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Best Practice Guide |
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Commercial Office Buildings |
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LightingOutdoor AreasOutdoor lighting is so ubiquitous and yet so essential in the urban and suburban environment that most of us rarely see truly dark skies at night. Outdoor lighting gives us the ability to see and be seen, effectively extending the hours during which we can use facilities like parking lots, walkways, entryways, outdoor patios and recreational areas. Although visual acuity is the primary goal, outdoor lighting is commonly used to add design or architectural details to facades and landscapes, drawing the attention of passersby. In California, commercial and industrial outdoor lighting consumes an estimated 3067 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity each year - this is enough energy to power more than half-a-million Californian homes. Commercial outdoor lighting alone accounts for three percent of all nighttime energy use, with demand peaking about 7 to 8 PM during the winter months; summer peak is about 9 PM. This demand tapers off around 1 AM as parking lots reduce lighting levels, remains constant until about 4 AM, then briefly spikes around 5 AM as the morning commute begins.
Replace Inefficient Lighting Systems
Install Photosensors
Position Effectively Further Considerations
Business ExamplesAt Adobe Towers in San Jose, Cushman & Wakefield retrofitted all lighting in three parking garages, resulting in annual energy cost savings of $163,372. In a follow-up measure, Cushman & Wakefield reprogrammed the garage lighting controls to turn off from midnight to 6 AM. After inspecting the new lighting levels, additional emergency and night lighting was installed in dark areas. Cushman & Wakefield was able to eliminate the 24-hour lighting schedule, reducing operating hours from 168 to 80 per week. Adobe invested $20,530 in this latter measure, which saves them almost $35,000 in energy costs each year. Resources California Energy Commission webpage on the Reduction of Outdoor Lighting and Executive Order D-19-01. California Energy Commission report, California Outdoor Lighting Standards (Revised March 2004). California Energy Commission, Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) report, California Outdoor Lighting Baseline Assessment. California Energy Commission, Building Energy Efficiency Standards, information on changes to Title-24 that affect outdoor lighting zones. International Dark-Sky Association has a number of resources, including information sheets on a variety of topics. State of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection. Webpage on Outdoor Lighting: Efficient Outdoor Lighting Benefits Us All. Clark, B.A.J. Outdoor Lighting and Crime, Part I: Little or No Benefit. Astronomical Society of Victoria, Inc., Australia, November 26, 2002. A look at crime and lighting studies in the U.K. and U.S. |