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Optimized lighting leads to optimal performance
This credit promotes efficient, high-performance lighting systems through increased controllability for building occupants. Allowing individuals control over the lighting levels in their workspaces can enhance their comfort, productivity, satisfaction, and overall wellbeing.
Better lighting controls can also increase the efficiency of your lighting system by focusing on task lighting rather than unnecessary 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., and can reduce energy use due to cooling loads by allowing...
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30 Comments
Regularly Occupied Spaces
In the new LEED Online, under Project Summary templates, the Occupant and Usage Data template, the Space Usage Type Table says the following:
Non-regularly occupied support spaces (e.g., storage, mechanical spaces, bathrooms, etc.) should be included in the Gross Area of the Space Usage Type for which they are ancillary.
So, for credits that use the total square footage of regularly occupied spacesRegularly occupied spaces are areas where workers are seated or standing as they work inside a building. In residential applications, these areas are all spaces except bathrooms, utility areas, and closets or other storage rooms. In schools, they are areas where students, teachers, or administrators are seated or standing as they work or study inside a building., is this the way this should be calculated? I'm thinking specifically of credits: IEQc6.1, IEQc6.2, IEQc8.1, and IEQc8.2.
Lauren Glasscock replied Sr. Sustainability Professional, KEMA Services, Inc. Feb 09 2010
Hi Brittany,
I was unable to see this exact language on the Project Summary template. However, I am fairly certain that the traditional definition of regularly occupied space should be referenced and used for EQc6 and EQc8. Storage, mechanical and bathrooms would all be considered Non-Regularly occupied spacesRegularly occupied spaces are areas where workers are seated or standing as they work inside a building. In residential applications, these areas are all spaces except bathrooms, utility areas, and closets or other storage rooms. In schools, they are areas where students, teachers, or administrators are seated or standing as they work or study inside a building.. For a good definition of Regularly Occupied Spaces I would go to the Definitions section of EQc8.1 or EQc8.2 in the Reference Guide. Hope that helps.
Lauren
Brittany McCollum replied Intern, Viridian Feb 09 2010
Lauren, I'm not sure that the definitions require us to exclude those spaces. I would be glad to email you the credit template for the project summary template so that you can see this language and the according chart. I will also submit this question to GBCI/LEED Online/USGBC. Since the intent of the new LEED Online is to create consistency across credits, much of the project summary information automatically updates fields in the credit templates. I really think that is the intent of this chart to determine regularly occupied spacesRegularly occupied spaces are areas where workers are seated or standing as they work inside a building. In residential applications, these areas are all spaces except bathrooms, utility areas, and closets or other storage rooms. In schools, they are areas where students, teachers, or administrators are seated or standing as they work or study inside a building. as well.
John Beeson replied Chief Mystic in Resident, betterENVIRONMENT, LLC Feb 18 2010
The Project Information form you are referencing is PI Form 3: Occupant and Usage Data and it is simply in regards to area totals, not with respect to identifying regularly occupied spacesRegularly occupied spaces are areas where workers are seated or standing as they work inside a building. In residential applications, these areas are all spaces except bathrooms, utility areas, and closets or other storage rooms. In schools, they are areas where students, teachers, or administrators are seated or standing as they work or study inside a building..
For EQc6.1, IEQc6.2, IEQc8.1, and IEQc8.2, then only regularly occupied spaces are accounted (i.g. everything except nonoccupied spaces).
John Beeson replied Chief Mystic in Resident, betterENVIRONMENT, LLC Feb 18 2010
FYI: Nonoccupied spaces include all rooms used by maintenance personnel that are not open for use by occupants. Examples are closets and janitorial, storage, and equipment rooms.
Does one "occupy" when lounging?
I'm trying to align my understanding of the meaning of "occupied" with the LEED definition: "...where workers are seated or standing while they work...".
If I have a lounge with a fairly consistent number of (transient) occupants throughout the day, is it not regularly occupied? Does it matter that these occupants are lounging, and not working?
Slothful people deserve good IEQ, too.
