Occupancy sensors: valid lighting control?

The intent of the credit is that individuals may want different light levels based on what they are doing, and based on what their individual needs are. Some people need more light to read, some want lower light for AV reasons, and others can read effectively in lower light levels (like my kids do!). So an occupancy sensor doesn't give the individuals the ability to control the lights. In addition, an occ sensor with an override still leaves only two levels - on or off - which LEED reviewers have said in the past is not enough to qualify as "controllability." You may make the argument if it is a perimeter space that an occ sensor override with operable blinds at the windows is offering everyone some adjustability, but I have not seen that successfully argued.

Hi Amanda,

Yeah, I'd suggest making the case that it's not a regularly occupied space. For instance, I don't believe a coat check area is a regularly occupied "office" but I guess I could be missing some details. Is someone sitting at the coat check during running hours? Or, like Jonathan said, I'd adjust the light switches to include manual overrides to help accomplish the requirements. Occupancy sensors help meet goals of energy efficiency but, unfortunately, don't meet the intent of EQc6.1 which is all about controllability for occupants.

Lauren

Per Jonathan's comment above, I've recently received a reviewer comment that seems to be saying that an occupancy sensor with an a manual override does not meet the requirements of the credit. (Our project incuded "huddle rooms" for 4 people that have occ sensors w manual override and no other controls). We have achieved this credit using this strategy several times before, and I don't see anything in the Reference Guide or elsewhere that says this is unacceptable. Does anyone have thoughts about how I might respond to this?

Hi Julie,

I am surprised that teams are having trouble with using occupancy sensors with manual override. I've used this path many times for multi-occupant spaces. Assuming that you're using them for multi-occupant spaces (and not for individual workstations) and assuming that it is clearly described in your narrative that there are manual overrides for the occupancy sensors then I'm not sure why it's not passing.

The RG only states for multi-occupant spaces that you must "provide lighting system controls for all shared multi-occupant spaces to enable adjustments that meet group needs and preferences". I can't see how occupancy sensors with a manual override wouldn't comply with that stated requirement.

Interestingly, under the LEED 2009 IDC RG, includes occupancy sensors under Figure 2 on page 371. Sensors are also included within the Definition section of the credit, on page 372.

Thanks for your quick response, Lauren. I just looked at Figure 2 on p. 371, and the figure itself (in my RG anyway) has an arrow pointing at a dimming switch and labelled: "Control Options: dimmer switches step dimming bi-level switching multi zones" [sic]. Perhaps that is trying to tell me those are my ONLY options! The text below the figure says "a lighting control system that is remotely programmed or uses occupancy sensors to turn lamps on and off can save energy when areas are not in use"... but it doesn't say that occ sensors (or lighting controls) would get us the credit. Perhaps my best bet is to argue inconsistency between this ruling and others we've gotten.

Hi Julie,

Yeah, my RG says the same thing too. I couldn't find an explicit endorsement of using occupancy sensors. I agree that referencing inconsistencies as well as re-stating the intent of the credit and its requirements should help.

good luck!