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Three separate points to pursue
In a marked change from LEED-CI 2.0, which only addressed daylighting, this credit addresses occupancy and daylighting sensorsA lighting feature that takes advantage of sunlight to cut the amount of electric lighting used in a building by varying output of the lighting system in response to variations in available daylight. They are sometimes referred to as "natural lighting control sensors " or "photocells." . Three points are available, with each of the following strategies earning you one point:
- Strategy 1: Install daylight controls or sensors within 15 feet of the windows or skylights in all...
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24 Comments
Occupancy Sensor definition
I am not seeing a definition for an occupancy sensor in the 2009 CI reference guide. Would lights that are placed on a timer that automatically shuts off after a period of time (15 min, 1hr etc.) be considered a form of occupancy sensor?
Connected lighting load include exterior lighting?
I would assume that the connected lighting load calculation for Option 2 or 3 would not include the exterior lighting since the exterior areas would not (normally) be on an occupancy sensor (photovoltaic sensor or timed instead). Can anyone confirm?
Daylight Controls for 50% of Lighting Load?
Dear all, I am working on a CI Library renovation and we have an existing cellar where the majority of the services exist (IE. Boilers, IT Servers). The cellar, which counts for 1/3 of our LEED Boundary, will generally be an area of storage (non regularly occupied space) where there is hardly any daylight. Do we have to count the cellar to pursue Point 2 - Daylight Controls for 50% Lighting Load even though there is no daylight or can we exclude this area? If we include the cellar we cannot achieve the 50% mark as there is no daylight within the existing area. However, it does not indicate whether Point 2 applies to areas that are day lit?
I would appreciate any guidance on this matter! Thanks!
Decorative Lighting
Does decorative lighting (e.g. lights used to highlight artwork, wallwashers, merchandise, etc.) need to be connected to the daylight dimming system?
Hi Melissa,
You have a few different options in this credit, which option are you pursuing? Depending on your approach the answer will differ.
For example, if you are using either the "50% of lighting load" or "75% of connected lighting load" paths, then yes, decorative lighting will need to be included.
For the first path, are your decorative lights within 15 feet of windows or skylights?
Yes Emily, the decorative lighting is within 15 ft of windows.
Typically lighting highlighting artwork is designed to be constantly lighting that artwork at a certain brightness from a certain angle. It would not necessarily make sense for that lighting to be controlled by a daylight dimming system. The sunlight "replacing the decorative lighting" would be coming into the space from a different angle and have a different quality than the lighting designed to highlight the artwork. I am wondering if LEED reviewers have ever made an exception for this type of lighting?
Though I have not encountered this particular sittuation, you could argue that the lighting should be exempt since it is for a specific purpose. I don't have an example of this working though.
Anyone else?
Would a Warehouse need to have Occupancy Sensors?
Our project includes an office area and a warehouse area. The office area will have occupancy sensors for each office, bathroom, corridors, etc. The warehouse will not have sensors. Do we have to include the warehouse area in the calculations of the total lighting load?
Hi Augusto,
If the warehouse is included in the LEED project boundary then yes it would be included. It seems like good practice especially in a warehouse, to install occupancy sensors since much of the space is not regularly occupied.
Daylight Controls required for task lighting?
It seems innappropriate to include task lights that are plug powered in the "connected lighting load" for daylighting controls. Does anyone have a precedent for how GBCI views task lights with regard to daylight controls?
Thanks!
I would like to know the answer to that as well. We actually pursue the daylight control for 50% without including task lights and got comments from GBCI to include them. I heard that other projects didn't include or the reference guide doesn't specifically mentioned to include task lights, just 'connected lighting loads'. What is the definition of 'connected lighting loads'?
Information: Regional Priority Credit on International Projects?
My understanding is that an extra Regional Priority Credit can be earned on international projects here. Does anyone have any details to the actions required to get this RPC point?
John, to secure RPCs you just need to pursue and earn those credits that have been associated for the country or sub-region designated for the RPC bonus. For instance, in HK if you go for WEc1, EAc1.1, EAc1.2, EAc1.3, EAc2 or EAc3 you will also automatically earned an RPC bonus each up to the max 4.
You can get a list of the relevant RP credits for which country or sub-region at www.usgbc.org/RPC/RegionalPriorityCredits.aspx?CMSPageID=2435
Trust this explains it all...
Steve, thanks for your prompt response to my query.
I tried the link that you provided but I was not able to get to the appropriate page for Hong Kong. I checked off "LEED 2009 for Commercial Interiors" and then I selected Hong Kong in the first drop box. HK does not have postal codes so I tried leaving it blank and also with a district, i.e. Central. I also tried "Neighbourhood Development" but still no luck.