Jean Marais replied b.i.g. Bechtold INGENIEURGESELLSCHAFT MBH May 10 2010
I think here it may be important to remember that the core of all the LEED systems stems from a model office building. If your buildings main function includes serious lounging then it should probably considered if it will effect the long term heath of the occupant. He would have to spend a serious amount of time on a life style regular basis in the lounging space. If I had a serious lounge in my office, it may even boost my working performace...or at least my workplace moral. Happy workers are good workers to have.
Maybe one can find some definitions qualitively:
LEED BD&C Compliant Space Types for Indoor Environmental Quality Credits (p 404)
I would personally draw the line at "if one person would on average daily (on a 5 day working week, or equivalent) occupy the space for 1 hour or more then the space should be considered regularly occupied whilst occupied, meaning the demand for good IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. remains only during occupation."
P.S. as to your lounge question..."Staff Lounge" is Regularly Occupied Space according to LEED.
By LEED the criteria wording "work-related activities" would tie that in to 5 days per week.
Commercial Kitchen as Multi-occupant space
I am currently working on certifying a Dining hall facility associated with a military campus.
I maybe over worrying myself, but I am concerned the reviewers may consider a commercial kitchen space similar to an ‘open office’ with work stations which requires individualized task lighting, as opposed to a multi-occupant space which can satisfy this credit with dimmers/bi-level switching.
Has anyone certified a Dining Hall/Commercial Kitchen with some experience that can ease my concern, or let me know we need to get our task lighting as I try to my best to determine number and location of workstations?
I can see a hygienic downside to cooks/kitchen staff repeatedly reaching up/over to turn a light on and off as they move from one station or task to another. Has this played a part of anyone else’s project?
John Beeson replied Chief Mystic in Resident, betterENVIRONMENT, LLC May 20 2010
Based on Jean's response above, Stewart, I'd be inclined to consider a commercial kitchen a regularly occupied space as (from page 404 of BD+C for schools) it is a nonlearning space that is used by occupants for 1 or more hours per day to perform work-related activities. Nonetheless, one could say that not all bldg occupants have access to the commercial kitchen, but certainly the kitchen workers deserve good IEQ!
As to a shared multi-occupant space, however, it is not so clear. Each area of the kitchen could be considered an individual work station, to some degree. Just as nurses station would not be counted towards a shared multi-occupant space, but would be considered an open plan workstation and should be counted towards individual workstations, so too should the commercial kitchen.
Furthermore, if a person is likely to cumulatively spend a large part of their workday in the kitchen performing critical visual tasks, then these areas are considered regularly occupied and must address this person’s need for a quality space. If the productivity, comfort or well being of occupants is positively impacted by task lighting, then the EQc6.1 requirements must be met.
Open Office
On the bird's eye view tab it states that open office is considered like a shared multi-occupant space, however on the "getting it done" tab it sates that open office must have individual controls when people have assigned seats. Can you clarify the distinction?
Stewart Whitcomb replied Director of Consulting, Whitcomb & Associates LLC May 18 2010
Annette. I've considered 'Open offices' to have assigned workstations and so require task lighting and controls that can be set for individuals. My problem is I don't yet understand enough about a commercial kitchen space to know with certainty on which side of this fine line it will fall. I doubt the cooks and staff have assigned workstations, and they certainly don't have seats/chairs. Although I have scheduled a meeting with the kitchen operators, I would be reassured if someone has experience with this building type to advise me.
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC May 28 2010
Annette, in the Getting It Done tab we have the following tip: "An open office space counts as individually occupied when each person has an individual desk and a defined space." Let me know if this answers your question?
Stewart, since this is a Design credit you could always submit in a way that works best for your project and then re-submit for Construction if you run into problems. I could see this going either way. I would tend to see the kitchen as a multi-occupant space, but since the tasks involved can be so specific and intensive I would, as a "best practice" put care into designing the lighting for the workstations.
