Small study rooms- 2-3 rooms per thermostat

Hi Katie, Have you seen the EQ Space Matrix for its guidance on Libraries? http://www.usgbc.org/resources/eq-space-type-matrix "Study Carrels" are listed as Individual Occupant Spaces. "Workrooms", the "Circulation Desk", "Reading Area"s are all considered Multi-Occupant Spaces.

You have described the study rooms as being group study rooms. In that case it seems that based off the definition of multi-occupant they could count as multi-occupant spaces instead of individual workstations. By definition "Multi occupant spaces are places of congregation, or where occupants pursue overlapping or collaborative tasks. Multi occupant spaces may be regularly or non-regularly occupied spaces" your group study space are multi-occupant. Traditionally, one thermostat for 2-3 small study rooms wouldn't count. However, you're saying that the controllability is coming from changing the air (not the temperature). I think these CIRs below might provide guidance. If occupants can control the speed of the air flow I think you are OK. LI#1770 MADE ON 05/07/2007 Inquiry "The project team is providing individual floor air valves each with variable duration (open / close) primary air dampers and multi-position diffusers for occupant comfort conditioning as part of an under floor air distribution system. Individual floor air valves will be provided for a minimum of 50% of the building occupants. The variable duration (open/close) primary air dampers in the floor air valves will be controlled using thermostats. Multiple air valves will be connected to one thermostat, such that there will not be one thermostat for 50% of the occupants. However, all of the local floor air valves include multi-position adjustable floor diffusers which are integral to each floor air valve. At a minimum, 50% of the occupants will have control over the primary air flow direction out of the local floor air valve in their space (comfort zone) by adjusting the multi-position local floor diffuser air outlet. Changing the direction of the air flow inherently changes the speed of the airflow in a given direction. LEED NC v.2.2, First Edition, Reference Guide, p361, indicates: Conditions for Thermal Comfort per ASHRAE Standard 55-2004 include the following as primary factors: air temperature, radiant temperature, air speed, and humidity. The Reference guide also states that, ""Comfort System control, for the purposes of this credit, is defined as the provision of control over at least one of these primary factors in the occupant's local environment"" and that ""Individual adjustments may involve individual thermostat controls, local diffusers at floor, desk or overhead levels, or control of individual radiant panels, and energy system design."" This CIR is to confirm that providing air valves, with multi position diffusers, that allow more than 50% of the occupants to change the direction of airflow out of their floor diffuser (which changes the speed in that direction) will satisfy the LEED credit requirement for thermal comfort." Ruling "The applicant is asking whether multi position diffusers that allow changes in direction of airflow satisfy the requirements for individual comfort control for EQc6.2. The applicant is suggesting that changing the direction of airflow inherently changes the speed of the airflow in a given direction, meeting credit compliance by providing control of air speed. Simply changing the direction of airflow in one's workspace does not adequately meet the credit intent to provide individual comfort controls. Individual diffusers must have the ability to regulate the speed of the air leaving the diffuser, not simply the direction of airflow." LI#1722 MADE ON 03/22/2007 Inquiry "The project team is providing thermostat controls at all shared multi-occupant spaces in our project and the client would like to provide staff with desktop air purifier units that provide individual occupant control of air speed. The personal air purifier units have the following features: three speeds control, 70o oscillation option, and a four-setting auto-shutoff timer (30 minutes, one hour, two hours or four hours). The units also feature: OzoneGuardT front grill vents that help reduce smog as its breeze cools the space. The manufacturer product information states that the ""OzoneGuardT front grill features a PremAirc catalytic coating that instantly changes ozone (O3) molecules into oxygen (O2) molecules on contact. Per the LEED NC v.2.2, First Edition, Reference Guide, p361, Conditions for Thermal Comfort per ASHRAE Standard 55-2004 includes the following as primary factors: air temperature, radiant temperature, air speed, and humidity. The Reference guide also states that, ""Comfort System control, for the purposes of this credit, is defined as the provision of control over at least one of these primary factors in the occupant's local environment"" and that ""Individual adjustments may involve individual thermostat controls, local diffusers at floor, desk or overhead levels, or control of individual radiant panels, and energy system design."" This CIR is to confirm that the above design solution of providing personal air purifier units at the desktop meets the credit intent and that USGBC will accept the product manufacturer information sheet as part of the LEED credit documentation for this credit?" Ruling "The project team is correct in stating that individual control over one of the primary thermal comfort factors (i.e. air temperature, radiant temperature, air speed, and humidity) will satisfy the controllability requirement of this credit. The personal air purifiers described above will provide occupants individual control over air speed. However, the intent of this credit is to make thermal comfort controllability an integral part of the building design for occupants. Therefore, unless the fans/air-purifiers are hard-wired in the building system, they will not satisfy the requirement of this credit. Similarly, plug-in desktop fans will not satisfy the requirement of this credit which deals with providing thermal comfort control as an integral part of the building design. Note that for the purposes of this credit, the fan component of the device is of importance. The air purification feature of the device does not address thermal comfort and thus will not add to the thermal comfort controllability of the device."