For residential projects what lighting controls count for individual spaces? We have earned this credit before with on/off switches, but the new forms state "Simple on/off switches may only count towards credit compliance for private offices."
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Lauren Sparandara
Sustainability ManagerGoogle
LEEDuser Expert
997 thumbs up
August 8, 2013 - 2:46 pm
Hi Ryan,
The latest guidance is from the IEQ Space Matrix issued this April.
"Residential spaces- all individual and multi-occupant spaces, each space must have one lighting control to be counted towards the credit, each unit must have its own thermal control to be counted towards the credit." I would take a look at the IEQ Space Matrix and look at the BD+C and ID+C Matrix tab and see their guidance for residences.
http://www.usgbc.org/resources/eq-space-type-matrix
Ryan McEvoy
OwnerGaia Development
7 thumbs up
August 8, 2013 - 3:38 pm
Hi Lauren,
We have already looked at the space matrix. It says each space must have a control but does not specify what counts as a control. We have used an on/off switch before to earn the credit, but the new forms in LEED Online state "Simple on/off switches may only count towards credit compliance for private offices." We would like to know if this is only for office buildings, or if on/off switches do not count as a control for single occupant spaces anymore (i.e bedrooms).
Larissa Oaks
Specialist, LEEDUSGBC
LEEDuser Expert
67 thumbs up
August 9, 2013 - 11:25 am
Hi Ryan,
The on/off switch language was included in the form to clarify previous confusion about compliance for on/off switches in private offices. Unfortunately I do see how it could be interpreted to indicate they are not acceptable in other situations.
For LEED 2009, for all residential spaces (regardless of their classification as individual or multioccupant), on/off switches would be acceptable.