Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.1

Inquiry

In the mid-Atlantic states, the primary concern with humidity control is keeping humidity out of our buildings. The need to add active humidification in this borderline climate is generally limited to only 2-3 months out of the year, and even within those months the need to add humidification is not always necessary, especially if energy wheels capture building humidity and return it to the space, and if human contributions to indoor humidity can be factored into the calculations. In an effort to balance equipment cost and increased energy consumption with the benefits of active humidification, is it acceptable to the US Green Building Council to consider human contributions to indoor humidity as part of a project\'s compliance with EQc7.1 and EQc7.2, acknowledging that humidity levels might start below ASHRAE-acceptable levels when the building opens in the morning? Is there a certain time threshold by which humidity levels would have to be modeled to reach ASHRAE 55-1992, Addenda 1995 standards in order to prove credit compliance?