Overview

The Energy and Atmosphere category of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) rating system for new construction version 2.2 (LEED-NC 2.2) consists of three prerequisite subcategories and six credit subcategories that together may earn a possible 17 points (credits) maximum, not including exemplary performance points. The notation format for the prerequisites and credits is, for example, EAp1 for Energy and Atmosphere prerequisite 1 and EAc1 for Energy and Atmosphere credit 1. To facilitate cross-referencing between this text and the USGBC rating system, the second digit in a section heading, equation, table, or figure number represents the credit subcategory number for sections that deal directly with a USGBC LEED-NC 2.2 credit subcategory.

The Energy and Atmosphere (EA) portion deals with practices and policies that reduce the use of energy at the site, reduce the use of nonrenewable energy both at the site and at the energy source, and reduce the impact on the global climate, atmosphere, and environment from both activities at the site and energy sources off-site. Many of the subcategories in the Sustainable Sites category also deal with practices that may have an impact on the climate, but usually on a local scale.

The reason why Energy and Atmosphere are combined is that a significant portion of the air pollution and global climate impacts come from energy sources. Therefore reducing or changing these energy sources has a large impact on the atmosphere, particularly on a more regional or global scale. For example, fossil-based energy sources, such as fuel...