The comfort system does not have to be especially expensive or complex. It may simply be, for example, localized air conditioning with occupant controls.
The required comfort control has to address only one of the four primary comfort criteria identified by ASHRAE 55-2004: air temperature, radiant temperature, humidity or air speed. You may address multiple criteria, but aren’t required to do so.
Some conventional systems typically rely on central control, and multiple controls may be difficult to incorporate. Underfloor air distribution, on the other hand, is designed for flexibility and individual control in a way that naturally supports this credit.
Including operable windows in the building can reduce dependence on specific mechanical system designs. Positioning as many occupant spaces near operable windows as possible can make this credit easier to achieve.
The lower your building’s energy use, the less you pay for this credit (because you have less electrical power use to offset). Explore cost-effective ways of reducing electrical energy consumption in order to reduce the cost of green power.
Some universities and large companies have already decided to purchase green power and therefore your project may not have to pay for it directly. Consult with the owner to see if this is already happening and you can use previously allocated funds rather than project funds. You will need to make sure there is no “double-dipping”.
You can choose to purchase two years’ worth of green power at occupancy, rather than pay monthly or yearly. In this case, you would purchase double the percentage of assumed annual electricity consumption to satisfy the credit’s two-year commitment. For example, a LEED-CI project would purchase either 16 kWh per square foot or 100% of actual electricity consumption.
Including operable windows in the building can reduce dependence on specific mechanical system designs. Positioning as many occupant spaces near operable windows as possible can make this credit easier to achieve.