Interior blinds under LEED 2009 NC

If the blinds adjust automatically to varying daylight conditions then they may count towards the credit. To simulate this condition you would run your simulation without any shading treatments applied to the windows. LEED allows you to count all of your square footage above the allowable daylighting limit towards your total, in spaces where your automatic shading devices exist.

If the blinds have to be adjusted manually then they do not count as a shading device.

No, blinds cannot be used in this version of LEED. Automatic shades allows you to only meet the minimum 10fc. The reason being is that in single point in time calculations, blinds are not used dynamically, they are either up or down. In the next version of LEED, sDA will be allowed which incorporates shades. However, you still have to run an ASE, which is without shades. Basically, you have to provide a design which meet the levels without relying on the occupants to operate the blinds.

You could incorporate exterior shading devices or interior lightshelves. Have you modeled exterior element, adjacent buildings, terrain, and even vegetation in your model? These elements can help with the low sun angles at 9am and 3pm.

Olivier, Just my 2 cents, I suggest you can investigate annual pattern. If the direct light keep penetrating directly to the room. The exploring other glazing options and additional fixed shading either inside or outside will be beneficial to your project not only for LEED purpose.