In the earliest planning phase the interior designer must lock-in decisions that 1) have the greatest effect on interior energy demand yet 2) are fully under the designer’s control. Two of the highest-impact variables for an interiors project are selection of high-efficacy lighting (LED) and specifying materials that are locally sourced to reduce transportation energy and embodied carbon. LEED v4.1 ID+C and university sustainability studios identify these two items as “front-loaded” decisions that must be set before detailed design and purchasing begin. By contrast, onsite wind generation or composting toilets require owner-level, civil and structural coordination that is usually outside the scope of an interior fit-out and therefore are not the most critical issues for the ID team to develop first.

B. Wind power demands site, structural and utility studies beyond an interior scope; recycled-content material choices can be finalized later in design.

C. Composting toilets alter base-building plumbing and code compliance; renewable power sources are owner/architect decisions, not primary early tasks for interior designers.

1. USGBC

LEED v4.1 ID+C Reference Guide

Integrative Process

“Energy & Lighting Analysis

” pp. 27-29.

2. USGBC

LEED v4.1 ID+C Reference Guide

Materials & Resources Overview

p. 215 (“local sourcing decisions should be confirmed in pre-design”).

3. MIT OpenCourseWare

4.222J Sustainable Design and Technology

Lecture 3 slides “Early Interior Strategies

” slide 12-18 (high-efficacy lighting and regional materials as first-phase tasks).

4. University of Minnesota

Interior Design 4464 “Sustainable Systems for Interiors

” Week 2 notes

sect. “Front-loaded decisions

” ¶2-3.