The USGBC updated the demand response credit in the LEED rating system. The intent of the credit is to reduce carbon emissions and improve and optimize generation, transmission, and distribution resources.
The new credit is intended to increase participation in demand response programs and initiatives to boost the efficiency of energy generation and distribution systems, increase grid reliability, and reduce environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions.
The demand response market is set to increase from $1.4 billion in 2010 to $8.2 billion in 2020. The estimate may be conservative considering that demand response is becoming a common green building strategy that is increasingly tied to LEED certification. At 15-20% per year, the compound annual growth rate of green buildings and LEED is on par with that of demand response and the two may reinforce the growth effects of each other.
To participate, a representative from a demand response company must evaluate your property’s operations and current energy consumption. Based on the findings, the representative will develop a customized curtailment plan that may include a combination of load shifting, distributed generation, automated controls, and load shedding.
The credit is available for pilot testing by all of the New Consruction rating systems and also for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance.
In a recent update, the credit is no longer awarded for manual demand response programs. Only programs with either on-site or remote-dispatch automation earn the point. Automated demand response is more reliable.
If you’re interested in demand response, talk with several providers to decide which is best for your business. Different programs vary based on levels of service, incentives, pay rates, and enforcement of penalties for non-compliance, among others.
For more details, see the free report LEED & Demand Response at www.green-buildings.com. For more on demand response, read LEED Credit for Demand Response Spurs Win-Win-Win Scenarios.
