OVERVIEW

To better serve projects teams working globally and using multiple green building rating systems the U.S.
Green Building Council (USGBC) is exploring commonalities between LEED and other systems that
share the same mission, intent, effort and demonstration of leadership. The first step in this process
begins with the BREEAM system, owned and operated by BRE and used widely throughout the United
Kingdom and Europe. With this step, projects will be able to achieve points towards LEED certification, by
demonstrating what has been done to earn corresponding credits in BREEAM.

In the past, any project wishing to achieve certification from both BREEAM and LEED used multiple
computer analysis programs that added complexity for project teams, time to the design schedule and
increases to the budget. Now, USGBC has streamlined the process, allowing documentation generated to
demonstrating compliance with BREEAM energy credit Ene 01 as an Alternative Compliance Path for
specific EA credits. By doing this, USGBC recognizes the common purpose that both systems share and
their united purpose to create faster and deeper transformation of the built environment around the globe.

Recognition in Energy

Effective immediately, projects that have been awarded all 15 credits (zero net CO2 emissions) in
BREEAM New Construction Ene 01 Reduction of CO2 emissions will receive maximum value in LEED
2009 for New Construction EAp2 Minimum Energy Performance; EAc1 Optimize Energy Performance (19
points); EAc2 On-Site Renewable Energy (7 points); EAc6 Green Power (2 points) as a LEED Alternative
Compliance Path (ACP). Projects must have received final BREEAM certification to pursue this ACP.

BREEAM New Construction Credit LEED 2009 for New Construction Credits

Ene 01: Reduction of CO2 Emissions 15 Credits EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance Required

EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance 19 Points

EAc2: On-Site Renewable Energy 7 Points

EAc6: Green Power 2 Points

Total Points Achieved in BREEAM 15 Credits Total Points Awarded in LEED 2009 28 Points

For projects using BREEAM New Construction that have achieved less than 15 credits in BREEAM Ene
01 Reduction of CO2 emissions, alternative point allocation within LEED 2009 for New Construction will
be considered on a case-by-case basis. Projects must have received final BREEAM certification to
pursue this ACP. At this time, projects that have received a BREEAM 2008 assessment are not eligible
for this ACP.
What is BREEAM?

BREEAM, the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, was first launched in
the UK in 1990. It sets a standard for best practice in sustainable design and has become a major system
used to describe a building's environmental performance.

What is an Alternative Compliance Path?

An Alternative Compliance Path (ACP) is unique to the LEED rating system. It provides additional
options or approaches to LEED credits that address unique project needs and advancements in science
and technology. ACPs allow LEED to be more flexible and applicable for projects and must be approved
by the LEED Steering Committee (LSC). This particular ACP recognizes the energy components of
BREEAM in LEED and was approved by the LSC in March 2012. This is the first ACP available
recognizing BREEAM credits.

For which versions of BREEAM & LEED are this Alternative Compliance Path available?

Any project that has received their final BREEAM certification under the following schemes are eligible to
use this ACP if pursuing certification under LEED 2009 for New Construction:

BREEAM 2008 Europe Commercial

BREEAM 2009 Europe Commercial
BREEAM 2008 New Construction (UK)
BREEAM 2011 New Construction (UK)

BREEAM projects that have achieved all 15 credits (zero net CO2 emissions) in Ene 01 Reduction of CO2
emissions and have received their final BREEAM certification are eligible to use this ACP in their LEED
2009 for New Construction certification submission.

BREEAM projects that have achieved less than 15 credits in Ene 01 Reduction of CO2 emissions and
have received their final BREEAM certification may apply to determine point allocation in their LEED 2009
for New Construction certification submission. Those wishing to participate may fill out an application.

Can I use this Alternative Compliance Path for my BREEAM In-Use Project?

At this time the Alternative Compliance Path is only available for New Construction projects.

Are there any project types that are not eligible?

