More natural light is transmitted through glazing with higher VLT values, but higher VLT values tend to correlate with higher solar heat gain coefficients (SHGC). Assess the optimal balance of these values, along with U-value, based on the project’s climate and heating and cooling needs. These values are available on manufacturers’ specifications.

Take the VLT of the whole window, not just the glazing, to account for shading from mullions.

Find out the Visual Light Transmittance (VLT) value of the glazing and enter it on the LEED credit form for each occupied space. The VLT is usually included with the glazing specifications.

Some applicable spaces may be exempt from the daylighting calculation if their uses are daylight-sensitive. Examples include museum or gallery spaces, auditoriums and high-security areas. If you have daylight-sensitive spaces in your project that you would like to exempt from the calculation, you must provide a detailed narrative explanation and exemption request along with the credit documentation. This requests are scrutinized carefully, however, and may not be successful.

Your project's regularly occupied spaces should be defined consistently across other LEED credits, especially IEQc8.2: Daylight and Views—Views.

Identify regularly occupied spaces that need to be included in the LEED daylight calculation. Locate these spaces near perimeter glazing, courtyards, or other daylight sources.

Having two different sources of daylight in a space will help minimize contrast and shadows.

Ensure that monitoring devices are included in budget estimates from the beginning to avoid any surprises.

The outside air delivery monitoring device should be specified along with the Air Handling Unit (AHU) equipment package.

The monitoring and alarm systems need to be included in the commissioning plan for EAp1: Fundamental Commissioning with the appropriate sampling rate.