If they are not enclosed and are just comfortable chairs, they probably won't be considered shared multi occupant work areas. In some cases a floor lamp or different lighting can help define these spaces and make them more appealing, but that's a design issue...

Felipe, I don't know—where are you seeing those terms?

We were just wondering about this, too. In the online template under Table IEQc6.1-1, there is a pull-down menu that allows you to select the "Lighting Control Type." The options are Multiple Mode, Dimmer, Multiple Circuit On/Off, Task Lighting On/Off, and Other. We primarily have occupancy sensors throughout our project, so I'm not sure if that falls under Multiple Mode or Other. I couldn't find anything in the definitions, so any guidance would be helpful. Thanks!

Hi Jill,

Occupancy Sensors on their own don't count unless they have a manual override. The intent of the credit is to allow users to modify their lighting.

That makes sense. We do have manual overrides, yet I'm still not sure if that counts as a Multiple Mode or Other lighting control type when filling out the template on LEED Online.....

Hi Jill. That's great that you have manual overrides. My sense is that the choice would be the same choice as that which you would choose for a regular on/off switch assuming all occupancy sensors have manual override switches. Hope that helps a bit....I don't have the Letter Template open now so I can't say definitively. It seems that neither Multiple mode or Other would be quite right.

Sounds like multiple mode refers to multiple scene options, e.g. AV, Lectern, Panel Presentation, Whiteboard....

David,

First, just to clarify, I assume you mean EQc6.1 and not EQc7.1?

As you've noted you will need to note each workstation within the open office space as an individual workstation and - as such - you will need to show task lighting for 90% of your workstations. This will need to match the form exactly for EQc6.1. Was EQc6.2 accepted in your original review and did your EQc6.2 show the open office area with individual workstations (warranting individual thermal comfort controls)? If your reviewer accepted that open office area as a multi-occupant space for EQc6.2 but not for EQc6.1 then they are in the wrong and not you. However, if EQc6.2 is already accepted as is then you should be fine for letting that continue as presented to the reviewer. In meeting the reviewer's request for EQc6.1 all that you can do is simply address their specific issue and complaint; it sounds like in this case it is just the issue of having task lights for your cubicles.

Can you help to clarify further and I'll try to help more?

Lauren, I was mistaken, we did not attempt IEQc6.2, but we do not have each cubicle listed as it's own individual workstation, only the private offices. I assume this means that to acheive this point we need to re-designate the spaces with cubicles from mulit-occupant spaces to a whole lot of individual workstations? Thanks.

David. I apologize for the late response. You are correct in your interpretation. I hope it all got figured out.

Diana, When you say 6 tables do these 6 tables have 6 people sitting at them? If so, you would need those 6 people to have controllability of their own individual lighting and not just general lighting of the cluster. Does the dimmer allow for a variance in lighting over the 6 tables or does it change them all at once?

If you have 6 tables, but really only 3 people that sit there and rotate in and out depending on the day then I think you can possibly make a case for calling it 3 workstations. It's mostly in how you describe and make your case through your documentation that matters. Reviewers will be looking to see a match between furniture layout and controls. For instance, desks are often an indicator to a reviewer that that desk should have its own control.

Good luck.

Lauren, thank you for your response. Our "cluster" of 6 tables will be occupied by 6 people working on different things at the same time. So, one dimmer that changes lighting all at once cannot be considered sufficient enough control to get this credit. All clear. Thank you again.

No problem, Diana...yes, I think that's right. As I'm sure you're aware, even if you cannot get the point some degree of controllability is always nice to provide.

The intent of the credit is that individuals may want different light levels based on what they are doing, and based on what their individual needs are. Some people need more light to read, some want lower light for AV reasons, and others can read effectively in lower light levels (like my kids do!). So an occupancy sensor doesn't give the individuals the ability to control the lights. In addition, an occ sensor with an override still leaves only two levels - on or off - which LEED reviewers have said in the past is not enough to qualify as "controllability." You may make the argument if it is a perimeter space that an occ sensor override with operable blinds at the windows is offering everyone some adjustability, but I have not seen that successfully argued.

Hi Amanda,

Yeah, I'd suggest making the case that it's not a regularly occupied space. For instance, I don't believe a coat check area is a regularly occupied "office" but I guess I could be missing some details. Is someone sitting at the coat check during running hours? Or, like Jonathan said, I'd adjust the light switches to include manual overrides to help accomplish the requirements. Occupancy sensors help meet goals of energy efficiency but, unfortunately, don't meet the intent of EQc6.1 which is all about controllability for occupants.

Lauren

Per Jonathan's comment above, I've recently received a reviewer comment that seems to be saying that an occupancy sensor with an a manual override does not meet the requirements of the credit. (Our project incuded "huddle rooms" for 4 people that have occ sensors w manual override and no other controls). We have achieved this credit using this strategy several times before, and I don't see anything in the Reference Guide or elsewhere that says this is unacceptable. Does anyone have thoughts about how I might respond to this?

Hi Julie,

I am surprised that teams are having trouble with using occupancy sensors with manual override. I've used this path many times for multi-occupant spacesConference rooms, classrooms and other indoor spaces used as a place of congregation for presentations, trainings, etc. Individuals using these spaces share the lighting and temperature controls and they should have, at a minimum, a separate zone with accessible thermostat and an air-flow control. Group multi-occupant spaces do not include open office plans that contain individual workstations.. Assuming that you're using them for multi-occupant spaces (and not for individual workstations) and assuming that it is clearly described in your narrative that there are manual overrides for the occupancy sensors then I'm not sure why it's not passing.

The RG only states for multi-occupant spaces that you must "provide lighting system controls for all shared multi-occupant spaces to enable adjustments that meet group needs and preferences". I can't see how occupancy sensors with a manual override wouldn't comply with that stated requirement.

