What baseline period is typically used for energy usage within the LEED rating system?

The typical baseline period used for energy usage within the LEED rating system is one year of continuous energy consumption data. This duration allows for a comprehensive assessment of a building's energy performance over time, capturing variations in energy usage due to seasonal changes, different occupancy levels, and operational characteristics. By gathering a full year of data, the project team can establish a more accurate baseline from which to measure improvements in energy efficiency or the effectiveness of implemented strategies.

Using one year as the baseline also aligns with industry standards and best practices for energy benchmarking, enabling comparability with similar buildings and national databases. This approach provides a clearer picture of the inherent energy usage patterns and performance of a building, which is critical for effective energy management and achieving LEED certification.