For an existing building project to earn LEED certification with an unmetered original building, what must be true?

For an existing building project seeking LEED certification without an original building meter in place, it is essential that only the addition's energy use is metered. This approach allows the project to evaluate and manage the energy performance specifically within the new addition while recognizing that the existing building's performance may not have reliable metrics without prior metering.

By focusing on metering just the energy use of the addition, the project can still make considerable strides in assessing energy efficiency improvements and implementing energy-saving measures. This practice aligns with the LEED framework's goal of enhancing building performance while accommodating the complexities of existing structures that may not have been previously metered.

Metering the entire structure or requiring a separate meter for renewable energy would impose unnecessary burdens and may not be feasible or practical, particularly for existing buildings without prior energy tracking systems in place. Documenting the existing energy use, while potentially useful, does not inherently support the necessary actions for the certification in terms of effective energy management for new projects. Thus, focusing on the addition ensures that the project can still measure its energy impact effectively.