Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED O+M: Existing Buildings, LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors, LEED BD+C: Schools

Rating System Version

v3 - LEED 2008, v2 - Schools 2007, v2 - LEED 2.2, v2 - LEED 2.0

Inquiry

For a new 312,000 sf building seeking both LEED CS and LEED CI certifications we plan to comply with the requirements of LEED CI EQ Cr 6.1 to provide lighting controls for both individual and group occupants. We believe however that providing task lights for approximately 1800 employees in workstations when they may not be needed contradicts our sustainability goals. These fixtures, if not needed, only add to the project\'s overall embodied energy and environmental impact. The design team has been very aggressive in providing a task oriented lighting scheme that is efficient and beautiful. The design places direct/indirect fixtures with a large percentage of down light directly over the primary work surfaces to provide optimal foot-candles where they are needed. Of the 1870 employees in the building, 97% of them will be in workstations with partitions at 42". Because of the low partitions, the only option for providing lighting control is a movable task light. The owner has chosen an LED task light. In order to meet the projects overall sustainability goals while meeting the intent of the credit we propose surveying occupants prior to occupancy as to whether they will want a task light. Those who responded in the affirmative will have a task light upon occupancy. The owner will conduct a post occupancy survey to see if additional employees require a task light or don\'t need the one they have. At any point an employee will be able to request a task light. If 100% of employees request a task light the owner will provide them. Providing the task light as an option gives users the ability to control lighting levels while meeting the owner and LEED\'s overall sustainability goals. Please verify that surveying employees pre-and post-occupancy about task lighting preferences and then providing task lights only to employees in open office areas who desire them meets the requirements of LEED CI EQ Cr 6.1.