Innovation in Design 1.1 - LED Signage and Feature Lighting We would like to request a Credit Interpretation on the following with regards to Innovation in Design. Credit ID 1.1. The development of LED (Light Emitting Diodes) lighting technology has offered our team the opportunity to utilize LED as the primary light source for signage on the building. The advantages for LED Lighting over conventional neon are numerous and its uses are as follows; Benefits of LED Signage - LED\'s consumes approximately 85% less energy than typical Neon Tube or Backlit signs. o A typical LED sign consumes 112 watts of electricity while the same neon sign consumes 748 watts of electricity - Life Safety and Fire Hazard issues are all but eliminated. o Neon uses mercury gas in neon signs harmful to humans; LED\'s eliminate the need for it. o Lower Voltage requirements of LED\'s versus neon signage (LED require 12 volts for operation while Neon requires 15,000 volts) eliminate the consequences of improper or faulty electrical installations. Neon Signs and high voltage wiring have been found to be the cause of fires in some instances. Using low voltage required for Neon signs eliminates this problem. o LED Lights generate very little heat and therefore pose no risk to the surrounding environments. - Life Span of 10 - 15 years lowers lifecycle operating and maintenance requirements. o The fact that a LED panel will compensate if one diode burns out without any noticeable performance drop makes the signage virtually maintenance free over the course of at minimum ten years. Since Energy Performance Credit EA 1 is a large part of LEED Rating system and due to the fact Signage or Exterior Lighting is not accounted for in final energy models we cannot realize the potential energy savings our project would benefit from the use of LED signage. True ASHRAE 90.1-1999 accounts for exterior lighting issues including controls, power limits and minimum lamp efficacy, but LED technology reaches far beyond that, specifically optimizing energy use by 85% over conventional back-lit signage. We don\'t believe using LED lighting is properly accounted for in Light Pollution Reduction Credit SS 8. The light emitted is monochromatic (in our case specifically - red) and is of a completely different nature than actual site lighting. The LED panel itself sits behind an opaque plastic cover that reduces approximately 80% of the glare of the light emitting diodes as opposed to exposed neon tubes. Following all other requirements of this credit for all other exterior lighting we have incorporated cut-offs included scheduling, commissioning we find no area, except for Innovation in Design, where the benefits of LED technology in signage can be quantitatively shown in our LEED application. Respectfully, LED Signage takes into account both optimize energy performance and light pollution reduction of these credits but is not properly accounted for by them. In the spirit of LEED Innovation LED signage incorporates energy performance far in excess of what is required by LEED for Exterior Lighting, durability and many other issues namely life safety concerns, fire hazard elimination and reduction of operating costs. Due to the emergent nature of LED lighting being used in signs and other feature lighting, our team believes that use of LED in signage is an innovative way for incorporating sustainable technologies above the scope