Attach_10_-_Guiding_Prin_4_Sustainable_Fed_Bldgs_12_2020.pdf

Council on Environmental Quality

Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings And Associated Instructions

December 2020

CEQ-OFS-2020-1

i

Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings ii

Contents I. Purpose 1

Instructions 3

II. Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings 4

1. Employ Integrated Design Principles 4

2. Optimize Energy Performance 5

3. Protect and Conserve Water 5

4. Enhance the Indoor Environment 6

5. Reduce the Environmental Impact of Materials 7

6. Assess and Consider Building Resilience 7

III. Meeting the Guiding Principles 8

Applicability 8

Assessment Pathways 8

Operational Impacts 8

Life Cycle Cost-effectiveness 9

Considerations for Building Mission and Unique Functions 9

Effective Date 9

Accountability 9

IV. General Provisions 10

APPENDICES 11

Appendix A - Assessing a Building Using the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings Criteria Checklist for New Construction and Modernization 12

Appendix B - Assessing a Building Using the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings Criteria Checklist for Existing Buildings 27

Appendix C - Assessing a New Construction, Modernization, Major Renovation or Existing Building Using Third- Party Building Certification System 42

Appendix D - Assessing a Building Using the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings Reassessment Criteria Checklist 43

Appendix E - Sustainable Federal Buildings Reporting Instructions 52

Appendix F - Definitions 53

Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings and Associated Instructions

I. Purpose

Since 2002, the Federal Government has outlined its intent to advance sustainable building principles and practices throughout its portfolio established through a number of statutory and executive policies that every Federal agency has integrated and utilized. These sustainable principles and practices have been incorporated into six Guiding Principles for sustainable Federal buildings (Guiding Principles), outlined below, to guide agencies in designing, locating, constructing, maintaining, and operating Federal buildings in a sustainable manner that increases efficiency, optimizes performance, eliminates unnecessary use of resources, ensures the health of occupants, protects the environment, generates cost savings, and mitigates risks to assets, consistent with Agency and Department missions.

Congress has enacted a range of statutory provisions relating to high-performance sustainable buildings, as well as energy and environmental goals and requirements that are advanced by the implementation of sustainable Federal buildings within an agency’s portfolio.1 Federal agencies must meet statutory requirements regarding high-performance sustainable buildings. The Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings and Associated Instructions (Guidance) provide agencies with a means to meet these requirements as well as Executive Order (E.O.) 13834, Efficient Federal Operations (May 17, 2018) and the Implementing Instructions for Executive Order 13834 (April 2019) (E.O. 13834 Implementing Instructions). The six Guiding Principles align with the definition of a high-performance green building established in the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 (42 U.S.C. § 17061(13)), and serve as guidelines for Federal agencies to assess progress towards the sustainability metrics associated with their real property assets, in accordance with the statutory duties of executive agencies (40 U.S.C. § 524).

Consistent with section 3(a) and (d) of E.O. 13834 and the E.O. 13834 Implementing Instructions, this 2020 update of the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings and Associated Instructions (Guidance) consolidates, into one comprehensive set, the six Guiding Principles and improves their usability and consistency while not changing policy regarding sustainable Federal buildings. This version replaces and supersedes the previous version of the Guidance issued in February 2016, along with the Guidance for Federal Agencies on Sustainable Practices for Designed Landscapes (October 2011) and the Implementing Instructions-Sustainable Locations for Federal Facilities (September 2011).

The six Guiding Principles for sustainable Federal buildings incorporated into this Guidance were developed based on fundamental sustainable design practices and reflect progress in building design, construction, and operation best practices as well as ensuring efficient operations; protecting occupant health, wellness, and productivity; and promoting resilient buildings. The Guiding Principles ensure Federal buildings:

1. Employ Integrated Design Principles

2. Optimize Energy Performance

3. Protect and Conserve Water

4. Enhance the Indoor Environment

1 See, e.g., 42 U.S.C. § 17092: High-performance green Federal buildings; 42 U.S.C. § 17093: Federal Green Building Performance; 42 U.S.C. § 17144: OMB Government efficiency reports and scorecards; 42 U.S.C. 17061(13): Definition of high-performance green building; and 42 U.S.C. § 17061(12): Definition of high-performance building. Additional specific authorities are referenced throughout Appendices A through E.

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5. Reduce the Environmental Impact of Materials

6. Assess and Consider Building Resilience

To ensure consistency, transparency, and accountability regarding sustainable Federal buildings, the E.O.

13834 Implementing Instructions provide direction on how agencies can demonstrate the implementation of sustainable design building initiatives to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) (42 U.S.C § 17093 and 42 U.S.C § 17144).

