous materials, such as fuel storage, lead-acid batteries, etc.

-   Energy Star IT Equipment: Greater than 75% of all servers, storage
    and networking equipment to be procured for the data center shall be
    ENERGY STAR qualified, under its Tier 1 specification and have power
    management enabled.

-   Energy Use Sub-Metering by User: The data center is designed to
    enable sub-metering of IT electrical power (kW) and consumption
    (kWh) to specific internal business unit or external customers based
    upon utilization. In addition a mechanism to include either metered
    or allocated energy use for the additional data center cooling and
    electrical power losses is recommended.

-   IT Asset Utilization Capability: The data center is designed to
    automatically track and report IT equipment utilization, power usage
    and IT productivity output metrics for IT server, storage and
    network equipment installed in the data center to enable full life
    cycle tracking, including end-of-life and decommissioning of
    obsolete or under utilized equipment.

-   IT Asset e-Waste Recycling Program: Agreement by the data center
    owner to abide by the EPEAT™ and WEEE Directives and put in place a
    purchasing and e-waste recycling program for IT equipment used in
    the data center.

-   Adaptive IT & Cooling Load Optimization: The data center cooling
    systems are capable of automatically increasing or decreasing their
    capacity to match the IT heat load to optimize the energy
    consumption of the support infrastructure at varying IT work loads.

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-   Enroll in the EPA ENERGY STAR program for buildings: Agreement by
    the data center owner to enroll the data center in the ENERGY STAR
    program for data centers.

-   Perform a DOE assessment of the data center annually and report the
    resulting DCiE metrics and track the on-going continuous improvement
    in energy efficiency in the DOE on-line tool, DCPro.

-   Enroll facility technicians in ongoing educational programs annually
    to enhance and demonstrate their growing competence in operating the
    complex and interacting mechanical and electrical systems in the
    data center at higher levels of energy efficiency performance than
    in the assumptions used in the original basis of design.

-   Owner's Project Requirements Document: Assign a senior member of the
    design team the responsibility for development and justification of
    environmental and energy efficiency improvements are funded and
    justified for inclusion in the design. In addition this individual
    shall be responsible for assurance that life cycle costing, total
    cost of ownership and the environmental impact of the original
    design are considered if these design improvements are re-considered
    during the value engineering and construction phase of the data
    center.