Meeting this credit in naturally ventilated spaces is tricky, because it’s hard to ensure that thermal conditions remain within the requisite range. It’s really only possible in a few specific climatic regions with especially temperate conditions.

Certain spaces, such as greenhouses or gymnasiums often operate outside of the ranges defined by ASHRAE-55, which can put the project in conflict with designing either mechanical and passive systems that meet the credit requirements. If you have these spaces in your project, check with GBCI on whether you can earn the credit through an alternative compliance path. 

Regardless of the project type, considering target thermal comfort conditions—and designing to meet those conditions—early in the process is very helpful. 

Design submittal? Not really.

Even though credit is technically a design submittal, it’s tricky to document it before the end of construction because it calls for the transfer of O&M manuals during project close-out with credit-specific information includedt, and because contractors are listed as required signatories. Most of the information, however, can be documented during design by the mechanical engineer. 

While the credit requirements, and the referenced ASHRAE standard, have not changed from older versions of LEED, the documentation requirements for the credit are now more stringent. Completing the new LEED Online credit form requires greater attention to detail and more supporting calculations, which set a higher bar for coordination among team members.