The improvements made through this update address specific questions from agencies on the previous version of this Guidance, and provide additional clarity on technical applications and requirements as well as increased flexibility that recognizes the diversity of building functions and agency missions. This update simplifies multiple guidance documents to avoid confusion and inconsistent implementation.

Additional direction and clarification on the use of third-party building certification systems and their relative equivalence to the Guiding Principles is also provided.

To address ambiguity under the prior version of this Guidance that exists in situations where the application life cycle cost-effectiveness or where a building’s inherent function, mission, safety, or designation prevents the building from meeting the requisite criteria in order to be designated a sustainable Federal building, this update clarifies that those buildings that demonstrate a level of improved performance and sustainability, but do not meet the requisite criteria, may be designated as Federal high-performance buildings, in alignment with the statutory definition (42 U.S.C § 17061(12)).

As a result, this Guidance provides a streamlined practical, common sense approach to address frequently asked questions by agencies, reduce burden and costs, and increase flexibility by recognizing improved building performance.

The implementation of this Guidance can help ensure a consistent government-wide portfolio approach for Federal agencies to design, mitigate, and measure the impact of their buildings. This Guidance also provides agencies with a resource for long-term risk management and mitigation, to ensure agency portfolios remain effective and operational for the life of their facilities.

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Instructions The Guiding Principles, described in Section II of this Guidance, are sustainable design and operational principles that agencies can implement in both new and existing Federal buildings by following either the checklists in Appendices A and B or the third-party systems in Appendix C. These two pathways provide agencies with options to qualify a building as a sustainable Federal building consistent with the EO 13834 Implementing Instructions. The Appendices detail how to assess whether a new or existing building meets the Guiding Principles using the different assessment pathways, the reassessment process, and reporting requirements.

References for relevant statutory, regulatory, and industry standards are included in the criteria checklists provided in the appendices.

Appendix A

Assessing a Building Using the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings Criteria Checklist for New Construction and Modernization

Directions on assessing new construction and modernization buildings using the Federal criteria checklist.

Appendix B

Assessing a Building Using the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings Criteria Checklist for Existing Buildings

Directions on assessing existing buildings using the Federal criteria checklist.

Appendix C

Assessing a New Construction, Modernization, Major Renovation or Existing Building Using Third-Party Building Certification Systems

Directions on assessing new construction and modernizations, and major renovations or existing buildings using approved third-party building certification systems.

Appendix D

Assessing a Building Using the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings Reassessment Criteria Checklist

Directions on reassessing buildings to determine whether they continue to meet high-performance or sustainable Federal building criteria.

Appendix E

Sustainable Federal Buildings Reporting Instructions

Instructions on tracking and reporting of sustainable Federal buildings.

Appendix F

Definitions

Relevant definitions from statute and key building terms.

II. Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings

1. Employ Integrated Design Principles

1.1. Integrated Design and Management

Use a collaborative and integrated process to plan, design, construct, commission, and transition to operation each new building or modernization project. Consider design choices and operational components that improve environmental performance. Consider all stages of the building’s life cycle when designing for all elements related to the Guiding Principles criteria. For existing buildings, apply integrated management principles to assess current and planned operating conditions to identify areas for optimization. Agencies should ensure plans include provisions or the ability to accommodate temporary changes to normal operating conditions due to emergencies or significant events.

1.2. Sustainable Siting

Follow an integrated site development process to conduct a site assessment that considers environmental, economic, and mission impacts and works to inform decisions on site design, construction, operations, and maintenance. Identify and mitigate current and projected site specific long-term risks through considerations that provide resilience to manmade and natural events such as hurricanes, storm surge, drought, flood, wind, and wildfire risks. Consider potential significant impacts to ensure the protection of historic properties and other cultural resources. Use historic properties available to the agency, to the maximum extent feasible, as designated by statute. Agencies should seek to find the right balance among sustainability, cost, and security considerations.

1.3. Stormwater Management

Meet statutory requirements for new construction, modernizations, and renovations, and employ strategies that reduce stormwater runoff and discharges of polluted water offsite to protect the natural hydrology and watershed health. Where feasible, use low impact development (LID) strategies to maintain or restore the natural, pre-developed ability of a site to manage rainfall.

1.4. Infrastructure Utilization and Optimization

Seek location-efficient sites, prioritizing locations that promote robust transportation choices, align with local and regional planning goals, and maximize the use of existing resources. Evaluate and provide appropriate electric vehicle charging infrastructure, consistent with current and anticipated future agency mission needs, when designing or renovating associated infrastructure, in accordance with applicable statutes, regulations, local laws, and agency policies.

