According to the LEED-NC Version 2.1 Reference Guide, EQ Credit 6.2 requires that controls for airflow and temperature be provided for 50% of the occupants for the regularly occupied non-perimeter spaces. The proposed design has provided one fan powered VAV terminal for approximately every 1000 square feet of the non-perimeter regularly occupied open office space. Each fan powered VAV terminal will have one (1) space temperature sensor for every two (2) people who will regularly occupy the space served by the respective terminal. The space temperature sensors have been placed in locations throughout the space in order to best record the overall space conditions where the occupants are located and also be readily accessible to them. The temperature sensors in the zone shall each send a room temperature signal to the VAV terminal zone thermostat controller. The zone thermostat controller shall average room sensor readings and control the VAV terminal supply airflow and temperature to maintain the averaged set point. This averaging control algorithm will operate continuously throughout the building occupied mode. The basis of this design approach allows occupant control and interaction with the HVAC system in their occupied zone while keeping the quantity and cost of the HVAC equipment to a minimum. Providing multiple temperature control sensors throughout the space provides increased energy savings by eliminating over-conditioning of the entire space which can result from the VAV terminal being controlled by a single sensor in an isolated extreme area. Allowing the occupants to set multiple averaging sensors to their desired settings avoids the extreme condition when a single sensor is arbitrarily set too high (or low) which increases the system operation. Maintaining occupant comfort is the main goal of this design approach and if occupants are comfortable it is likely that their individual health, attendance and output productivity will increase as well. We, therefore, request an interpretation as to whether this control design approach of providing a network of averaging temperature sensors throughout the non-perimeter regularly occupied open office space successfully meets the intent of Indoor Environmental Quality Credit 6.2.
The control system described would not meet the intent and requirements of the credit, which specifically calls for individual control. The proposed control system would result in an average temperature determined by averaging the set point requests from everyone in the zone, and does not allow individual control of the space conditions.