The following project types are not eligible to use the Alternative Compliance Path at this time:

Data Centers
Healthcare
Industrial
Multi-family residential
Prisons
Retail
Single Family Homes
To which credits does this Alternative Compliance Path apply?

This Alternative Compliance Path provides eligible BREEAM projects the option to use their BREEAM
assessment of Ene 01 Reduction of CO2 emissions as their LEED 2009 for New Construction certification
submission for the following credits:

EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance

EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance
EAc2: On-Site Renewable Energy
EAc6: Green Power

Can my project use this Alternative Compliance Path immediately?

Eligible BREEAM projects that have achieved all 15 credits (zero net CO2 emissions) in Ene 01 Reduction
of CO2 emissions and have received their final BREEAM certification are eligible to use this Alternative
Compliance Path immediately.

Eligible BREEAM projects that have achieved less than 15 credits in Ene 01 Reduction of CO2 emissions
and have received their final BREEAM certification may first apply to determine point allocation in their
LEED 2009 for New Construction certification submission. Those wishing to participate may fill out an
application.

How do I use this Alternative Compliance Path?

To use this Alternative Compliance Path, a project must have received its final BREEAM certification and
follow the instructions below.

Zero Net CO2 Emissions

BREEAM New Construction projects that have achieved all 15 credits (zero net CO2 emissions)
in Ene 01 Reduction of CO2 emissions need only to submit their Ene 01 documentation and final
BREEAM assessment rating into LEED Online. The documentation in each credit’s LEED Online
form should be as follows:

EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance & EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance

o In the Additional Details section of the forms select “The project team is using an
alternative compliance approach in lieu of standard submittal paths.”
o In the Alternative Compliance Path section of the form write “BREEAM New
Construction equivalency – zero net CO2 emissions”
o Upload the project’s BREEAM Ene 01 documentation and final BREEAM
assessment rating in the section that reads “Upload EAp2/c1-ACP. Provide any
additional documents that support the alternative compliance path approach.”

EAc2: On-Site Renewable Energy & EAc6: Green Power

o In the Additional Details section of the forms select “The project team is using an
alternative compliance approach in lieu of standard submittal paths.”
o In the Alternative Compliance Path section of the form write “BREEAM New
Construction equivalency – zero net carbon emissions”
o There is no need to upload the documentation again in the form for this credit as
it is already included in EAp2 & EAc1.
 All Other Projects

BREEAM New Construction projects that have achieved less than 15 credits in Ene 01 Reduction
of CO2 emissions may apply to determine point allocation in their LEED 2009 for New
Construction certification submission. Once accepted, USGBC will work with the project team to
determine the appropriate documentation needed to demonstrate compliance. Those wishing to
participate may fill out an application.

My project is registered for BREEAM but has not received its assessment. Can I still use this
Alternative Compliance Path for my project?

Because a project’s BREEAM Ene 01 assessment is used as documentation for this Alternative
Compliance Path, a project must have received its BREEAM assessment rating prior to submitting for
LEED certification. Once a BREEAM project receives its assessment it may use this Alternative
Compliance Path for LEED certification.

How does LEED map the energy credits in BREEAM to LEED 2009?

There is currently no algorithm for the crosswalk between BREEAM and LEED, as the energy sections of
each system are constructed differently. Therefore USGBC will work with projects that achieve less than
zero net CO2 emissions in BREEAM to determine how their work maps to the related LEED 2009 energy
credits. USGBC does recognize the rigor of BREEAM in assessing projects that have zero net CO 2
emissions and will accept these for full points in LEED based on the following crosswalk:

BREEAM

BREEAM New Construction Ene 01 Reduction of CO2 emissions uses an Energy Performance
Ratio (EPR) as a primary energy metric. The intent of Ene 01 is “to recognize and encourage
buildings designed to minimize operational energy demand, consumption, and CO2 emissions.”
The allocation of credit is based on a weighted composite of three factors:

1. Energy Demand:
o A measure of how well the building reduces heating and cooling energy demand.
o Energy demand contributes 28% to the overall EPR benchmark.

