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LEED v4
Healthcare
Indoor Environmental Quality

Interior lighting

LEED CREDIT

Healthcare-v4 EQc6: Interior lighting 1 point

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View the LEED v4.1 version of this credit »

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SPECIAL REPORT

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Credit language

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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Provide individual lighting controls for at least 90% of individual occupant spaces in staff areas.

For at least 90% of patient positions, provide lighting controls that are readily accessible from the patient’s bed. In multioccupant patient spaces, the controls must be individual lighting controls. In private rooms, also provide exterior window shades, blinds, or curtain controls that are readily accessible from the patient’s bed. Exceptions include in-patient critical care, pediatric, and psychiatric patient rooms.

For all shared multioccupant spaces, provide multizone control systems that enable occupants to adjust the lighting to meet group needs and preferences, with at least three lighting levels or scenes (on, off, midlevel). Midlevel is 30% to 70% of the maximum illumination level (not including daylight contributions).

See all forum discussions about this credit »

What does it cost?

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

Do operable shades count as lighting controls?

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Does having multi-circuit lighting count as providing multiple lighting levels?

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How do I calculate an illuminance ratio?

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Is Option 1 achievable for open office spaces?

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What lighting controls are required for a conference room with a presentation screen?

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Can I use recessed fixtures and still meet Strategy D?

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For Option 1, we would like occupants to be able to control lighting in their area from smartphones, tablets, or computers; we plan to eliminate physical switches altogether. Would this meet the intent of Option 1?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

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Where do I find the CRI of a lamp?

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Do task lights need to meet all the lighting quality requirements?

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How limiting are the reflectance values in the finish requirements?

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Daylight is an important strategy in my project. How do I meet this credit as well as the daylighting credit?

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See all forum discussions about this credit »

Addenda

7/29/2022 – Updated: 9/1/2022
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Under Indoor Environmental Quality Overview, Tricky Spaces:
Add a new section as follows:
"Museums
• Exceptions to Interior Lighting, Daylight, and Quality Views are permitted. See the Further Explanation, Project Type Variations sections in Interior Lighting, Daylight, and Quality Views."

Under Interior Lighting, Further Explanation, Project Type Variations
Add a new section as follows:
"Museums
• Museum exhibit and other collection spaces may be excluded from the interior lighting requirements."

Under Daylight, Further Explanation, Project Type Variations
Add a new section as follows:
"Museums
• Museum exhibit and other collection spaces may be excluded from the daylight requirements."

Under Quality Views, Further Explanation, Project Type Variations
Add a new section as follows:
"Museums
• Museum exhibit and other collection spaces may be excluded from the views requirements."


Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
7/1/2014 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Table 1, modify item D so it reads "25% connected lighting load for regularly occupied spaces."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
10/1/2014 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Revise Option 2, strategy H so it reads: For at least 75% of the regularly occupied floor area, meet a ratio of average ceiling illuminance (excluding fenestration) to work surface illuminance that does not exceed 1:10. Must also meet strategy E, strategy F, or demonstrate area-weighted surface reflectance of at least 85% for ceilings.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/1/2014 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Form Update
Description of change:
Revised summary for C. Lamp Life from "Connected lighting load with rated life greater than 24,000 hours (or L70 for LED sources)" to "Connected lighting load with rated life of at least 24,000 hours (or L70 for LED sources)"

Revised errors in the ratio calculations for G. Surface Illuminance Ratio: Wall to Work Surface and H. Surface Illuminance Ratio: Ceiling to Work Surface
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
10/1/2014 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Revise Option 2, strategy H so it reads: For at least 75% of the regularly occupied floor area, meet a ratio of average ceiling illuminance (excluding fenestration) to work surface illuminance that does not exceed 1:10. Must also meet strategy E, strategy F, or demonstrate area-weighted surface reflectance of at least 85% for ceilings.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
See all forum discussions about this credit »

Documentation toolkit

The motherlode of cheat sheets

LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.

