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What you need
All 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. (like classrooms or auditoriums) must have at least one occupant comfort control. Multifamily housing must also have one control per unit.
For individual spaces or open-plan offices, at least 50% of occupants must be able to control their...
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28 Comments
Office workspace with VAV
I have an office building, with open workspaces, each of a VAVVariable Air Volume (VAV) is an HVAC conservation feature that supplies varying quantities of conditioned (heated or cooled) air to different parts of a building according to the heating and cooling needs of those specific areas. box that supply through different number of diffusersIn an HVAC context, diffusers disperse heating, cooling, or ventilation air as it enters a room, ideally preventing uncomfortable direct currents and in many cases, reducing energy costs and improving indoor air quality (IAQ). In light fixtures, diffusers filter and disperse light., and I do have one control over each VAV box, where all occupants can have access to that controller, does that count as 100% control?
Another issue is that the LEED score card counts the number of spaces that are provided with individual control, not the number of occupants, does that mean that a space with VAV box having inspace controller counts as "space provided with individual control" for LEED score card?
Omar,
In terms of the individual controllers, the only controls that count are where you have one person per control. In other words, it is my understanding, that you cannot have multiple occupants using one control and then count that as 100% controllability. If each person could control the air flow through their own personalized diffuser then that could count.
And, you want to think about this credit in terms of individual workstations and not in terms of occupants. I would start by counting and designating all of your individual workstations as an initial exercise.
Lauren
Lauren,
Thanks for your help, I understand now that: it's better for me to count my space a a shared multi-occupant space,, is that what you mean?
And in both cases, how shall we deal with the LEED score card itself? I find it strange somehow that it counts the percentage in terms of the number of spaces, not the number of occupants, which contradicts (as I think) with the credit intent (50% of building occupants)..
Hi Omar,
If you have an open workstation space then you should not count it as a multi-occupant space but should instead count it as one workstation per desk. Therefore, you need to have 50% of your individual workstations with controls. This is a difficult thing obviously for many office spaces. However, usually it is accomplished through a combination of windows and/or diffusersIn an HVAC context, diffusers disperse heating, cooling, or ventilation air as it enters a room, ideally preventing uncomfortable direct currents and in many cases, reducing energy costs and improving indoor air quality (IAQ). In light fixtures, diffusers filter and disperse light. and/or thermostats.
I agree that the language can be a bit confusing but you'll need to make sure that you're really thinking about it in terms of each workstation/desk having controllability instead of thinking about your FTEFull-time equivalent (FTE) represents a regular building occupant who spends 8 hours a day (40 hours a week) in the project building. Part-time or overtime occupants have FTE values based on their hours per day divided by 8 (or hours per week divided by 40). Transient Occupants can be reported as either daily totals or as part of the FTE. Residential occupancy should be estimated based on the number and size of units. Core and Shell projects should refer to the default occupancy table in the Reference Guide appendix. All occupant assumptions must be consistent across all credits in all categories. or number of people in your space.
Lauren
ahaa, great, this is more applicable, and does explain the LEED score cards method of counting.
thanks Lauren, that was really helpful, I shall apply as soon as I get to the office :)
Definition of Multi-occupant Spaces
Could someone help me with defining ‘multi-occupant spaces’, please? I do understand classrooms, conference room and lecture halls are categorized as ‘multi-occupant spaces.’ How about research labs, prep rooms, café kitchen, office breakrooms?
Sometimes the easiest way for me to do this is to first figure out where my individual workstations are because these are generally more straightforward. Then I know that the other spaces are probably multi-occupant if they are in fact also regularly occupied.
For instance, I would probably consider a research lab to be a multi-occupant space unless there were lab desks where individuals would benefit from individual controllability. Kitchens and break rooms are 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. as they are places of congregation. Obviously, closets and bathrooms are excluded as they are not “regularly occupied spaces”.
Residential Building
the template for this credit only allows entering data for an office building, how do i fill this out in case of a residential building.
Hi Razan,
I'd call bedrooms Individual Workspaces and I'd list common areas like Dining Rooms 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..