I found this other link provided by Tristan in here: http://www.leeduser.com/topic/non-us-regional-priority-credits-added-leed.
To be sure that I understand you correctly, we just need to attain a credit point in any of the credits you mentioned above, i.e. EAc1.2 and then we would automatically get another credit point under RPC.
Since EAc1.2 has a "and/or" potential of up to 3 points, would we need to get all three to be qualify for the RPC point here or would any 1,2 or 3 suffice and then we get the 1 extra for RPC?
As another example, say EAc1.1 which is eligible for 5 credit points if 35% reduction is achieved and there is an exra EP +1 credit point if 40% reduction is achieved. Therefore, we just need to meet a reduction of at least 15% (for 1 point) to get the 1 point under RPC?
Sorry for the long come back. Thanks.
Raymond, just like in LOv3 data entry, every time you have a null entry, you must still enter a character. Try inserting zero "0" in the Zip/Postal Code field then the rest of your query will be explained, such as what is the minimum threshold RPC requirement for that credit.
Note earning RPC has no relationship with earning EP, these are 2 different sub-systems of earning bonus credits.
Steve, thank you very much. Your tip works like a charm (I should have known this since I had to do this same thing in another online system before).
The information in that link is just what I am looking for and thanks for your note. It emphsizes / clarifies the separation in the point system.
Thanks!
Does it matter where to install occupancy sensors
To earn this credit for Strategy 3, does it matter where we locate the sensors so long as we meet the minimum 75% connected light loads, right? The obvious choices would be in non-regularly occupied spacesRegularly occupied spaces are areas where one or more individuals normally spend time (more than one hour per person per day on average) seated or standing as they work, study, or perform other focused activities inside a building. such as corridors, restrooms, stairwells etc rather than the space being occupied per se.
How about in meeting rooms (multi-occupancy rooms), does that count too and double up to also secure the IEQc6.1?
Steve, it is up to you to choose the best spaces to put the occupancy sensors. It's true that some spaces are better suited for them, and some are less appropriate.
Regularly Occupied Spaces
Hello. I have a typical room in this CI project, that is used in a sporadic period during the day. In this room we have five workstation, but as i said, used about 1 hour per day. So can I consider this a non regularly space? Like as defined on Schools Rating System for example "...that are not regulary used for at least 1 hour per day." So I´m asking about this because the project team is specifying only occupancy sensor for this room that have a window in there. how can I must proceed in this case.
Thanks.
I would recommend treating this as regularly occupied space. It looks like a regular work station and in the future could easily be occupied more than one hour per day.
Restaurant Occupancy
I'm working on a CI 2009 platinum-seeking restaurant, shooting for all three points in this credit. Here's the catch: it doesn't make sense for us to put occupancy sensors in the dining room, bar, and kitchen, as these areas will be occupied during all business hours, and even if a space cleared out we would not want the lights to turn off for business purposes. Can we interpret the 75% requirement to apply only to non regularly occupied spacesRegularly occupied spaces are areas where one or more individuals normally spend time (more than one hour per person per day on average) seated or standing as they work, study, or perform other focused activities inside a building., or is this point only attainable if we add unusable sensors? Thanks very much!
Hi Max,
I've designed plenty of restaurants where there would have been purpose to occupancy sensors in both the front and back of the house. There are times when it would be an energy efficiency measure to have an occupancy triggered control to turn off some lighting. Restaurant spaces are occupied by light staff during plenty of hours when the restaurant isn't open to the public. It would be useful to assure that lighting is controlled to a service scene that might use less power than the full show for the public.
Occupancy sensors are inexpensive and have a pretty quick payback even in spaces that see little use. If your project is in certain jurisdictions, incentives and tax deductions cut the cost for occupancy sensors to something pretty nominal. I believe you're in the Pacific Northwest - you might check out Seattle City Light's program - http://www.seattle.gov/light/conserve/business/cv5_fi.htm.
Remind your client that the most expensive thing in a restaurant isn't an energy efficiency measure - it's an empty seat. So put in a few basic controls and focus on the food!
Good luck!
Discrepancy between Reference Manual and Template
I am seeing a discrepancy between the LEED template and the IDC reference manual for EAc1.2.
The reference manual for second point (B) states the daylighting must be for 50% of the lighting load. The template states 50% of the connected lighting load in daylit areas. Which is it - total lighting load or lighting load in daylit areas. Second, if it is the later, what is the definition of a daylit area (15 feet from window or skylight)?
Thanks
We got clarification on this question from GBCI directly:
"The current template is a BETA version and I can see the discrepancy. The issue is fixed for the post-BETA form which will be available shortly. The appropriate calculation for OPTION B is using the total lighting load in all areas.
Daylit space for this credit is 15’ from window or skylight."
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