1.5. Commissioning

Employ the appropriate commissioning tailored to the size and complexity of the building type and its system components to optimize and verify performance of building systems. Ensure buildings have operational policies that support continued compliance with all relevant statutory requirements for ongoing energy and water audits, where applicable.

2. Optimize Energy Performance

2.1. Energy Efficiency

Comply with all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements that establish Federal building energy efficiency standards and require the purchase, installation, and use of energy efficient products and/or equipment. Employ strategies that continue to optimize energy performance and minimize energy use throughout the operation and life of the building.

2.2. Energy Metering

Install building level meters for electricity, natural gas, and steam in order to track and continuously optimize energy performance. As required by statute, install advanced meters to the maximum extent practicable. Standard meters should be used when advanced meters are not appropriate.

2.3. Renewable Energy

Employ strategies to develop and integrate the use of life cycle cost-effective renewable electric energy and thermal renewable energy, in alignment with agency priorities to support applicable renewable energy goals.

2.4. Benchmarking

Benchmark building performance at least annually. Regularly monitor building energy performance against historic performance data and peer buildings to identify operating inefficiencies and conservation opportunities.

3. Protect and Conserve Water

3.1. Indoor Water Use

Minimize the use and waste of indoor potable water, and in accordance with statute, implement water conservation technologies to the maximum extent that the technologies are life cycle cost-effective.

Purchase water conserving products and ensure optimized indoor water operations to the maximum extent practicable.

3.2. Water Metering

Install building level water meters in order to track and continuously optimize indoor potable water use, including detection of leaks.

3.3. Outdoor Water Use

Utilize current best practices and management strategies for water efficient landscaping, and employ, to the maximum extent practicable, water efficient irrigation strategies to track and reduce outdoor potable water consumption. Use non-irrigated, drought-tolerant native landscaping where practicable.

3.4. Alternative Water

Maximize the use of alternative sources of water to the extent practicable and where permitted under local laws and regulations.

4. Enhance the Indoor Environment

4.1. Ventilation and Thermal Comfort

Comply with all relevant statutory requirements to provide occupants with safe and healthy ventilation and thermal comfort, in alignment with applicable ASHRAE standards.

4.2. Daylighting and Lighting Controls

Maximize opportunities for and benefits of daylighting in regularly occupied space to introduce daylight and views into the spaces, except where not appropriate because of building function, mission, or structural constraints; reinforce circadian rhythms; and reduce the use of electrical lighting. Ensure appropriate lighting controls and task lighting.

4.3. Low-Emitting Materials and Products

Purchase, acquire, and ensure the use or application of low-emitting materials and products during the planning, construction, modification, maintenance, and operations of the facility.

4.4. Radon Mitigation

Ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements to test for and mitigate radon in buildings, where appropriate.

4.5. Moisture and Mold Control

Implement moisture control strategies to minimize mold growth and associated health risks during building operations.

4.6. Indoor Air Quality during Construction and Operations

Implement necessary policies and protocols to prevent moisture damage to building materials and protect indoor air quality during renovations, repairs, and construction. Ensure indoor air quality procedures are in place that protect the air quality for occupants of the building during operations.

4.7. Environmental Smoking Control

Prohibit smoking in any form within the building and near all building entrances, operable windows, and building ventilation intakes, as specified by statute and regulations.

4.8. Integrated Pest Management

Implement and maintain a plan to encourage an environmentally responsible, integrated pest management approach that emphasizes proactive solutions, minimizes pesticide use, and, where chemical pesticides are needed, uses the least-toxic options.

4.9. Occupant Health and Wellness

Design building features and integrate programs and initiatives that promote voluntary physical health and wellness opportunities for the building occupants.

5. Reduce the Environmental Impact of Materials

5.1. Materials - Recycled Content

Use products that meet or exceed the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) recycled content recommendations for building construction, modifications, operations, and maintenance, where applicable and as required by statute.

5.2. Materials - Biobased Content

Use products with the highest content level per the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) bio-based content recommendations, where applicable and as required by statute.

5.3. Products

Procure and utilize construction materials and building supplies that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment over their life cycle when compared with competing products that serve the same purpose.

5.4. Ozone Depleting Substances

Comply with all relevant statutory requirements and regulations that identify substitutes for ozone-depleting substances.

5.5. Hazardous Waste

Ensure compliance during construction and operations with all relevant statutory requirements for hazardous waste management, including generation, storage, transport, and releases of hazardous substances.

