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Integrated Lighting Control Pays Off
Blue Ridge Technologies control products can help buildings achieve LEED certification
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System ® is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.
-- US Green Building Council website.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDTM) Green Building Rating System represents the U.S. Green Building Council’s effort to produce a national standard for what constitutes a “green building.” Through its use as a design guideline and third-party certification tool, it aims to improve occupant well-being, environmental performance and economic returns of buildings using established and innovative practices, standards and technologies.
-- Green Building Rating System v2.1, 2002
USGBC's LEED for Existing Buildings Rating System
The LEED for Existing Buildings Rating System helps building owners and operators measure operations, improvements and maintenance on a consistent scale, with the goal of maximizing operational efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. LEED for Existing Buildings addresses whole-building cleaning and maintenance issues (including chemical use), recycling programs, exterior maintenance programs, and systems upgrades. It can be applied both to existing buildings seeking LEED certification for the first time and to projects previously certified under LEED for New Construction, Schools, or Core & Shell.
USGBC's LEED for New Construction Rating System
The LEED for New Construction Rating System is designed to guide and distinguish high-performance commercial and institutional projects, including office buildings, high-rise residential buildings, government buildings, recreational facilities, manufacturing plants and laboratories.
LEED was created to:
- define "green building" by establishing a common standard of measurement
- promote integrated, whole-building design practices
- recognize environmental leadership in the building industry
- stimulate green competition
- raise consumer awareness of green building benefits
- transform the building market
LEED has specialized Green Building Rating Systems for
- New Construction (NC)
- Existing Buildings (EB)
- Commercial Interiors (CI)
| Certified | 26 points (Prerequisites include ASHRAE 90.1) |
Silver |
33 points |
| Gold | 39 points |
| Platinum | 52 points |
| Maximum possible points | 69 points |
| Certified | 32 points (Prerequisites include Energy Star score of 60) |
Silver |
33 points |
| Gold | 39 points |
| Platinum | 52 points |
| Maximum possible points | 69 points |
Blue Ridge Technologies products can help qualify a building to both meet prerequisites and gain credits points in the Green Building Rating Systems. Five out of the six LEED Environmental Categories are potential areas where lighting controls can help achieve Green Building Rating System points.
- Category 1 -- Sustainable Sites
- Category 3 -- Energy and Atmosphere
- Category 4 -- Materials and Resources
- Category 5 -- Indoor Environmental Quality
- Category 6 -- Innovation in Design (NC) or Upgrades/Operations (EB)
The six category LEED Rating System – NC Environmental Categories and associated Prerequisites and Credits are listed here. Specific prerequisites and credits where Blue Ridge Technologies controls can help are marked bold green. (EB categories are similar)
Sustainable Sites (SS)
14 Possible Points (for all credits)
| Prerequisite 1 | Erosion & Sedimentation control |
| Credit 1 | Site Selection |
| Credit 2 | Development Density |
| Credit 3 | Brownfield Redevelopment |
| Credit 4 | Alternative Transportation |
| Credit 5 | Reduced Site Disturbance |
| Credit 6 | Stormwater Management |
| Credit 7 | Heat Island Effects |
| Credit 8 | Light Pollution Reduction |
Water Efficiency (WE)
5 Possible Points (for all credits)
| Credit 1 | Water Efficient Landscaping |
| Credit 2 | Innovative Wastewater Technologies |
| Credit 3 | Water Use Reduction |
Energy and Atmosphere (EA)
17 Possible Points (for all credits)
| Prerequisite 1 | Fundamental Building Systems Commissioning |
| Prerequisite 2 | Minimum Energy Performance |
| Prerequisite 3 | CFC Reduction in HVAC&R Equipment |
| Credit 1 | Optimize Energy Performance |
| Credit 2 | Renewable Energy |
| Credit 3 | Additional Commissioning |
| Credit 4 | Ozone Depletion |
| Credit 5 | Measurement & Verification |
| Credit 6 | Green Power |
Materials and Resources (MR)
3 Possible Points (for all credits)
| Prerequisite 1 | Storage and Collection of Recyclables |
| Credit 1 | Building Reuse |
| Credit 2 | Construction Waste Management |
| Credit 3 | Resource Reuse |
| Credit 4 | Recycled Content |
| Credit 5 | Local/Regional Materials |
| Credit 6 | Rapidly Renewable Materials |
| Credit 7 | Certified Wood |
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ)
15 Possible Points (for all credits)
| Prerequisite 1 | Minimum IAQ Performance |
| Prerequisite 2 | Environmental Tobacco Smoke |
| Credit 1 | Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Monitoring |
| Credit 2 | Ventilation Effectiveness |
| Credit 3 | Construction IAQ Management Plan |
| Credit 4 | Low-Emitting Materials |
| Credit 5 | Indoor Chemical & Pollutant Source Control |
| Credit 6 | Controllability of Systems |
| Credit 7 | Thermal Comfort |
| Credit 8 | Daylight & Views |
Innovation & Design Process (ID)
5 Possible Points (for all credits)
| Credit 1 | Innovation and Design |
| Credit 2 | LEED Accredited Professional |
Additional resources:
U.S. Green Building Council website for information on the various LEED rating systems and the lighting design considerations for each: www.usgbc.org
Green Globes website for information about its online auditing tool for green building, including lighting design factors: www.greenglobes.com
Web portal for building-related information with a "whole building" focus, including lighting design and daylighting considerations, provided by the National Institute of Building Sciences: www.wbdg.org
Website for information on BSD's PerSpective commercial building performance specifications, including lighting and daylighting considerations: www.bsdsoftlink.com
Website for energy design tools and resources for designing energy-efficient commercial and industrial buildings in California: http://energydesignresources.com
Website for a wide variety of technical lighting documents published by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America: www.iesna.org
ASHRAE - Standards and Guidelines: http://www.ashrae.org/technology/page/548
Blue Ridge Technologies does not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, tools, products or processes that are referred to or linked to on external web sites. References or any links to specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply Blue Ridge Technologies' endorsement or recommendation.
The views and opinions expressed on external web sites do not necessarily reflect those of Blue Ridge Technologies.
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