Hi,
For credit compliance, under OPTION 1 - Simulation, is it required to model the building context (e.g. neighboring buildings/obstructions)? I have not been able to find anywhere references to this matter.
Many thanks
Marzia
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TODD REED
Energy Program SpecialistPA DMVA
LEEDuser Expert
890 thumbs up
March 27, 2013 - 8:46 am
It is not required that you do and you do not have to show that you have when submitting the credit. However, it is recommended in the Reference Guide.
Why wouldn't you include adjacent buildings, structures, topography, and even highly dense vegetation in your simulations? If you are just using the simulation method to document the credit and nothing more, then its your option to include it or not. However, if you are doing simulations in schematic and DD, like you should to help make design decisions and meet your daylighting goals, then those adjacent elements must be included.
You may find that without including the surrounding elements that you will not earn the credit because of direct solar penetration resulting in areas well above 500fc. However, adjacent structures, topography, and even representing vegetation will reduce this issue and will provide you with more realistic results to help you make better design decisions.
"I have never seen a building that sits in a flat plane of white and is surrounded by nothing"
Marzia Sedino
SOMMarch 27, 2013 - 10:36 am
Thank you Todd. It makes sense.
I was thinking that one reason for not modeling the conext is that it can (and in my case is likely to) change over time.