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Larissa Oaks
USGBC
Specialist, LEED
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
Pilot Credit Closed
This pilot credit is closed to new registrations
Provide for occupant comfort by establishing quality criteria for interior lighting within a space.
Requirements
Choose four of the following strategies.
- For all regularly occupied spaces, use light fixtures with a luminance of less than 2,500cd/m2 between 45 and 90 degrees from nadir. Exceptions include wallwash fixtures properly aimed at walls, as specified by manufacturer’s data, indirect uplighting fixtures, provided there is no view down into these uplights from a regularly occupied space above, and any other specific applications (i.e. adjustable fixtures).
- For the entire project, use light sources with a CRI of 80 or higher. Exceptions include lamps or fixtures specifically designed to provide colored lighting for effect, site lighting, or other special use.
- For 75% of the total connected lighting load, use light sources that have a rated life (or L70 for LED sources) of at least 24,000 hours (at 3-hour per start, if applicable).
- Use direct-only overhead lighting for 25% or less of the total connected lighting load for all regularly occupied spaces.
- For 90% of the regularly occupied floor area, meet the following thresholds for area-weighted average surface reflectance: 85% for ceilings, 60% for walls, and 25% for floors.
- If furniture is included in the scope of work, select furniture finishes to meet the following thresholds for area-weighted average surface reflectance: 45% for work surfaces, and 50% for movable partitions.
- For 75% of the regularly occupied floor area, meet an average ratio of wall surface illuminance (excluding fenestration) to average work plane (or surface, if defined) illuminance that does not exceed 1:10. Must also meet strategy E, strategy F, or demonstrate area-weighted surface reflectance of 60% for walls.
- For 75% of the regularly occupied floor area, meet an average ratio of ceiling illuminance (excluding fenestration) to work surface illuminance that does not exceed 1:10. Must also meet option E, option F, or demonstrate area-weighted surface reflectance of 85% for ceilings.
General Pilot Documentation Requirements
Register for the pilot credit- Participate in the LEEDuser pilot credit forum
- Complete the feedback survey:
Credit specific
Note: the below submittals are suggestions, alternative forms of documentation or calculation strategies will be accepted.- For strategy A, a list of all light fixtures used in the regularly occupied spaces. For each fixture, provide a description, manufacturer name, and indicate whether the fixture has a luminance of less than 2,500cd/m2 between 45 and 90 degrees from nadir. Also indicate whether there are any fixtures excluded and whether they are an approved exception.
- For strategy B, a list of all light sources included in the interior spaces of the project. For each light source, provide a description, light source type, manufacturer or vendor name, and CRI value. Also indicate whether there are any light sources excluded and whether they are an approved exception.
- For strategy C,
- A list of all light sources included in the project. For each light source, provide a description, light source type, manufacturer or vendor name, total connected lighting load, and rated life value.
- Calculation for the percent of connected lighting load that meets rated life criteria.
- For strategy D,
- A list of all light fixtures used in the regularly occupied spaces. For each fixture, provide a description, manufacturer name, total connected lighting load, and indicate whether the fixture is direct-only overhead lighting.
- Calculation for the percent of connected lighting load that is associated with direct-only overhead lighting.
- For strategy E,
- Indicate whether any regularly occupied spaces are being excluded from the credit requirements and the associated floor area.
- A list of all surfaces in the regularly occupied spaces that are being included in the credit requirements. For each surface, provide a description, manufacturer or vendor name, reflectance value and the percent of the overall ceiling area, wall area, or floor area that uses the surface.
- Calculation for average surface reflectance for ceiling area, wall area, and floor area. The calculation should be area- weighted, based on the percentages provided in the surface list. Only 1 calculation for each surface type is needed, the calculations do not need to be performed on a space-by-space basis.
- Description of methods used to determine reflectance values.
- For strategy F,
- A list of all work surfaces and moveable partitions in the project.
