Which credit may be pursued under the Energy and Atmosphere category in either performance or prescriptive pathway?

The correct answer is tied to the flexibility offered within the Energy and Atmosphere category, where certain credits can be approached through either performance or prescriptive pathways. The credit for Domestic Hot Water Distribution System allows project teams to select the pathway that best suits their project's needs.

This credit provides options for improving the efficiency of hot water distribution, which can substantially impact a building's overall energy performance. The performance pathway typically involves modeling and demonstration of energy savings achieved through specific design and operational strategies. In contrast, the prescriptive pathway offers a set of predefined measures that must be implemented to achieve compliance, making it accessible for projects at various stages of development.

The other choices are more specialized. For instance, Energy Simulation generally involves detailed modeling, which may not always align with prescriptive approaches, while Renewable Energy focuses primarily on energy generation rather than distribution efficiency. Energy Efficient Design deals more specifically with overall design strategies rather than the distribution systems alone. Thus, Domestic Hot Water Distribution System stands out as a credit available for both performance and prescriptive approaches, providing valuable flexibility to project teams.