5.6. Solid Waste Management

Reduce waste disposed of in landfills and incineration facilities by recovering, reusing, and recycling materials. Provide in building design, construction, renovation, and operation for the collection and storage of recyclable materials, including, as appropriate, compostable materials. Maintain a waste reduction and recycling program, and maximize waste diversion to the extent practicable. Pursue cost-effective waste minimization during the construction and renovation phase of the building, and maximize reuse or recycling of building materials, products, and supplies.

6. Assess and Consider Building Resilience

6.1 Risk Assessment

Determine the long-term mission criticality of the building and the operations to be housed in the building. Identify and assess both potential current and future regional risks to ensure resilient building design and operations and reduce potential vulnerabilities. Where applicable, align assessment and planning activities with local and regional efforts to increase community resilience.

6.2 Building Resilience and Adaptation

Incorporate resilient design and operational adaptation strategies that reduce the risk to and increase the resilience of the building. Avoid or mitigate the short- and long-term adverse impacts associated with projected climate changes and acute weather events, including storms, wildfires, droughts, and floods. To protect and ensure investments in Federal facilities, balance options to address current and projected risks against mission criticality, cost, and security needs over the building’s intended service life.

III. Meeting the Guiding Principles Applicability Agencies should apply this Guidance on an individual building basis. Agencies are encouraged to consider the project scope and purpose of the building as well as mission needs to determine which assessment pathway set forth below to use.

Agencies also can and should utilize portfolio-wide sustainable policies and practices, where applicable, to meet relevant criteria, supporting a consistent and uniform approach to sustainable Federal buildings across their portfolios. Additional details on the use of campus-wide or installation-wide approaches are provided in Appendices A and B.

Assessment Pathways As set forth in the E.O. 13834 Implementing Instructions Section III.A.5, “agencies may qualify sustainable Federal buildings, including existing buildings, new construction, and major renovations, using one of the following:”

1. The Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings and Associated Instructions (Criteria Checklists, outlined in Appendix A and B), or

2. Third-party building certification systems or standards identified by the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA’s) Office of High-Performance Buildings (outlined in Appendix C).

For new construction, modernizations, and major renovations projects, GSA’s recommendations are based on the criteria identified in 10 CFR § 433.300 or 10 CFR § 435.300, as applicable. A choice of assessment pathways provides agencies with flexibility to utilize whichever system can best support and align sustainable elements to their unique building and project needs. Agencies can continue to develop or utilize any available resources or tools, including those which assist in the assessments, to ensure that the building meets the criteria in Appendices A, B, or D.

Regardless of the pathway used, agencies must ensure that all building-level statutory requirements are met.

Operational Impacts This Guidance also supports some functions inherent in building utilization, including optimizing operation and maintenance, which should be continued throughout the operational life of the building.

Reassessment of building operations and performance every four years aligns with the EISA 2007 (42 U.S.C. 8253(f)(3)(A)) requirement for building evaluations and ensures the planned savings and impacts of sustainable Federal buildings continue to be realized.

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Life Cycle Cost-effectiveness Agencies should apply all criteria within this Guidance where determined to be life cycle cost-effective and in alignment with agency mission and budget, and building or project scope. Certain statutory mandates reiterated through the Guiding Principles criteria also have requirements for life cycle cost-effectiveness. The term “cost-effectiveness” should include the use of benefit-cost analysis in accordance with OMB Circular, A-11, Capital Programming Guide, 10 CFR Part 436, Subpart A, and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) “Life Cycle Costing Manual for the Federal Energy Management Program” Handbook 135.

Considerations for Building Mission and Unique Functions To ensure consistency and transparency, if an agency determines that the building’s inherent function, mission, safety, or designation prevents it from meeting the minimum threshold of requisite criteria for a sustainable Federal building in a life cycle cost-effective manner as outlined in Appendices A and B or the minimum certification level in Appendix C, the building would not qualify as a sustainable Federal building under this Guidance. For the purposes of supporting the policy outlined in this Guidance, these buildings may subsequently be designated as Federal high-performance buildings (42 U.S.C § 17061(12)), so long as they have met as many required criteria for the building type that are determined to be life cycle cost-effective.

Effective Date All projects can utilize this version of the Guidance immediately upon issuance. However, in instances where an agency has already taken significant action and a change of reference could incur significant costs or result in project delays, an agency may continue to utilize the 2016 Guidance for that project.

For the purposes of such a determination in relation to this Guidance, significant action means, for new constructions projects, the project budget has been appropriated, or for existing buildings, the agency has already made substantial progress in assessing the building. If the relevant threshold above is met within 180 days of issuance of this guidance, the agency may continue using the criteria in the 2016 Guidance to assess and qualify the building.