Office building
Dear all partner, would you like to explain to me this requirement for office building for our specific case. If our building have the response of building structure, and the fitour work for office tenants will be done by the tenant. So in this case, how we can submit this to LEED online? Can we submit docs. after we finish building structure? OR we need to wait until all spaces is rent and fit out by all tenants?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Jun 14 2010
Fabio, what you are describing sounds a like a core & shell project (CS). In LEED-CS, this credit does not exist, which would indicate to me that LEED does not see a way for you to earn it in the type of project you're describing. Should you be using LEED-CS for this project?
Fabio Frescia replied Sustainable Engineer Jun 17 2010
Dear Tristan and all partners.
I'm very happy with your instruction. Tristan's opinion is quite useful.
So, just existed one problem that I'm not clear for our project is: the building with total area is: 23,090 m2, including: Basement: 4,284 m2; office: 11,823 m2 (leasable area: 9,459 m2; service area is occupied by owner is 2,364 m2); and apartment: 6,190 m2 (corridor is 928.5 m2)
My question is: For this type of building, what rating we will use?
As my understanding, area is occupied by owner is 33%, and the rest is for lease; so we will use LEED core and shell. But we also include apartment in our building. So which one is the best application under LEED.
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Jun 20 2010
I would agree that because the largest part of the project is Core and Shell development, this is an appropriate rating system.
However, since an equal square footage is full constructed office space and apartment space, I would say you could probably pursue LEED-NC.
I would check with GBCI, and/or use the selection tool that you can go through when registering on LEED Online.
Fabio Frescia replied Sustainable Engineer Jun 24 2010
Dear Tristan,
I understand that my project will apply LEED new construction, so would you like to go back my question at the beginning?
""For office area, If our building have the response of building structure, and the fitour work for office tenants will be done by the tenant. So in this case, how we can submit this to LEED online? Can we submit docs. after we finish building structure? OR we need to wait until all spaces is rent and fit out by all tenants?"""
Thanks.
Lauren Glasscock replied Sr. Sustainability Professional, KEMA Services, Inc. Jun 25 2010
Hi Fabio,
I'm not sure I understand the entire chain but basically my advice would be to either to do LEED-CS and just include the building structure and core work and submit when that work is complete or do LEED-NC and wait until the entire building is completed.
In order to do LEED-NC you need the building to be occupied with its tenants and completed.
Hope that answers your question.
University Laboratories
Dear all,
In your opinion, is an Engineering Laboratory considered more as a classroom (and therefore a multi-occupant space) or should each table in the Lab be considered as a workstation (and therefore an individual space) for the purpose of this credit ?
The project is a NC, which is why I did not post this thread on the LEED for Schools.
Thanks for the help !
Lauren Glasscock replied Sr. Sustainability Professional, KEMA Services, Inc. Jun 20 2010
Hi George,
For the labs that I have worked on I have considered lab stations to be individual workstations. Sometimes I find that my lab stations have individual task lights built into the equipment and this helps me achieve the credit. However, EQc6.2 is usually very difficult to achieve in lab stations scenarios.
Hope that helps,
Lauren
Lighting Controls in Open Library Stack and Reading Areas
The information regarding 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. such as group meeting spaces, conference rooms, etc. is clear, however, in a library setting, there are often large open spaces (book stacks, reading lounges, etc.) that could also be defined as multi-occupant spaces where a simple on-off switch would be unacceptable. Are these kind of spaces exempt from the requirement of "controllability"?
Lauren Glasscock replied Sr. Sustainability Professional, KEMA Services, Inc. Jun 23 2010
Hi Bruce,
As far as I know, a specific instruction or exemption from the USGBC as it relates to designating 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. in a library does not exist. I also do not know of any CIRs that allow for any exceptions.
As you describe, I would designate reading lounges, book stacks, etc. as multi-occupant spaces. I assume that there is some lighting controllability in these spaces that perhaps only certain library staff can use? For example, do you have certain dimmers for certain reading events or are the lights turned down during daylight hours? I think that you might be able to make a case that controllability exists within the constraints of certain occupants in this special scenario. Remember that multi-occupant spaces just need some controllability but do not need a specific number of controls to qualify.