Lauren
Eq 6.1 and T-Stat locations
We are beginning to work on LEED certification for a string of convenience stores. On one of the first stores to be designed all of the thermostats for the three rooftop units serving the store were located in a back receiving room. If we believe that ability to control these thermostats would provide 50% of the employees with thermal comfort of their workspace are still satisfying 6.2 even if the actual thermostat isn't located in the space?
Hi Jacob,
I would take a look at LEED for Retail as they have particular guidance on achieving this credit and EQc6.1 for retail scenarios. It seems that you could comply with the requirements noted below so long as these thermostats are accessible to all employees and that they control at least 50% of the spaces where your employees are.
LEED for Retail (http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=7956) states: Provide individual thermal comfort controls for 50% (minimum) of retail employees in office and administrative spaces to enable adjustments to suit individual task needs and preferences. Operable windows can be used in lieu of comfort controls for occupants of areas that are 20 feet inside of and 10 feet to either side of the operable part of the window. The areas of operable window must meet the requirements of ASHRAE 62.1–2007, paragraph 5.1, Natural Ventilation (with errata but without addenda2)."
CIR on wireless thermostats
I submitted 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 to GBCI regarding the use of wireless thermostats. I thought I would share the results with everyone since these devices will be used more frequently in the future.
Credit Interpretation Request:
The current project design is a VAVVariable Air Volume (VAV) is an HVAC conservation feature that supplies varying quantities of conditioned (heated or cooled) air to different parts of a building according to the heating and cooling needs of those specific areas. system that has one (1) thermostat (t-stat) for each VAV box (a zone), and each VAV box can serve up to 6 rooms. The project team would like to achieve this credit in a low-cost manner and utilize wireless t-stats to provide additional t-stats to meet the credit requirement. The wireless t-stats would be tied to the existing VAV box. The wireless t-stats would be setup in a manner that would average the settings among the t-stats to control the VAV box (Example: 1 regular t-stat and 2 wireless t-stats on 1 VAV box to serve 6 offices. The t-stats have a temperature setting of 70, 72, and 74 degrees respectively. The VAV box would average the temperature for that zone to 72 degrees). Another manner to utilize the t-stats would be to prioritize a t-stat based on the "importance" of the person who controls the t-stat (Example: 1 regular t-stat and 2 wireless t-stats on 1 VAV box to serve 6 offices. The t-stats have a temperature setting of 70, 72, and 74 degrees respectively. The "important" person sets their t-stat at 74 degrees, and the VAV places more of a weighting on that temperature setting, and the VAV box would set the temperature at 73 degrees). Does the deployment of the additional wireless t-stats in these two examples meet the intent and requirement of this credit?
Ruling:
The applicant is proposing to meet the credit requirements forEQc6.2 Controllability of Systems, Thermal Comfort by providing multiple
thermostats connected to one VAV box, totaling controls for 50% of the spaces served by the VAV box. The applicant states that the thermostat settings would be averaged, using either a standard averaging or weighted averaging, to determine the final VAV box supply air temperature set-point. It appears that the proposed approach could lead to a situation where most occupants or no occupants are satisfied. The intent of EQc6.2 is to provide a high level of thermal comfort control by individual occupants to promote the productivity, comfort and well-being of building occupants and to suit individual task needs and preferences. Based on the information provided, the system design proposed will not meet the intent of the credit.
Mark, that's interesting—thanks for sharing. Do you think it's a fair response?
(I should take a moment and remind our forum readers that CIRs like this are project-specific and not officially precedent setting. That said, they may offer some useful hints on GBCI thinking.)
I can understand the response to a degree. However, it really isn't feasible to deploy a large number of thermostats in cubicle areas (and in some office area environments). I believe wireless t-stats are an excellent means to help address this item, and GBCI should be more open to alternative means to achieve this credit. There are few projects that achieve this credit because it is not cost-effective, and the use of technology and low-cost methods are what architects and contractors are looking for regarding sustainable solutions, and I believe this is an example of such a solution.
Thanks for sharing your 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 Mark. This is an interesting question and an interesting response. I agree that this credit is nearly impossible to achieve in a commercial open office work environment with cubicles. I also agree that the GBCI could be more open in accepting these more cost-effective alternatives.