- For each surface, provide a description, manufacturer or vendor name, reflectance value and the percent of the overall work surface area, or overall moveable partition surface area that is attributed to the surface.
- Calculation for average surface reflectance for work surfaces, or moveable partitions. The calculation should be area- weighted, based on the percentages provided in the surface list. Only 1 calculation for each surface type is needed, the calculations do not need to be performed on a space-by-space basis.
- Description of methods used to determine reflectance values.
- For strategy G,
- A list that includes representative areas for all regularly occupied spaces in the project. For each area, include an area description, area location(s), work plane description, work plane illuminance value, wall surface illuminance value, and a calculation for work plane illuminance to wall surface illuminance (in the format of 1: X).
- Calculation for the average ratio.
- Demonstration that the project also meets strategy E, strategy F, or has area-weighted surface reflectance of 60% for walls.
- Description of methods used to determine illuminance values.
- For strategy H,
- A list that includes representative areas for all regularly occupied spaces in the project. For each area, include an area description, area location(s), work plane description, work plane illuminance value, wall surface illuminance value, and a calculation for work plane illuminance to ceiling surface illuminance (in the format of 1: X).
- Calculation for the average ratio.
- Demonstration that the project also meets strategy E, strategy F, or has area-weighted surface reflectance of 85% for ceilings.
- Description of methods used to determine illuminance values.
Additional questions:
- Do the criteria associated with quality interior lighting align with your project’s and occupants comfort and productivity needs?
- How difficult was it to document this credit? Is there anything that could be changed to make it easier to document?
Changes
- Changes made for 2nd Public Comment (08/01/2011): Added energy efficiency requirement Broke out bullet points into hardware and design categories Clarified equations
- Changes made for 3rd Public Comment (03/01/2012): Copyedited language Added EB: O+M path to the Pilot Library
- Changes made for 5th Public Comment (01/15/2013): Updated with LEED v4 5th Public Comment changes
- Changes made (04/15/2013): Submittals updated to align with v4 language revisions
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
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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
Pilot Credit Closed
This pilot credit is closed to new registrations
Provide for occupant comfort by establishing quality criteria for interior lighting within a space.
Requirements
Choose four of the following strategies.
- For all regularly occupied spaces, use light fixtures with a luminance of less than 2,500cd/m2 between 45 and 90 degrees from nadir. Exceptions include wallwash fixtures properly aimed at walls, as specified by manufacturer’s data, indirect uplighting fixtures, provided there is no view down into these uplights from a regularly occupied space above, and any other specific applications (i.e. adjustable fixtures).
- For the entire project, use light sources with a CRI of 80 or higher. Exceptions include lamps or fixtures specifically designed to provide colored lighting for effect, site lighting, or other special use.
- For 75% of the total connected lighting load, use light sources that have a rated life (or L70 for LED sources) of at least 24,000 hours (at 3-hour per start, if applicable).
- Use direct-only overhead lighting for 25% or less of the total connected lighting load for all regularly occupied spaces.
- For 90% of the regularly occupied floor area, meet the following thresholds for area-weighted average surface reflectance: 85% for ceilings, 60% for walls, and 25% for floors.
- If furniture is included in the scope of work, select furniture finishes to meet the following thresholds for area-weighted average surface reflectance: 45% for work surfaces, and 50% for movable partitions.
- For 75% of the regularly occupied floor area, meet an average ratio of wall surface illuminance (excluding fenestration) to average work plane (or surface, if defined) illuminance that does not exceed 1:10. Must also meet strategy E, strategy F, or demonstrate area-weighted surface reflectance of 60% for walls.
- For 75% of the regularly occupied floor area, meet an average ratio of ceiling illuminance (excluding fenestration) to work surface illuminance that does not exceed 1:10. Must also meet option E, option F, or demonstrate area-weighted surface reflectance of 85% for ceilings.
