We have a production line with about 2000 workers that has both a skylight system and an artificial lighting system that only works when the daylight level goes below a specified limit. This design allows lot of energy efficiency and at the same time maintain the light level in the production line above a minimum required level.
We have a guideline of the minimum light levels to be maintained and annually an independent party comes to assess whether that levels are maintained. Will this scenario be eligible for this credit given that in such a big production line the most important aspect is the required level of lighting for the process efficiency and safety of the workers?
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11474 thumbs up
July 31, 2013 - 11:46 am
Magda, the system you describe sounds like it makes sense for the application, but I don't see it has a good fit for this credit. The key idea is controllability, and the workers in this case don't have control over the light levels. If they had some feedback mechanism, that would help.
David Posada
Integrated Design & LEED SpecialistSERA Architects
LEEDuser Expert
1976 thumbs up
January 28, 2014 - 3:29 pm
Magda,
It’s not an easy credit to earn in a production facility, but we've seen this credit earned in by doing two things.
Some of the most promising case studies on the role of daylight or good lighting controls have come from production facilities where it been possible to measure error rates or output before and after lighting upgrades, so don’t underestimate the potential for real financial benefits!
1. Assemble a table with all the spaces and steps in the production line. For each space, describe the activity, level of visual acuity required (Hi, Med, Low); lighting provided (Ambient only (footcandles); Task+ Ambient (fc); Type of lighting controls.
2. Provide and describe task lights or localized lighting controls at areas where higher visual acuity is needed.
For example, see the fork lift operator question below - headlights to see materials, and a task light for doing paperwork. Or a station on a production line for inspecting items could have spot lights on separate controls to supplement the ambient lighting.
Hope that helps!,