Buildings and projects assessed under a prior version of the Guidance may be considered grandfathered, and can continue to be reported as meeting the Guiding Principles so long as those buildings continue to meet the reassessment requirements established in the 2016 Guidance and outlined in Appendix D. A grandfathered building should be reassessed four years from the fiscal year it was last assessed as meeting the 2016 Guiding Principles or, if grandfathered prior to 2016, no later than four fiscal years from the issuance of this Guidance.

Accountability Each agency is responsible for evaluating and determining, on an individual building basis, whether its buildings meet the Guiding Principles as outlined in this Guidance. Agencies should utilize the instructions and resources provided in the Appendices to assist with their determination and documentation. It remains at the discretion of the agency to establish and maintain all processes for appropriately documenting the assessment of their buildings, whether conducted internally or using external resources. Agencies should maintain appropriate records of each building assessment to support determinations and sustainability designation of their buildings.

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IV. General Provisions To accommodate future updates in technologies, industry standards, third-party certification systems and methodologies of integrating sustainability, CEQ reserves the ability to update the technical criteria in the appendices of this Guidance in the future to add additional options or pathways that could support a building in meeting the Guiding Principles.

Agencies must implement this Guidance consistent with applicable law and regulations, and subject to the availability of appropriations or other authorized funding. This Guidance does not supersede or invalidate any existing laws, regulations, or other legal requirements. If there is a conflict between the Guidance and a statute or regulation, then the statute or regulation governs. The contents of this Guidance do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended solely to improve the internal management of the Executive Branch. It is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

APPENDICES

Appendix A - Assessing a Building Using the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings Criteria Checklist for New Construction and Modernization

Appendix B - Assessing a Building Using the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal

Buildings Criteria Checklist for Existing Buildings

Appendix C - Assessing a New Construction, Modernization, Major Renovation or

Existing Building Using Third-Party Building Certification Systems

Appendix D - Assessing a Building Using the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal

Buildings Reassessment Criteria Checklist

Appendix E - Sustainable Federal Buildings Reporting Instructions

Appendix F - Definitions

Appendix A Assessing a Building Using the

Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings Criteria Checklist for

New Construction and Modernization (NC&M)

This Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings Criteria Checklist is a tool that agencies may use to demonstrate that a new construction or modernization project meets the intent of the Guiding Principles. Criteria on the checklist include both design elements and operational procedures that can be used to demonstrate continued operation as a sustainable Federal building after construction.

Instructions for NC&M:

The New Construction and Modernization checklist contains 30 criteria for agencies to assess in order to demonstrate that the building meets the policy outlined in this Guidance. All criteria should be considered as part of the initial assessment process and throughout the design and construction of the project.

Core Criteria: Eighteen core criteria, supported by statutory and regulatory requirements and green building industry standards, are considered fundamental principles for any Federal high-performance green building (42 U.S.C. § 17061(13)). To qualify as a sustainable Federal building under this Guidance the building must meet all 18 of the core criteria.

Non-Core Criteria: For the remaining 12 criteria that are not indicated as core, agencies must meet a minimum of 75 percent (9 of 12). Agencies have flexibility to focus on the criteria that are most applicable to the building and account for life cycle cost effectiveness, mission requirements, and unique project scopes.

If an agency determines that the building’s inherent function, mission, safety, or designation precludes it from meeting the minimum threshold of requisite criteria in a life cycle cost-effective manner as outlined above, the building would not qualify as a sustainable Federal building under this Guidance. For the purposes of supporting the policy outlined in this Guidance, those buildings that have met as many of the requisite criteria that are life cycle cost-effective may be designated as a Federal high-performance building (42 U.S.C § 17061(12)).

Agencies should continue to ensure all Federal statutes applicable to the project or building are met, regardless of whether the building is able to achieve the minimum criteria to be qualified as a sustainable Federal building.

REFERENCE KEY

S Criteria that are based on and reference statutory or regulatory requirements are indicated with “S” on the checklist. “S*” indicates NDAA-aligned criteria that are applicable to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

Std Criteria that are based on green building industry standards, rather than statutory or regulatory requirements, are indicated with “Std” on the checklist.

[C/I] Criteria where campus-wide or installation-wide protocols, policies, contracts can be used to demonstrate, upon assessment, that the criteria were met at the building level are indicated on the checklist with a [C/I].