2. Energy Delivered (consumption):

o A measure of how efficiently a building meets its energy demand.
o Energy consumption contributes 34% to the overall EPR benchmark.

3. CO2 Emissions:
o A measure of the amount of carbon dioxide emissions the building emits
meetings its operational energy demand. The specification of low or zero carbon
forms of energy generation (on-site, near site, or accredited external renewables)
are accounted for in this parameter).
o CO2 emissions associated with energy supplies contribute 38% of the overall
EPR benchmark.
 The BREEAM EPRNC benchmark scale combines these factors and assesses performance
relative to a Target Emission Rate (TER). Benchmark values range from 0.05 to 0.90 which
receive between 1 and 15 BREEAM credits. The highest level of achievement is equivalent to
“zero net CO2 emissions”.

LEED 2009

LEED 2009 for New Construction addresses the same intent as BREEAM Ene 01, however the
system breaks these factors into one prerequisite and three separate credits:

EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance

o Intent: To establish the minimum level of energy efficiency for the proposed
building and systems to reduce environmental and economic impacts associated
with excessive energy use.
o Performance measure: 5% improvement for existing building renovations, 10%
improvement for new buildings relative to ASHRAE 90.1-2007
EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance
o Intent: To achieve increasing levels of energy performance beyond the
prerequisite standard to reduce environmental and economic impacts associated
with excessive energy use.
o Performance measure: 44% improvement for existing building renovations, 48%
improvement for new buildings relative to the ASHRAE 90.1-2007.

EAc2: On-Renewable Energy

o Intent: To encourage and recognize increasingly levels of on-site renewable
energy self-supply to reduce environmental and economic impacts associated
with fossil fuel energy use.
o Performance: Fraction of building annual energy cost contributed by renewable
systems.

EAc6: Green Power

o Intent: To encourage the development and use of grid-source, renewable energy
technologies on a net zero pollution basis.
o Performance: Engaging in at least a 2-year renewable energy contract to provide
at least 35% of the project’s electricity from renewable sources

Together, these credits represent a total of 28 possible points. Projects achieving all of these
points are typically broadly comparable to the BREEAM intent of “zero net CO2 emissions”.

What is the advantage of allowing BREEAM equivalency as an Alternative Compliance Path in

LEED?

Many international green building projects pursue dual certification with both LEED and BREEAM. Dual
certification provides expanded opportunities to recognize and reward green building practices, but it can
potentially impose additional costs and burdens. Any project that currently wishes to achieve certification
from both systems must use multiple computer analysis programs that add complexity for project teams,
time to the design schedule and increases to the budget.
Allowing projects to use what they are required to do for BREEAM to count toward their LEED certification
is a great way for USGBC to recognize the common purpose of both systems and share the knowledge
gained through different evaluation methods.

LEED has always recognized market leadership, and establishing levels of equivalency with BREEAM
continues this mission. It also recognizes BREEAM as a sophisticated and mature system with a
successful record of driving building sustainability. LEED has taken a step toward reducing the
complexity of using multiple systems to help project teams to do good work.

Did USGBC work on this with BRE?

The creation of this Alternative Compliance Path was a singular effort on the part of USGBC.

Are you going to create Alternative Compliance Paths for the remaining areas in BREEAM or with
other green building systems?

USGBC hopes to be able to develop additional ACPs for BREEAM and possibly other global green
building rating systems as well in the future after assessing the results of the energy ACP.

How do I get started?

BREEAM New Construction projects that have achieved all 15 credits (zero net CO2 emissions) in Ene 01
Reduction of CO2 emissions may immediately upload their documentation for their LEED 2009 projects
into LEED Online as outlined above. There is no additional step required.

BREEAM New Construction projects that have achieved less than 15 credits in Ene 01 Reduction of CO2
emissions may fill out an application.

For more information please email commonlanguage@usgbc.org.