We request a clarification of the term "building occupant" used in the description of both credit EQ 6.1 and 6.2 and a confirmation that point awards can be anticipated. The library design accommodates lighting and HVAV controllability for all building full time employees. Transient occupants, visitors and part time employees/volunteers who typically will occupy open browsing, reading, and circulation areas, are not able to control lighting or HVAC as those systems are typically controlled by the building management system. The management system has been designed to adjust the lighting given daylight levels in the spaces (daylight harvesting) and have automatic shut off when there is no occupancy. The thermostats for those public areas are controlled by a building management. Providing full public controllability in these spaces would undermine the energy saving goals of the system. If building occupant is limited to full time employees, the criteria for EQ 6.1 and 6.2 have been exceeded as follows: Individual hi and lo lighting control has been in all single occupant offices, conference rooms and collaboration rooms. Task lighting control is provided in all offices. Lighting control is provided for 100% of building full time employees. Variable air volume control units have been provided for all single occupant offices, conference rooms and collaboration rooms. Operable windows have been provided in all offices and conference rooms. HVAC control has been provided for 100% of building full time employees.
The CIR is requesting clarification on the definition of building occupants, as pertaining to EQc6.1 & EQc6.2. The determining factor is not WHO uses the space, but HOW the space is being used. It is not sufficient to ignore the needs of transient/visitors to a building and to provide lighting and thermal controls only to full time employees. (The credit requires individual control for occupants, not just FTE\'s). Instead, th e expected building use should be analyzed and control systems should be provided to serve all users as appropriate. As a guideline of typical library uses, we can look at the likely classifications of public areas in a library: 1) lobbies and circulation: these areas are defined as not being "regularly occupied" and therefore not required to have individual control 2) book shelf "stacks" areas: depending on use and function, these areas would not typically be classified as "regularly occupied" 3) reading/work areas: these areas are not dissimilar to an open office environment, and depending on use and function, would typically be considered "regularly occupied". System designers should apply reasonable discretion and be prepared to support the decisions they make regarding these classifications of space. In a library setting some of the patrons will likely spend long periods of time inside at specific spaces, and will be performing tasks (reading, writing) that are similar to those of workers or employees. Spaces that serve these functions should meet the requirements of EQc6.1& EQc6.2, regardless of whether they are intended for staff or library visitors. The implementation of these credits is left to the discretion of the designers, though for building types that do not "neatly" fit the credit as written in the reference guide, a description of the individual spaces and their respective functions should accompany the calculations and LEED Submittal Template to support the design decisions. Please note that the quantity of individual workstation and shared multi-occupant spaces must be consistent between the credits.