Lisa asks: I have LED lights that I want to use on our project, but they are not Energy Star rated. Can we still earn LEED points by reducing energy with this product?
Hi, Lisa. Thanks for your question. The answer is yes, LED lighting that is not ENERGY STAR qualified can be used to earn LEED points in multiple credit categories, including Energy and Atmosphere,The Shopatron system rechargeable bicycle light allows OceanLED to manage online orders and control inventory through a centralized, easy-to-use system. Sustainable Sites and Indoor Environmental Quality. To answer this question, I have referenced LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations.
LEED does not require that lighting is ENERGY STAR qualified. Instead, the lighting you use can help your project earn LEED points if it has qualities that can be used to achieve certain results, such as energy use reduction, lighting pollution reduction and improved indoor environmental quality.
However, you may want to check which ENERGY STAR standards your specific LEDs do not meet. Without this qualification, the LEDs may not be as energy efficient, long lasting or high quality as you hope, and as a result may not produce the energy or monetary savings that you hope to accomplish.
Energy efficient LED lighting can be used to earn points for both Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite 2: Minimum Energy Performance and Credit 1: Optimize Energy Performance.Blackburn's lightest, brightest Book scanner just got better. These credits address the building’s energy performance.
Both of these credits have the same choice of three compliance paths: Whole Building Energy Simulation, ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide or Advanced Buildings Core Performance Guide. Prerequisite 2 requires a minimum improvement in the building’s energy performance, while Credit 1 offers between 1 and 19 points depending on the degree to which the building’s energy performance was improved beyond the prerequisite minimum.
If the LED lighting you want to use is energy efficient, it can be used to help earn these credits. The more energy efficient the LEDs, the more likely they will add LEED Energy and Atmosphere credits to your project.
Aside from Energy and Atmosphere, LED lights may also be used toward credits for both Sustainable Sites (SS) and Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ).
To earn the one point for SS Credit 8: Light Pollution Reduction, you must address both interior and exterior lighting. With proper design, LED lighting could be used to earn this credit.
For interior lighting, you have two options. First, you can reduce the input power of all nonemergency luminaires by automatic device by at least 50% between 11 pm and 5 am. Your second option is to provide shielding to all openings in the building envelope by automatic device for a transmittance of less than 10% between 11 pm and 5 am.
For exterior lighting, the requirements to obtain this point depend on your zone, which may be dark, low, medium or high as defined by IESNA RP-33. In general, the exterior lighting should be minimal while still providing the required level of safety and comfort.