In LEED v5, lighting environment is a key focus, with options for reducing glare and improving daylight access, and a new “Lighting Environment” credit. This credit allows projects to earn points by implementing strategies like reducing solar glare, minimizing artificial light glare, and maximizing daylight access. Additionally, the new “Connecting with Nature” credit, which was previously a standalone credit, has been restructured within the Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) category.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
Glare Reduction
LEED v5 includes options for reducing both solar glare (from the sun) and electric glare (from artificial lights).
Daylight Access
The rating system encourages projects to maximize natural light access, potentially through proximity to windows or through daylight simulation analysis.
“Connecting with Nature” Credit
While this credit is now part of the broader Occupant Experience, it still addresses the important aspect of connecting occupants with nature, which can positively impact their well-being.
Focus on Energy Efficiency
LEED v5 emphasizes stricter energy performance thresholds, requiring compliance with updated standards such as ASHRAE 90.1-2019 for projects registered before the cutoff date and ASHRAE 90.1-2022 for those registered afterward. These changes lower Energy Use Intensity (EUI) baselines, pushing lighting designs toward higher efficiency through advanced lighting technologies.
Integration of Smart Lighting Systems
The new version incorporates grid-interactive credit requirements, encouraging the use of smart lighting systems that can actively participate in demand response programs. These systems are designed to optimize energy performance while interacting with utility grid signals, contributing to broader grid stability and resiliency.
Lighting Pollution Reduction
LEED v5 expands its focus on reducing light pollution by refining credits related to outdoor lighting design. The updated requirements aim to minimize ecological disruption and enhance nighttime visibility while preserving dark skies. This aligns with LEED’s overarching goals of ecological conservation and quality of life.
Digital Compliance Tools
LEED v5 introduces advanced digital tools for real-time monitoring and forecasting of energy use, including lighting systems. These tools reduce the administrative burden by automating documentation and allow project teams to model energy consumption over a 25-year period. This integration ensures that lighting systems contribute to long-term sustainability goals.
Lighting Design For Well-Being
The new framework places greater emphasis on occupant well-being through improved indoor lighting quality. Credits now reward designs that optimize natural daylighting, reduce glare, and enhance visual comfort, tying into LEED’s quality-of-life objectives.
Electrification and Renewable Energy Integration
LEED v5 promotes electrification by encouraging all-electric systems for Platinum-level certifications. Projects are incentivized to integrate on-site renewable energy sources like solar panels to power lighting systems, further reducing operational emissions. To achieve Platinum-level certification, LEED v5 introduces new requirements for energy efficiency, carbon emissions, and renewable energy use.
Implications for Project Teams
These changes require project teams to adopt more sophisticated approaches to lighting design, including:
- Utilizing advanced modeling tools to ensure compliance with stricter performance thresholds.
- Incorporating smart technologies that enable dynamic interaction with the grid.
- Prioritizing materials and designs that reduce embodied carbon in lighting fixtures.
LEED v5 raises the bar for sustainable lighting by embedding energy efficiency, decarbonization, and occupant well-being into its requirements. More information on LEED v5 requirements can be found here.
Image: USGBC.org
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