Interestingly, under the LEED 2009 IDC RG, includes occupancy sensors under Figure 2 on page 371. Sensors are also included within the Definition section of the credit, on page 372.

Thanks for your quick response, Lauren. I just looked at Figure 2 on p. 371, and the figure itself (in my RG anyway) has an arrow pointing at a dimming switch and labelled: "Control Options: dimmer switches step dimming bi-level switching multi zones" [sic]. Perhaps that is trying to tell me those are my ONLY options! The text below the figure says "a lighting control system that is remotely programmed or uses occupancy sensors to turn lamps on and off can save energy when areas are not in use"... but it doesn't say that occ sensors (or lighting controls) would get us the credit. Perhaps my best bet is to argue inconsistency between this ruling and others we've gotten.

Hi Julie,

Yeah, my RG says the same thing too. I couldn't find an explicit endorsement of using occupancy sensors. I agree that referencing inconsistencies as well as re-stating the intent of the credit and its requirements should help.

good luck!

Hi Sam,

I have never seen a project approach EQc6.1 compliance through the sole use of daylight. I have only seen the use of operable windows for meeting EQc6.2. Daylighting can be part of your overall lighting strategy in that you can reduce your ambient lightingLighting in a space that provides for general wayfinding and visual comfort, in contrast to task lighting, which illuminates a defined area to facilitate specific visual work. levels for spaces if you have task lights and daylight incorporated into your design.

Where in the Reference Guide do you see that daylighting is a means toward compliance? Have others on LEEDuser, tried submitting through blind controls of windows?

Best,
Lauren

We always submit the detail of the furniture showing the task lights in the cubes and lighting drawings with highlighted switches /dimmer switch. Our architectural drawings include the furniture to allow the reviewer to verify the count.

Hi Robert,

I would show a furniture layout plan and I would upload an electrical plan. If the task lighting is incorporated into the cubicle than I'd upload the cutsheet for that cubicle showing the task light. If the task light is separate, than I'd upload the cut sheet of that separate task light. It sounds like you're in excellent shape for achievement of the credit. Remember that other "individual workstations" beyond cubicles might need to be included such as a receptionist's desk. Also, remember that occupancy sensors do not assist with compliance but simple light switches do. This credits all about the occupants having control over their space.

Good luck,
Lauren

Kimberley
We haven't come across this situation in any of our CI projects, yet. It is understood that the wall on/off switch in a private office should suffice the credit requirements as long as the space occupied by only one person. The reference guide does have the suggestion to include task lights for individual controls, but may not be a requirement as a basis of rejecting the credit. I would request a revised review from GBCI with the complete explanation of how each private office is to be occupied by only one person who has full control of the lights in the room. Maybe the detailed narrative will do the trick. Good luck!

Hi Kimberly and Shillpa,

I agree with Shillpa in that, I too, believe that one light switch provided for a private office is sufficient. The reviewer may have misunderstood the context.

The acceptability of on/off switches for private offices has not changed from LEEDv2.2 and LEEDv2009.

Good luck!
Lauren

Hi Michele,

It's true that LEED was originally designed for office spaces and it doesn't always play nicely with other kinds of project types. That being said, I'd take a peek at LEED for Schools because it sounds like you have a similar situation where it makes sense for certain people to have access to controls but not all. For instance, LEED for schools states that classrooms need to provide a lighting system that operates in at least 2 modes: general illumination and A/V. Do your exhibit spaces have multiple control capabilities?

I'd submit a narrative describing the role of these highly controlled rooms and describe how certain indiduals are in charge of the controls. Stress how many control settings exist for the few that can control them.

Good luck.
Lauren

Documented this for a student center on a college campus where only the facilities personnel - not the students - had access to the lighting controls and there was no problem. There were variable settings via controls.

Hi Megan,

Yes, multi-level overhead lighting is sufficient to meet the requirements of EQc6.1 for individual offices. Any form of a light control in an individual office would be sufficient; often this is achieved with just one light switch for one office space. It gets a little more tricky if you have a couple employees per office or in an open office work enviornment.

But, one light switch and one office space results in 100% controllability for that space.

Lauren

In the past we have not had issues with enclosed offices being considered meeting this credit. However, I believe you will see increased emphasis on the fixture light output being adjustable. If the overhead fixtures are simply on/off, that does not appear to meet the intent of the requirement to adjust lighting to meet needs.

Hi Christopher,

Interestingly enough, this came up recently for one of our projects.

My understanding is that you are correct. It's a little different in California. In CA, I am told that Title-24 2005 requires you to include task lights in your LPDLighting power density (LPD) is the amount of electric lighting, usually measured in watts per square foot, being used to illuminate a given space. calculation.

I think it meets the intent of EAc1.1, in general, to provide a lower LPD with the use of task lights. Page 155 of the LEED-CI Reference Guide actually notes that task lighting may be used to supplement general lighting. On a side note, I think EAc1.4 is intended to address the plug loads but unfortunately only includes equipment and appliances.

Lauren

While in the past we were able to not include task lighting for some projects, this is no longer the case. Task lighting must be included unless occupancy sensors are provided.

No, Christopher. I have just been denied EA cr1.1 until I provide additional information on all of the "permanently installed" task lighting to be used in the space. Although I would have understood this in order to maintain consistency with EA cr6.1, we did not claim the task lighting under that credit either. So you need to do it either way.

Hi Amanda,

Does it mean that all task lighting that is submitted for IEQ 6.1 should also be included in the LPDLighting power density (LPD) is the amount of electric lighting, usually measured in watts per square foot, being used to illuminate a given space. calculation for EA Cr 1.1 even if it is table lamps (plug load and not fixed task lighting) ?

Please advice.