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Credit 2 - Increased Ventilation

June 1, 2006
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The intent of this credit is to achieve maximum effectiveness of the ventilation provided by optimizing proper air mixing and flow.

Requirements for Certification:

For mechanically ventilated spaces:

Increase outdoor air ventilation rates by 30% above minimum rates required by ASHRAE 62.1-2004.

For naturally ventilated spaces:

Follow the recommendations in the Carbon Trust Good Practice Guide 237 [1998] for occupied spaces. Determine that natural ventilation is an effective strategy for the project.

AND use diagrams and calculations to show that the design of the natural ventilation systems meets the recommendations set forth in the CIBSE Applications Manual 10: 2005, Natural ventilation in non-domestic buildings.

OR use a macroscopic, multi-zone, analytic model to predict that room-by-room airflows will effectively naturally ventilate for at least 90% of occupied spaces.

Successful Strategies:

  • This credit may require extensive documentation.
  • This credit is frequently achievable with proper application of underfloor air distribution systems.


Helpful Hints:

  1. Combine heat recovery to minimize additional energy consumption.
  2. Consider potential energy savings lost due to increased ventilation rates.
  3. Primarily applicable to specific building types, including: healthcare facilities, high-level containment laboratory spaces, micro-electron manufacturing plants, etc.
  4. Displacement ventilation systems are effective systems to earn this credit. However, they require closely monitored construction detailing.


Historical Data (updated June 2006):

  • 27% of all California LEED Certified projects achieved this credit for LEED v2.1.

Additional EDR Resources

Case Studies: Displacement Ventilation in Classrooms

Design Briefs: Indoor Air Quality

Design Briefs: Displacement Ventilation

Design Briefs: Underfloor Air Distribution and Access Floors

Design Guidelines: HVAC Simulation Guidelines - Underfloor Air Distribution and Thermal Placement Ventilation

Design Briefs: Commercial Kitchen Ventilation Design


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