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SPECIAL REPORT
SPECIAL REPORT
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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To reduce the release of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBTs) chemicals associated with the life cycle of building materials.
Requirements
Specify and install fluorescent lamps with both low mercury content (MR Prerequisite PBT Source Reduction—Mercury) and long lamp life, as listed in Table 1.
Table 1. Criteria for rated life of low-mercury lamps
| Lamp | Maximum content | Lamp life (hrs) |
|---|---|---|
| T-8 fluorescent, eight-foot | 10 mg mercury | Standard output - 24,000 rated hours on instant start ballasts (3-hour starts) High output – 18,000 rated hours on instant start ballasts or program start ballasts (3-hour starts) |
| T-8 fluorescent, four-foot | 3.5 mg mercury | Both standard and high output - 30,000 rated hours on instant start ballasts, or 36,000 rated hours on program start ballasts (3 hour starts) |
| T-8 fluorescent, two-foot and three-foot | 3.5 mg mercury | 24,000 rated hours on instant start ballasts or program start ballasts (3-hour starts) |
| T-8 fluorescent, U-bent | 6 mg mercury | 18,000 rated hours on instant start ballasts, or 24,000 rated hours on program start ballasts (3-hour starts) |
| T-5 fluorescent, linear | 2.5 mg mercury | Both standard and high-output - 25,000 rated hours on program start ballasts |
| T-5 fluorescent, circular | 9 mg mercury | Both standard and high-output – 25,000 rated hours on program start ballasts |
| Compact fluorescent, nonintegral ballast | 3.5 mg mercury | 12,000 rated hours |
| Compact florescent, integral ballast, bare bulb | 3.5 mg mercury, ENERGY STAR qualified | Bare bulb - 10,000 rated hours Covered models such as globes, reflectors, A-19s – 8,000 hours |
| High-pressure sodium, up to 400 watts | 10 mg mercury | Use noncycling type or replace with LED lamps or induction lamps |
| High-pressure sodium, above 400 watts | 32 mg mercury | Use noncycling type or replace with LED lamps or induction lamps |
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Cost estimates for this credit
On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.
Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.
This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.
Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »Frequently asked questions
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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To reduce the release of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBTs) chemicals associated with the life cycle of building materials.
Requirements
Specify and install fluorescent lamps with both low mercury content (MR Prerequisite PBT Source Reduction—Mercury) and long lamp life, as listed in Table 1.
Table 1. Criteria for rated life of low-mercury lamps
| Lamp | Maximum content | Lamp life (hrs) |
|---|---|---|
| T-8 fluorescent, eight-foot | 10 mg mercury | Standard output - 24,000 rated hours on instant start ballasts (3-hour starts) High output – 18,000 rated hours on instant start ballasts or program start ballasts (3-hour starts) |
| T-8 fluorescent, four-foot | 3.5 mg mercury | Both standard and high output - 30,000 rated hours on instant start ballasts, or 36,000 rated hours on program start ballasts (3 hour starts) |
| T-8 fluorescent, two-foot and three-foot | 3.5 mg mercury | 24,000 rated hours on instant start ballasts or program start ballasts (3-hour starts) |
| T-8 fluorescent, U-bent | 6 mg mercury | 18,000 rated hours on instant start ballasts, or 24,000 rated hours on program start ballasts (3-hour starts) |
| T-5 fluorescent, linear | 2.5 mg mercury | Both standard and high-output - 25,000 rated hours on program start ballasts |
| T-5 fluorescent, circular | 9 mg mercury | Both standard and high-output – 25,000 rated hours on program start ballasts |
| Compact fluorescent, nonintegral ballast | 3.5 mg mercury | 12,000 rated hours |
| Compact florescent, integral ballast, bare bulb | 3.5 mg mercury, ENERGY STAR qualified | Bare bulb - 10,000 rated hours Covered models such as globes, reflectors, A-19s – 8,000 hours |
| High-pressure sodium, up to 400 watts | 10 mg mercury | Use noncycling type or replace with LED lamps or induction lamps |
| High-pressure sodium, above 400 watts | 32 mg mercury | Use noncycling type or replace with LED lamps or induction lamps |