I think the first example you provided is a reasonable sequence of operation. The second where one stat's signal has more weight, not as much. They both increase controllability (thermal comfort) for all which is the goal. No one says the system has to be perfect. I don't agree with the statement that either most or nobody will be comfortable.
Clarifications on open plan work stations individual control
In an open plan work area containing 4 workstations with 1 thermostat controling temp for the are. Does the 1 thermostat mean that 1 person has individual control (25%); or do all 4 stations (100%)?
If two workstations are on either side of an operable window, do both workstations qualify for individual control?
Richard, the thermostat for the open-plan work area qualifies all the stations under the credit. The window should qualify both workstations.
For specific guidance on both these issues, there are several items near the top of the Checklists checklist above, under Schematic Design, that I recommend reviewing.
Thank you for the clarifications. The Checklist states that a single mechanical system control may serve 2 persons. Which is correct?
The way I have approached the credit is to have one thermostat to count as meeting the requirements of one person. If I have two thermostats in an open office area I state that two people have controllability, etc. This is because an open office work plan is considered to consist of multiple individual workstations and is not a multi-occupant space.
In similar fashion, I'd assign one qualifying window to one person.
Because of this requirement, I seldom am able to achieve EQc6.2 with an open office work environment. EQc6.1 can usually be met with task lights but it's much more difficult for EQc6.2.
This credit is quickly eroding for the project. Operable windows satisfy about 28% of the building occupants. The rest are accounted for by thermostats. However, the thermostats are controled by a Building Automation System that maintains the temp within 1 degree of the set temperature. Allowing greater variation will undermine the performance of the energy model and hence EAc1
I agree that this can be a very tough credit to achieve with open office spaces. Remember, though, that individual diffusersIn an HVAC context, diffusers disperse heating, cooling, or ventilation air as it enters a room, ideally preventing uncomfortable direct currents and in many cases, reducing energy costs and improving indoor air quality (IAQ). In light fixtures, diffusers filter and disperse light. with air speed control either at floor level or overhead can also be used to meet the requirements for this credit.
Richard: If occupants have controllability (even if just within 1 degree) I think that technically speaking, that's acceptable.
Allison: Good reminder regarding diffusersIn an HVAC context, diffusers disperse heating, cooling, or ventilation air as it enters a room, ideally preventing uncomfortable direct currents and in many cases, reducing energy costs and improving indoor air quality (IAQ). In light fixtures, diffusers filter and disperse light.. What you found the cost differential to be? None of my projects have used them.
It is typically very low-cost to add extra diffusersIn an HVAC context, diffusers disperse heating, cooling, or ventilation air as it enters a room, ideally preventing uncomfortable direct currents and in many cases, reducing energy costs and improving indoor air quality (IAQ). In light fixtures, diffusers filter and disperse light. (about $100-$200 max apiece) you just need to make sure the project engineers confirm that potentially modifying air speed/volume in additional locations is not going to be a problem with their design.
Mr. Allison Beer Mckenzie is right. It can be achievable , diffusersIn an HVAC context, diffusers disperse heating, cooling, or ventilation air as it enters a room, ideally preventing uncomfortable direct currents and in many cases, reducing energy costs and improving indoor air quality (IAQ). In light fixtures, diffusers filter and disperse light. with help of air speed/volume control.
Individual thermal control
The building will have an open room with open plan workstations. We will count each of those as an individual space for the individual thermal comfort control. The HVAC system will supply the conditioned air through diffusersIn an HVAC context, diffusers disperse heating, cooling, or ventilation air as it enters a room, ideally preventing uncomfortable direct currents and in many cases, reducing energy costs and improving indoor air quality (IAQ). In light fixtures, diffusers filter and disperse light. located in a ceiling (no individual diffusers). The 50% of individual work stations will have the internet access that allows the change of the temperature setting in the room. As we are not sure if we can treat this as individual thermal comfort control, we will provide a desk fan for each work station to control the air speed.
Did anybody try to use this type (or similar) of the system for this credit EQ 6.2 - LEED 2.2 ?
It sounds like you have a good approach, although I have not specifically tried it. Did you have any questions about it?
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?
Please check the IEQc6.1 forum for the response to this cross-posted question
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