Proposed LEED Credit for Electrical Load Shedding

The cost of energy is a significant percentage of the operating expense for most buildings. Energy used within buildings is supplied primarily by electricity. Demand for electricity used in industrial and agricultural applications is frequently leveled by shifting portions of peak loads to non-peak periods. Leveling electrical loads reduces the utility's carbon footprint and the cost of generating power. Resulting savings are commonly shared with customers through economic incentives. Similar techniques can be applied to control the energy demand of buildings, with benefits for both the electrical utility and electricity users. This paper provides an overview of electrical load-shedding techniques, outlines some of the benefits and problems associated with each, and discusses how some of these techniques are currently being applied to reduce the total electrical load for buildings. The paper also proposes a LEED credit which provides an incentive for owners and tenants to incorporate one or more load-shedding systems into LEED certified buildings to lower peak electrical demand.