LEED EAp2 & EAc2 Energy Modeling: What Project Teams Need to Know

Energy model output comparing baseline and proposed building energy cost with LEED Energy & Atmosphere points credited — An energy-model output: proposed vs baseline cost and the resulting LEED Energy & Atmosphere points.

For most LEED BD+C projects, energy modeling is the engine behind the Energy & Atmosphere (EA) category — and EA is where many of the available points live. Two items drive it: the EAp2 prerequisite and the EAc2 credit. Here's how they work and what teams should prepare.

EAp2 — Minimum Energy Performance

EAp2 is a prerequisite: every project must demonstrate a minimum level of energy performance to be certified at all. For the modeled path, that means showing the proposed design beats a code baseline by a required margin. Miss it, and the project can't certify — which is why it's modeled early.

EAc2 — Optimize Energy Performance

EAc2 is the points credit. The further the proposed design outperforms the baseline, the more points it earns — one of the largest single point pools in LEED. This is where good modeling pays off directly: efficient envelope, lighting, HVAC, heat recovery, controls and renewables all translate into measurable improvement and more points.

The method: ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G

Both items are demonstrated with a whole-building energy model following ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G — the same baseline-vs-proposed framework used for code compliance. The model compares the proposed design against a standardized baseline and reports the performance improvement that maps to the prerequisite threshold and credit points. (See our explainer on Appendix G baseline vs proposed.) Newer LEED versions broaden the metrics toward carbon — see LEED v5 energy modeling.

What to prepare

Architectural drawings, areas and orientation
Envelope assemblies, U-values and glazing (U-factor, SHGC)
HVAC system types, efficiencies, ventilation and controls
Lighting power densities and lighting controls
Occupancy/operating schedules and process loads
Any on-site renewables, and your target certification level

The earlier these are modeled, the more the team can optimize design choices to maximize points cost-effectively — rather than discovering a shortfall at documentation stage.

Pursuing LEED EA points?

We build LEED EAp2/EAc2 energy models, optimize the design for maximum points, and prepare the documentation reviewers expect. Let's talk about your project.

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This article is general guidance. LEED requirements are defined by USGBC and vary by rating system and version — always confirm the current requirements for your project.