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LEED v2008
Homes
Indoor Environmental Quality
Outdoor air ventilation

LEED CREDIT

Homes-v2008 EQc4: Outdoor air ventilation 1-3 points

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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Prerequisites

4.1 Basic outdoor air ventilation. Design and install a whole building ventilation system that complies with ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007. A summary of alternatives is provided below, but the HVAC contractor should review and follow the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007, Sections 4 and 7.
  1. Mild climate exemption. A home built in a climate with fewer than 4,500 infiltration degree-days3 is exempt from this prerequisite.
  2. Continuous ventilation. Meet the ventilation requirements in Table 1 below.
  3. Intermittent ventilation. Use Equation 4.2 of ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007 to demonstrate adequate ventilation air flow.
  4. Passive ventilation. Have a passive ventilation system approved and verified by a licensed HVAC engineer as providing ventilation equivalent to that achieved by continuous ventilation systems as described in Table 1.

Credits

4.2 Enhanced outdoor air ventilation (2 points). Meet one of the following:a. In mild climates (fewer than 4,500 infiltration degree-days), install a whole-building active ventilation system that complies with ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007.

OR

b. Install a system that provides heat transfer between the incoming outdoor air stream and the exhaust air stream, such as a heat-recovery ventilator (HRV) or energy-recovery ventilator (ERV). The heat recovery system must be listed by a certified testing lab (e.g., UL, ETL).4.3 Third-party performance testing (1 point). Have a third-party test the flow rate of air brought into the home, and verify that the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007 are met. In exhaust-only ventilation systems, install exhaust ducts according to Table 7.1 of ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007, and either test the flow rate out of the home or conduct air flow tests to ensure back-pressure of ≤ 0.20 inches w.c.
Table 1 Minimum Air Flow Requirements for Continuous Ventilation Systems, in cfm

Conditioned floor area (ft2)

Bedrooms

0, 1

2, 3

4, 5

6, 7

> 7

≤ 1,500

30

45

60

75

90

1,501–3,000

45

60

75

90

105

3,001–4,500

60

75

90

105

120

4,501–6,000

75

90

105

120

135

6,001–7,500

90

105

120

135

150

> 7,500

105

120

135

150

165

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USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Prerequisites

4.1 Basic outdoor air ventilation. Design and install a whole building ventilation system that complies with ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007. A summary of alternatives is provided below, but the HVAC contractor should review and follow the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007, Sections 4 and 7.
  1. Mild climate exemption. A home built in a climate with fewer than 4,500 infiltration degree-days3 is exempt from this prerequisite.
  2. Continuous ventilation. Meet the ventilation requirements in Table 1 below.
  3. Intermittent ventilation. Use Equation 4.2 of ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007 to demonstrate adequate ventilation air flow.
  4. Passive ventilation. Have a passive ventilation system approved and verified by a licensed HVAC engineer as providing ventilation equivalent to that achieved by continuous ventilation systems as described in Table 1.

Credits

4.2 Enhanced outdoor air ventilation (2 points). Meet one of the following:a. In mild climates (fewer than 4,500 infiltration degree-days), install a whole-building active ventilation system that complies with ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007.

OR

b. Install a system that provides heat transfer between the incoming outdoor air stream and the exhaust air stream, such as a heat-recovery ventilator (HRV) or energy-recovery ventilator (ERV). The heat recovery system must be listed by a certified testing lab (e.g., UL, ETL).4.3 Third-party performance testing (1 point). Have a third-party test the flow rate of air brought into the home, and verify that the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007 are met. In exhaust-only ventilation systems, install exhaust ducts according to Table 7.1 of ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007, and either test the flow rate out of the home or conduct air flow tests to ensure back-pressure of ≤ 0.20 inches w.c.
Table 1 Minimum Air Flow Requirements for Continuous Ventilation Systems, in cfm

Conditioned floor area (ft2)

Bedrooms

0, 1

2, 3

4, 5

6, 7

> 7

≤ 1,500

30

45

60

75

90

1,501–3,000

45

60

75

90

105

3,001–4,500

60

75

90

105

120

4,501–6,000

75

90

105

120

135

6,001–7,500

90

105

120

135

150

> 7,500

105

120

135

150

165

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