ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:    

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New Construction

SSc8

1 Point

Light Pollution Reduction

Intent: Minimize light trespass from the building and site, reduce sky-glow to increase night sky access, improve nighttime visibility through glare reductions, and reduce development impact on nocturnal environments.

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• The angle of maximum candela from each interior luminaire as located in the building shall intersect opaque building interior surfaces and not exit out through the windows, OR
• All non-emergency interior lighting shall be automatically controlled to turn off during non-business hours. Provide manual override capability for after hours use. Controls may be automatic sweep timers, occupancy sensors or programmed master lighting control panels.
   

AND

FOR EXTERNAL LIGHTING:

• Only light areas as required for safety and comfort. Do not exceed 80% of the lighting power densities for exterior areas and 50% for building facades and landscape features as defined in ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004, Exterior Lighting Section, without amendments, AND
   
• All projects shall be classified under one of the following zones, as defined in IESNA RP-33, and shall follow all of the requirements for that specific zone:
   
  • LZ1 — Dark (Park and Rural Settings) Design exterior lighting so that all site and building mounted luminaires produce a maximum initial illuminance value no greater than 0.01 horizontal and vertical footcandles at the site boundary and beyond. Document that 0% of the total initial designed fixture lumens are emitted at an angle of 90 degrees or higher from nadir (straight down).
     
  • LZ2 — Low (Residential areas) Design exterior lighting so that all site and building mounted luminaires produce a maximum initial illuminance value no greater than 0.10 horizontal and vertical footcandles at the site boundary and no greater than 0.01 horizontal footcandles 10 feet beyond the site boundary. Document that no more than 2% of the total initial designed fixture lumens are emitted at an angle of 90 degrees or higher from nadir (straight down). For site boundaries that abut public rights-of-way, light trespass requirements may be met relative to the curb line instead of the site boundary.
     
  • LZ3 — Medium (Commercial/Industrial, High-Density Residential) Design exterior lighting so that all site and building mounted luminaires produce a maximum initial illuminance value no greater than 0.20 horizontal and vertical footcandles at the site boundary and no greater than 0.01 horizontal footcandles 15 feet beyond the site. Document that no more than 5% of the total initial designed fixture lumens are emitted at an angle of 90 degrees or higher from nadir (straight down). For site boundaries that abut public rights-of-way, light trespass requirements may be met relative to the curb line instead of the site boundary.
     
  • LZ4 — High (Major City Centers, Entertainment Districts) Design exterior lighting so that all site and building mounted luminaires produce a maximum initial illuminance value no greater than 0.60 horizontal and vertical footcandles at the site boundary and no greater than 0.01 horizontal footcandles 15 feet beyond the site. Document that no more than 10% of the total initial designed site lumens are emitted at an angle of 90 degrees or higher from nadir (straight down). For site boundaries that abut public rights-of-way, light trespass requirements may be met relative to the curb line instead of the site boundary.

Referenced Standards:

ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential - Lighting (Section 9), www.ashrae.org, (800) 527-4723.

Design Strategies:

• Projects should consider the use of low intensity, shielded luminaires and curfew controllers turning the lights off at 10p or at closing (whichever is later).
• Projects should minimize the lighting of architectural or landscaping features.
• Where lighting is required, utilize down-lighting instead of uplighting.

General Strategy for Designing Exterior Lighting:

1. Employ a lighting professional.
2. Review all applicable lighting ordinances and by-laws.
3. Document which environmental zone the site in in.
4. Use the least amount of lighting equipment while remembering it is sometimes better to use two luminaires with lower light output and good glare control instead of a single high output luminaire.
5. Select all lighting equipment carefully watching for glare, unneeded uplight and light trespass possibilities.
6. Deign the exterior lighting so as to minimize reflected light going upward.
7. Light only areas that require lighting, using the least light possible. Design and develop a control scheme to minimize or turn-off lighting after hours.
8. Use a computer modeling tool to provide point-by-point illuminances throughout the space and off-site.
9. Commission and maintain the lighting system.