In commercial office buildings, space heating and cooling typically represent the largest portion of energy consumption, particularly when mechanical HVAC systems are in use. LEED v4 emphasizes targeting the most energy-intensive systems first for optimization.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and referenced in LEED study materials:
“Space heating, ventilation, and cooling together account for more than 40% of total energy use in commercial buildings.”
LEED’s EA Credit: Optimize Energy Performance encourages strategies like high-efficiency HVAC systems, building envelope improvements, and passive design to reduce this load.
While refrigeration and office equipment do use energy, their share in typical office buildings is comparatively small. Refrigeration is more significant in retail or food service projects.
A. Refrigeration – Low energy share in offices
B. Ventilation – Important, but typically paired with heating/cooling
C. Office equipment – Minor energy load due to efficiency standards (e.g., ENERGY STAR)
D. Space heating – Primary energy consumer in offices, especially in colder climates
Therefore, Option D offers the greatest reduction potential in a typical commercial office scenario.