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USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Provide individual lighting controls for at least 90% of individual occupant spaces in staff areas.

For at least 90% of patient positions, provide lighting controls that are readily accessible from the patient’s bed. In multioccupant patient spaces, the controls must be individual lighting controls. In private rooms, also provide exterior window shades, blinds, or curtain controls that are readily accessible from the patient’s bed. Exceptions include in-patient critical care, pediatric, and psychiatric patient rooms.

For all shared multioccupant spaces, provide multizone control systems that enable occupants to adjust the lighting to meet group needs and preferences, with at least three lighting levels or scenes (on, off, midlevel). Midlevel is 30% to 70% of the maximum illumination level (not including daylight contributions).

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 »

In the end, LEED is all about documentation. LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit, for premium members only, saves you time and helps you avoid mistakes with:

  • Calculators to help assess credit compliance.
  • Tracking spreadsheets for materials purchases.
  • Spreadsheets and forms to give to subs and other team members.
  • Guidance documents on arcane LEED issues.
  • Sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions.
  • Examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects.

Do operable shades count as lighting controls?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Does having multi-circuit lighting count as providing multiple lighting levels?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

How do I calculate an illuminance ratio?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Is Option 1 achievable for open office spaces?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

What lighting controls are required for a conference room with a presentation screen?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Can I use recessed fixtures and still meet Strategy D?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

For Option 1, we would like occupants to be able to control lighting in their area from smartphones, tablets, or computers; we plan to eliminate physical switches altogether. Would this meet the intent of Option 1?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Where do I find the CRI of a lamp?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Do task lights need to meet all the lighting quality requirements?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

How limiting are the reflectance values in the finish requirements?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Daylight is an important strategy in my project. How do I meet this credit as well as the daylighting credit?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)
7/29/2022 – Updated: 9/1/2022
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Under Indoor Environmental Quality Overview, Tricky Spaces:
Add a new section as follows:
"Museums
• Exceptions to Interior Lighting, Daylight, and Quality Views are permitted. See the Further Explanation, Project Type Variations sections in Interior Lighting, Daylight, and Quality Views."

Under Interior Lighting, Further Explanation, Project Type Variations
Add a new section as follows:
"Museums
• Museum exhibit and other collection spaces may be excluded from the interior lighting requirements."

Under Daylight, Further Explanation, Project Type Variations
Add a new section as follows:
"Museums
• Museum exhibit and other collection spaces may be excluded from the daylight requirements."

Under Quality Views, Further Explanation, Project Type Variations
Add a new section as follows:
"Museums
• Museum exhibit and other collection spaces may be excluded from the views requirements."


Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
7/1/2014 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Table 1, modify item D so it reads "25% connected lighting load for regularly occupied spaces."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
10/1/2014 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Revise Option 2, strategy H so it reads: For at least 75% of the regularly occupied floor area, meet a ratio of average ceiling illuminance (excluding fenestration) to work surface illuminance that does not exceed 1:10. Must also meet strategy E, strategy F, or demonstrate area-weighted surface reflectance of at least 85% for ceilings.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/1/2014 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Form Update
Description of change:
Revised summary for C. Lamp Life from "Connected lighting load with rated life greater than 24,000 hours (or L70 for LED sources)" to "Connected lighting load with rated life of at least 24,000 hours (or L70 for LED sources)"

Revised errors in the ratio calculations for G. Surface Illuminance Ratio: Wall to Work Surface and H. Surface Illuminance Ratio: Ceiling to Work Surface
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
10/1/2014 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Revise Option 2, strategy H so it reads: For at least 75% of the regularly occupied floor area, meet a ratio of average ceiling illuminance (excluding fenestration) to work surface illuminance that does not exceed 1:10. Must also meet strategy E, strategy F, or demonstrate area-weighted surface reflectance of at least 85% for ceilings.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
See all LEEDuser forum discussions about this credit » Subscribe to new discussions about Healthcare-v4 EQc6 View the LEED v4.1 version of this credit