Based on new purchases that are planned, develop a list of appliances and equipment that must meet the Energy Star requirement for your project. If it is Energy Star-labeled, then it must be included in the list. At a minimum, this should include office equipment such as computers, fax machines, printers, scanners, and monitors, as well as appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers.
Provide independent controls for all task lights. (This can also contribute to earning EAc1.2: Optimize Energy Performance—Lighting Controls and IEQc6.1: Controllability of Systems—Lighting.
Research the exemptions in ASHRAE 90.1-2007, Section 9.2.2.3. Many types of performance and high-powered performance lighting (such theatrical lights) are exempt from the calculations. Refer to the additional lighting allowances for artwork, decorative lighting, and display lighting listed in Section 9.6.2.
In a remodeling project, if new lighting is replacing less than 50% of the total installed wattage, the project is exempt from reducing LPD 10% from the ASHRAE 90.1-2007 standard. However, you still must comply with all mandatory requirements for controls and wiring.
The ASHRAE standard refers to “installed” LPD, so all the light fixtures installed during design and construction must be included in the calculation. Often, designs will provide two fixtures to supplement each other at different times.
The space-by-space method is a good option for projects that do not fit into one of the building type categories or that require increased LPD allowances for either decorative or merchandise lighting. These types of spaces are allowed higher LPDs, but these increases can only be counted to the extent that they are actually used.
