Choose a LEED compliance path to verify that the daylighting meets the footcandle requirements of 25–500 footcandles for 75%–90% of regularly occupied spaces.Option 1:  Computer daylight simulations can be the most effective design tool,

Choose a LEED compliance path to verify that the daylighting meets the footcandle requirements of 25–500 footcandles for 75%–90% of regularly occupied spaces.

• Option 1:  Computer daylight simulations can be the most effective design tool, but hiring a modeler will be an upfront cost.
• Option 2: Prescriptive LEED calculations can help inform design, but not as accurately as a daylight simulation. The calculations can be time-consuming for large buildings, but do not require expert help.  The prescriptive calculations will only take window, wall, ceiling and floor areas, and glazing type into account, so other methods that help daylighting such as lightshelves and light-colored finishes won’t be factored in.
• Option 3: Daylight metering can be an inexpensive way to measure actual footcandles, but won’t be accurate until construction is complete, when the results cannot help to inform design.