Lauren
Bruce Hamous replied Jun 23 2010
Thanks Lauren. Yes, the staff will have control of the lighting for these areas, just not the patrons. That's the essence of my question. Do the "patrons" need to be able to control the lighting in these large, 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. or just the staff. We will have lighting sensors which will turn the lights on or off if enough natural light in present. We will not have occupancy sensors in these spaces due to the openness of the space and the frequency of use.
Lauren Glasscock replied Sr. Sustainability Professional, KEMA Services, Inc. Jun 23 2010
I'd officially call that a gray area in LEED. Do the patrons have control in the sense that if they wanted lighting changed dramatically they could request that of the staff? I've taken that approach before.
You could also take a peek at LEED for Schools to see how libraries are addressed there for EQc6.1 but I'm not sure you can make a direct comparison.
Marian Keeler replied Senior Associate, Simon & Associates, Inc. Jul 07 2010
Hi Bruce and Lauren--We've done a couple of libraries under 2.1 and 2.2, respectively. We got a ruling that said book stacks are exempt from controllability issues. We were also able to add individual task lighting in the reading rooms to qualify. Marian
Bruce Hamous replied Jul 08 2010
Marian - Thanks for your response. I have 2 questions:
1. When you say you got a "ruling", in what form did you receive it? As a CIRCredit Interpretation Ruling. Used by design team members experiencing difficulties in the application of a LEED prerequisite or credit to a project. Typically, difficulties arise when specific issues are not directly addressed by LEED information/guide? Something in writing from GBCI? A phone call or email response? Are you willing to share the documentation or do we need to also seek the same "ruling" for our project?
2. You specifically mentioned "reading rooms". What about clusters of lounge seats or study tables that are in the same open area where the bookstacks are located and not in a separate, enclosed reading room. Task lighting is harder to accomodate in these areas although not impossible. Did your ruling include these kind of (open) areas as well?
Lauren Glasscock replied Sr. Sustainability Professional, KEMA Services, Inc. Jul 08 2010
Hi Bruce,
I'll let Marian officially respond to your questions but I'd guess her response to Question #1 would be that it wasn't a formal ruling but just an acceptance from the USGBC of how she submitted her documentation. For LEEDv2009 projects, reference to past CIRs is no longer accepted. It also unfortunately, won't help you to reference calls, emails, etc. even if they existed because they aren't sanctioned rulings.
That being said, it probably wouldn't hurt for you to look at her documentation, if she felt comfortable sharing it, and seeing what her approach was in particular that allowed it to be successful.
Lauren
Marian Keeler replied Senior Associate, Simon & Associates, Inc. Jul 13 2010
Bruce and Lauren-the ruling was in fact a CIRCredit Interpretation Ruling. Used by design team members experiencing difficulties in the application of a LEED prerequisite or credit to a project. Typically, difficulties arise when specific issues are not directly addressed by LEED information/guide, which sadly do not currently continue precedent. However, that policy is now under review by GBCI because of massive feedback and the policy will be changing, according to a reliable source inside GBCI. That said, both the libraries we worked on (one has been submitted and documentation OK'd) had open reading areas and these needed to comply with lighting and thermal comfort controls. These were/will be resolved using underfloor air and spacing registers accordingly and then using task lighting. Stacks are exempt. Unfortunately I cannot share the documentation, but would happy to provide continued input in this forum or offline. Marian
Reception Areas and Appropriate Controls
The table (Common Approaches to Lighting Controls by Building Type) listed in 'Birds Eye View' section of this credit indicates that reception areas are classified under 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.; yet, the Reference Guide (LEED NC v2.2, Third Edition) clearly has receptions areas listed under individual lighting controls (page 364). Has anyone submitted this credit for review for a clinic or hospital? What was the results of your review as it relates to the reception areas? Thanks.
Lauren Glasscock replied Sr. Sustainability Professional, KEMA Services, Inc. Jul 27 2010
My understanding is that reception desks are individual workstations. This has been my approach for all of my project documentation.
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