General Pilot Documentation Requirements
Register for the pilot credit- Participate in the LEEDuser pilot credit forum
- Complete the feedback survey:
Credit specific
Note: the below submittals are suggestions, alternative forms of documentation or calculation strategies will be accepted.- For strategy A, a list of all light fixtures used in the regularly occupied spaces. For each fixture, provide a description, manufacturer name, and indicate whether the fixture has a luminance of less than 2,500cd/m2 between 45 and 90 degrees from nadir. Also indicate whether there are any fixtures excluded and whether they are an approved exception.
- For strategy B, a list of all light sources included in the interior spaces of the project. For each light source, provide a description, light source type, manufacturer or vendor name, and CRI value. Also indicate whether there are any light sources excluded and whether they are an approved exception.
- For strategy C,
- A list of all light sources included in the project. For each light source, provide a description, light source type, manufacturer or vendor name, total connected lighting load, and rated life value.
- Calculation for the percent of connected lighting load that meets rated life criteria.
- For strategy D,
- A list of all light fixtures used in the regularly occupied spaces. For each fixture, provide a description, manufacturer name, total connected lighting load, and indicate whether the fixture is direct-only overhead lighting.
- Calculation for the percent of connected lighting load that is associated with direct-only overhead lighting.
- For strategy E,
- Indicate whether any regularly occupied spaces are being excluded from the credit requirements and the associated floor area.
- A list of all surfaces in the regularly occupied spaces that are being included in the credit requirements. For each surface, provide a description, manufacturer or vendor name, reflectance value and the percent of the overall ceiling area, wall area, or floor area that uses the surface.
- Calculation for average surface reflectance for ceiling area, wall area, and floor area. The calculation should be area- weighted, based on the percentages provided in the surface list. Only 1 calculation for each surface type is needed, the calculations do not need to be performed on a space-by-space basis.
- Description of methods used to determine reflectance values.
- For strategy F,
- A list of all work surfaces and moveable partitions in the project.
- For each surface, provide a description, manufacturer or vendor name, reflectance value and the percent of the overall work surface area, or overall moveable partition surface area that is attributed to the surface.
- Calculation for average surface reflectance for work surfaces, or moveable partitions. The calculation should be area- weighted, based on the percentages provided in the surface list. Only 1 calculation for each surface type is needed, the calculations do not need to be performed on a space-by-space basis.
- Description of methods used to determine reflectance values.
- For strategy G,
- A list that includes representative areas for all regularly occupied spaces in the project. For each area, include an area description, area location(s), work plane description, work plane illuminance value, wall surface illuminance value, and a calculation for work plane illuminance to wall surface illuminance (in the format of 1: X).
- Calculation for the average ratio.
- Demonstration that the project also meets strategy E, strategy F, or has area-weighted surface reflectance of 60% for walls.
- Description of methods used to determine illuminance values.
- For strategy H,
- A list that includes representative areas for all regularly occupied spaces in the project. For each area, include an area description, area location(s), work plane description, work plane illuminance value, wall surface illuminance value, and a calculation for work plane illuminance to ceiling surface illuminance (in the format of 1: X).
- Calculation for the average ratio.
- Demonstration that the project also meets strategy E, strategy F, or has area-weighted surface reflectance of 85% for ceilings.
- Description of methods used to determine illuminance values.
Additional questions:
- Do the criteria associated with quality interior lighting align with your project’s and occupants comfort and productivity needs?
- How difficult was it to document this credit? Is there anything that could be changed to make it easier to document?
Changes
- Changes made for 2nd Public Comment (08/01/2011): Added energy efficiency requirement Broke out bullet points into hardware and design categories Clarified equations
- Changes made for 3rd Public Comment (03/01/2012): Copyedited language Added EB: O+M path to the Pilot Library
- Changes made for 5th Public Comment (01/15/2013): Updated with LEED v4 5th Public Comment changes
- Changes made (04/15/2013): Submittals updated to align with v4 language revisions
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.
LEEDuser expert
Larissa Oaks
USGBC
Specialist, LEED
