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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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14 Comments
IEQcr6.1 for Industrial nave
We are working on a Industrial project in Mexico, we are providing to all workstations, administrative offices and shared, multi- occupant spaces the individual light control, BUT, this project includes steel pipe manufacturing and some activities of the personal doesn´t require a permanent workstation or a workstation at all, many workers are just moving materials, etc. Do we have to include anyway this (large) number of people into the calculations? They represent the 30% of employees.
You might find a comment I made on March 29, 20011 in the NC-2009 forum for this same credit relevant for your situation:
On a 2.2 project, I've seen this credit accepted when a detailed analysis of all spaces/ uses/ lighting needs/ and lighting controls was provided. The team provided a table listing all spaces within the building (not just rooms, but all spaces with different activities) in rows, and the columns listed the use, the task performed, the occupancy, frequency or duration of use, lighting requirements for that kind of task (such as ambient only, task + ambient, multiple levels of ambient, multiple zones, etc) and then the type of lighting controls provided.
This helps you to be more precise about the level of controls that is appropriate for the specific "needs and preferences" that can vary from space to space. No assurance that this method would be accepted by all reviewers, but hopefully it would be considered a valid and reasonable approach.
I agree with David. I think a good narrative goes a long way with this credit and the more you can describe to the reviewer the activities going on in your space, the better. The reviewer wants to make sure that the intent of the credit is met. I think you could -- in the case -- argue for the manufacturing floor to be a multi-occupant space and then make sure that the space has controls that meet the needs, collectively, of those in that space.
Thank you guys!
Lighting Contollability for a Grocery Store
Would anyone have any strategies for attempting this credit for a grocery store? We are working on LEED documentation for a grocery store and are finding it difficult to attempt the credit because of the building type. It's easy to figure out the lighting controls for the offices and meeting rooms, but all other spaces are difficult to categorize. I've read the 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 dated 6/12/2006 that discusses grocery stores and lighting controls, however I'm looking for more information. For example, is task lighting needed at the registers? How would one approach that problem? I'd hate to let this credit slip by just because we're not taking the right approach. If anyone could offer some advice I'd really appreciate it. Thank you
Hi Lisa,
I am currently working on a coffee shop and have run into similar problems. I am not familiar with the 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 you mention. What are its details? I know that LEED generally encourages areas like Nurse's Stations and Cubicles to be included as Individual Workstations. I've also worked on an Animal Shelter and have included computer stations (that were sporadically used) as workstations with lighting task lights...
EQc6.1 is a great example of a credit that was truly originally designed for an office space and so doesn't work nicely for any other building type.
In the case of my coffee shop, we have added some task lights for patrons to sit and read or work inside the space. We also have an individual light fixture for the interior office space. Aside from these two applications, we are not adding lighting controls for the cash register nor other "stations" in the cafe such as the barista area.
It's a tricky one, and I'm not personally sure that I will gain the credit with this approach. However, every time I work on a project, I try to ensure that my approach is reasonable for the project as a whole as well as trying to align with LEED.
I'd be interested to hear what other folks have to say regarding this credit.
Good luck,
Lauren
LEED Canada EQ 6.1
The NC v1 Reference guide says perimeter areas fall within 5 metres (15 ft) of the perimeter wall, the letter template says within 4.5 metres (14.76 ft), and the addendum does not address this discrepancy. Which one should I use? I am guessing the template.
As well, in open concept kitchens with large openings to the living room area, can that be counted as one large room? The kitchen area does not have a connection to the building exterior. Thank you so much for your help!
For the first question, I would go with the template.
For the second question, it sounds like you have some discretion. How does it impact your credit compliance?
A credit hinges on it because if the kitchen is it's own room, we do not have the supply ventilation requirements. If it can be counted as one large room, it is ok.
Thanks!
IEQc6.1 Controlability of system lighting
I have one question regarding Lighting controls. If the individual workstation space lighting is operating 24 hrs ,still needs to provide individual lighting controls to achieve this credit? or can we provide confirmation letter from the client sayong that the particular area light is operating 24hrs/day. Can anyone help me?
Yes, you still need to provide controllability. What if there is a time of the day when the light is too bright, too dim, etc.? The intent of the credit is to put adjustments in the hand of the occupant—not to just have a rigid lighting plan. Also, if the program changes at some point, this will enable the lighting to be adjusted appropriately.
What kind of space is it? If it's a warehouse or factory floor, there are ways to still meet the credit. See LEEDuser's guidance above.
EQc6.1 and EQc6.2 Coordination
I'm working on a 136 guest room hotel under LEED NC v2.2. It is my understanding that the guest rooms meet the definition of 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.. I'm having difficulty, however, deciding if the guest rooms should be treated as individual workstations or if they'd fall into the multi-occupant category for the purposes of completing the template.
We have 8 workstations and/or designated staff work areas and 136 guestrooms in addition to a number of spaces that are easily defined as multi-occupant. For EQc6.1, my electrical engineer has indicated the number of individual workstations as 8, and has placed the 136 guestrooms under the multi-occupant category and explained the localized individual lighting controllability within the guestroom suites within his narrative. However, for EQc6.2, my mechanical engineer has indicated the number of individual workstations as 144 (8 workstations + 136 guestrooms) and has explained the individual thermal controllability for each of the 144 spaces.
Both approaches seem to make sense and I fully understand why each placed the guest rooms in the category that they did. However, the reviewer for the preliminary review has dinged us on both credits, suggesting that the number of work stations has to be consistent between the two credits, although no advice for how to treat the guest rooms was given.
Can anyone please help me determine how the guest rooms should be classified - individual workstation or multi-occupant space - to coordinate the two credits?
You may be better off using the "alternative path" check box at the end of the letter template and providing a detailed narrative for both credits that describes the controls for offices and guest rooms, including all the occupancy numbers, numbers of thermostats, number of light controls, etc. We've used this method to document these credits in multi-family projects without trying translate units into the workstation categories.
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