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1.0 - Employ Integrated Design Principles

NC&M Criteria 1.1 Integrated Design and Management CORE (Std)

Establish sustainability goals as part of the project to meet the Guiding Principles and incorporate those goals into the design document and process, such as the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR), Basis of Design (BOD), Conceptual Design Report (CDR), or relevant design documents.

AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS:

Option

Use a collaborative, integrated process and team tailored to the size and function of the building to plan, program, design, construct, commission, and transition to operation the building project or modernization. Identify team members and roles. Ensure energy, water, materials, indoor environmental quality, recycling and composting, occupant health and wellness, transportation (including public transit, safety, parking, and electric vehicle charging), siting and landscape, the protection of historic properties and other cultural resources, community integration, and building resilience are considered while balancing the building’s function and mission throughout the design and construction of the building and into operations plans, where feasible.

Option

Use an integrated design process consistent with 2018 International Green Construction Code (IgCC) Appendix F Integrated Design, including F101.1.1 (F1.1.1) Charrette Process (excluding F101.1.2 (F1.1.2) Design Charrette Matrix).

NC&M Criteria 1.2 Sustainable Siting CORE

(S) [C/I]

Follow all relevant requirements of 41 CFR § 102-76.20 of the Federal Management Regulation to make a positive contribution to the surrounding landscape, and comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., and the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, 54 U.S.C. Subtitle III, Division A.

AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS:

Option

In alignment with sustainable siting best practices, assess all relevant opportunities for enhancements to the site sustainability and engage building occupants and other stakeholders utilizing the site. The specific actions of the site selection and planning stage should reflect the complexity of the proposed building and include, as appropriate, the following: 1) avoid development of prime farmland; 2) preserve areas with permeable soils;

3) avoid or, if not possible, minimize potential harm to or within the floodplain; 4) protect and conserve existing landscapes, wetlands, forest, and wilderness areas; 5) minimize site disturbance; 6) preserve threatened or endangered species and their habitats, including pollinators’ habitats; 7) improve linkages and connections to surrounding destinations and neighborhoods; 8) use historic properties, especially those located in central business districts; and 9) incorporate appropriate security design parameters. Incorporate these environmental considerations through a systematic interdisciplinary approach, and balance these concerns with cost and security. Agencies can reference additional siting resources, including GSA’S Sustainable Facilities Tool (SFTool) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA’s) Smart Growth—Location and Green Building site, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) pollinators resources, and for projects involving historic properties, the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation & Illustrated Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings.

Option

Conform to 2018 IgCC Section 501.3.1 (5.3.1) Site Selection and 501.3.2 (5.3.2) Predesign Site Inventory and Assessment.

https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IGCC2018/copyright#IGCC2018_AppxF_SecF101.1 https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IGCC2018/copyright#IGCC2018_AppxF_SecF101.1 https://www.gsa.gov/policy-regulations/regulations/federal-management-regulation-fmr https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=4321&f=treesort&fq=true&num=260&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title42-section4321 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title54-subtitle3-divisionA-node276&num=0&saved=%7CZ3JhbnVsZWlkOlVTQy1wcmVsaW0tdGl0bGU1NC1zdWJ0aXRsZTMtZGl2aXNpb25BLWZyb250%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim https://sftool.gov/learn/about/46/sustainable-sites https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/location-and-green-building https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/location-and-green-building https://www.usda.gov/pollinators https://www.usda.gov/pollinators https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards/rehabilitation/guidelines/index.htm https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards/rehabilitation/guidelines/index.htm https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards/rehabilitation/guidelines/index.htm https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IGCC2018/chapter-5-site-sustainability https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IGCC2018/chapter-5-site-sustainability

NC&M Criteria 1.3 Stormwater Management

CORE

(S) [C/I]

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS:

Option

For new construction or modernization projects disturbing a surface area of 5,000 or more square feet, use planning, design, construction, and maintenance strategies to maintain or restore the predevelopment hydrology of the property in terms of temperature, rate, volume, and duration of flow, in accordance with statutory requirements (42 U.S.C. § 17094). Low impact development (LID) infrastructure solutions can be utilized to help achieve this criteria.

Option

For new construction or modernization projects disturbing a surface area fewer than 5,000 square feet, use site planning, design, construction, and maintenance strategies such as low impact development (LID) to manage on-site stormwater and to maintain or restore hydrologic conditions after development, to the maximum extent that is technically practicable.

Option 3 Conform to 2018 IgCC Section 501.3.4 (5.3.4) Stormwater Management.

NC&M Criteria 1.4 Infrastructure Utilization and Optimization

NON-CORE

(Std) [C/I]

Evaluate and prioritize transportation strategies and associated infrastructure improvements that promote and support alternative transportation, including walking, cycling, alternative fuel and electric vehicles, and public transit over the life of the building, as feasible and consistent with the mission of the facility.

AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS:

Option

Locate any functional entry of the project within a ¼-mile (400-meter) walking distance of existing or planned bus, streetcar, shuttle, or informal transit stops, or within a ½-mile (800-meter) walking distance of existing or planned bus rapid transit stops, light or heavy rail stations, commuter rail stations or ferry terminals, except for those facilities where their mission and function prevents mass transportation access.

Option

Install electric vehicle charging stations for a minimum of two percent of the parking spaces created as part of the project or designated for the building occupants, where on-site vehicle parking is provided.

Option

Designate at least five percent of the parking spaces created as part of the project or designated for the building occupants as preferred parking for alternative fuel vehicles (may include parking for agency fleet alternative fuel vehicles).

Option

Provide an alternative transportation program to reduce congestion and the need for parking. The program may include transit services; walkability improvements including connections to transit, sidewalks, pathways, and bicycle trails; alternative transit education;

designated rideshare areas; transit subsidies; telecommuting incentives; or bicycle racks and showers.

Option

Prior to and during the space decision process, engage planning officials at the state, metropolitan, or municipal level to identify ways proposed agency actions can support community sustainability and potentially align with local and regional long range plans and objectives. Support and integrate proposed actions into the project.

Option

Conform to 2018 IGCC Section 1001.3.2.4 (10.3.2.4) Transportation Management Plan and Section 501.3.7.3 (5.3.7.3) Site Vehicle Provisions.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A%20section%3A17094%20edition%3Aprelim%29%20OR%20%28granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title-section17094%29&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A%20section%3A17094%20edition%3Aprelim%29%20OR%20%28granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title-section17094%29&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IGCC2018/chapter-5-site-sustainability https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IGCC2018/chapter-10-construction-and-plans-for-operation

NC&M Criteria 1.5 Commissioning

(S) Employ commissioning, as defined per Section 432 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ((42 U.S.C. 8253(f)(1)(A)), and tailored to the size and complexity of the building.

AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS:

Option

Document through a commissioning process that the building and its commissioned components, assemblies, and systems (including any renewable energy systems, thermal storage, district heating and cooling system, and cooling towers) comply with the owner’s project requirements. Conduct commissioning in accordance with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Federal Energy Management Program's (FEMP) Commissioning for Federal Facilities guidance, using ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 202 or other generally accepted engineering standards, guidelines, and nationally recognized organizations.

For less complex buildings, commissioning should be performed with generally accepted engineering standards acceptable to the agency.

A certified commissioning provider (may include a qualified agency employee), independent of the design and construction or operating team, should provide, within one year of project completion, a final commissioning report.

Option

Conform to 2018 IgCC Section 1001.3.1.2 (10.3.1.2) Building Project Commissioning (Cx) Process.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-2012-title42-section8253&f=treesort&fq=true&num=0 https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/07/f17/commissioning_fed_facilities.pdf https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/07/f17/commissioning_fed_facilities.pdf

2.0 Optimize Energy Performance

NC&M Criteria 2.1 Energy Efficiency CORE (S)

For New Construction:

Ensure compliance with Federal energy efficiency performance requirements for new construction in accordance with § 109 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. § 6834(a)(3)(A)) and DOE’s regulations as established under 10 CFR parts 433, subpart A, and 10 CFR parts 435, subpart A.

Ensure installation of ENERGY STAR and FEMP-designated products in all procurements involving energy-consuming products and services, in accordance with 42 U.S.C § 8259b and 10 CFR § 436.40– 436.43.

For Modernization projects:

Ensure installation of ENERGY STAR and FEMP-designated products in all procurements involving energy-consuming products and services, in accordance with 42 U.S.C § 8259b and 10 CFR § 436.40– 436.43.

Employ strategies to improve energy performance and reduce energy usage in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 8253(a).

AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS:

Option 1 Ensure building energy use is 20 percent below a FY 2015 energy use baseline.

Option 2 Ensure building energy use is 30 percent below a FY 2003 energy use baseline.

Option 3 Ensure the building has an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher.

Option

For building types not eligible to receive an ENERGY STAR score and where adequate benchmarking data exists, demonstrate that the building is in the top quartile of energy performance for its building type.

Option

Follow the Federal energy performance requirements established under 10 CFR Parts 433 and 435 by designing to exceed ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 by at least 30 percent, where life cycle cost-effective.

NC&M Criteria 2.2 Energy Metering CORE (S)

Install building-level meters for electricity and advanced meters to the maximum extent practicable, as required by EPAct 2005 § 103 (42 U.S.C. § 8253(e)). Install standard or advanced meters for natural gas and steam to the maximum extent practical, in accordance with the DOE’s Federal Building Metering Guidance and EISA 2007 § 434 (42 U.S.C. § 8253(e)(1)).

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=2012&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title42-section6834&f=treesort&fq=true&num=0 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=842ceb32cb7a24eb33bf707adec7c82d&mc=true&node=pt10.3.433&rgn=div5#sp10.3.433.a https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=89b778b7dfdc859bfc94de80ccb25fc8&mc=true&node=pt10.3.435&rgn=div5 https://www.energystar.gov/products https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/search-energy-efficient-products https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title42-section8259b&f=treesort&fq=true&num=0&saved=%7CZ3JhbnVsZWlkOlVTQy0yMDEyLXRpdGxlNDItc2VjdGlvbjgyNTM%3D%7CdHJlZXNvcnQ%3D%7CdHJ1ZQ%3D%3D%7C0%7Cfalse%7C2012 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=89b778b7dfdc859bfc94de80ccb25fc8&mc=true&node=pt10.3.436&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=89b778b7dfdc859bfc94de80ccb25fc8&mc=true&node=pt10.3.436&rgn=div5 https://www.energystar.gov/products https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/search-energy-efficient-products https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title42-section8259b&f=treesort&fq=true&num=0&saved=%7CZ3JhbnVsZWlkOlVTQy0yMDEyLXRpdGxlNDItc2VjdGlvbjgyNTM%3D%7CdHJlZXNvcnQ%3D%7CdHJ1ZQ%3D%3D%7C0%7Cfalse%7C2012 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=89b778b7dfdc859bfc94de80ccb25fc8&mc=true&node=pt10.3.436&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=89b778b7dfdc859bfc94de80ccb25fc8&mc=true&node=pt10.3.436&rgn=div5 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:42%20section:8253%20edition:prelim) https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:42%20section:8253%20edition:prelim) https://www.energystar.gov/buildings/facility-owners-and-managers/existing-buildings/use-portfolio-manager/understand-metrics/how-1-100 https://www.energystar.gov/buildings/facility-owners-and-managers/existing-buildings/use-portfolio-manager/understand-metrics/how-1-100 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=2012&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title42-section8253&f=treesort&fq=true&num=0 https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/downloads/federal-building-metering-guidance-usc-8253e-metering-energy-use https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/downloads/federal-building-metering-guidance-usc-8253e-metering-energy-use https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=2012&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title42-section8253&f=treesort&fq=true&num=0

NC&M Criteria 2.3 Renewable Energy NON-CORE

(S) [C/I]

Evaluate applicable renewable electric energy strategies related to the project or building that could support, as needed, agency progress toward renewable energy goals where cost-effective, per 42 U.S.C. § 15852(a).

[Campus/Installation-wide approach can be utilized if the agency has assessed and can verify that the building will directly benefit from the renewable energy system. Alternatively, the agency should develop an internal energy accounting or tracking system to apportion renewable energy or attributes to the building to avoid any double counting.]

AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS:

Option

Implement, as appropriate, life cycle cost-effective on-site renewable electric or thermal energy projects.

Alternatively, utilize alternative energy systems such as waste heat, combined heat and power (CHP), or fuel cell energy systems, where life cycle cost-effective.

If on-site renewable energy or alternative energy systems are not technically feasible or life cycle cost-effective, the agency should establish an internal energy accounting or tracking system to apportion power purchases from off-site renewable sources or renewable energy certificates (RECs) to the building, as aligned with agency plans.

Option

Where appropriate and life cycle cost-effective, not less than 30 percent of the hot water demand is to be met through the installation and use of solar hot water heaters, per 42 U.S.C § 6834(a)(3)(A)(iii).

Option

Conform to 2018 IgCC Section 701.4.1.1 (7.4.1.1) On-Site Renewable Energy Systems or equivalent, with the exception that there is no minimum energy production (kBtu/ft2) requirement.

NC&M Criteria 2.4 Benchmarking CORE (S)

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS:

Option

Benchmark building performance at least annually, preferably using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, and regularly monitor building energy performance against historic performance data and peer buildings, in accordance with criteria established by DOE’s Federal Building Energy Use Benchmarking Guidance per 42 U.S.C. § 8253(f)(8).

Option

Conform to 2018 IgCC Section 1001.3.2.1.3.2 (10.3.2.1.3.2) Track and Assess Energy Consumption.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:42%20section:15852%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section15852)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true…