LEED & IDA Lighting Programs

Government sponsored green design programs for lighting requirements such as LEED (leadership in energy-efficient Design) are concentrating on energy efficiency, utilizing recyclable materials.

Lighting for exterior areas should ensure that all illumation should fall within a distance of 2.5 times its mounting height from the property boundary lines, so all illumination falls within those lines. Also all fixtures that produce more than 1000 initial lumens should be sheilded. Fixtures that produce more than 3500 initial lumens should meet the full cutoff IES classification so no illumination is emitted skyward.

International Dark Skies Association (IDA) was founded in 1988 by two astronomers who were amoung the first to notice and vioice concerns about the urban glow, the bright illumination that spills out into our atmosphere. Not only our urban areas skies being effected, it is creeping out into all areas obscuring the view of our starlit skies. This association are dedicated to protecting the dark skies. They have 11,000 members in 75 countries and have dedicated themselves to the forefront of the movement. Drawing attention to the enlighting of our skies and coming up with ways to solve the problem.

It has grown well beyond pollution for people who enjoy watching the stars at night, but it can hinder driver's visibility, and can be annoying to neighbor's private property. It also waste enegy and causes stress to wildlife. There might even be a link to serious health problems, such as cancer. With good lighting practices you can still have good lighting and dark skies.

For now there is no real solution or guidelines for determining what can be done. Using fixtures that illuminates down or low level illumination can help. Avoid high-wattage, high output lamps that tend to over illuminate the area. They tend to waste energy and creates glare. The traditional barnyard and parking lot mercury vapor lamps should be replaced by appropriate fixtures.

The most important thing we can do is educate. How can we still do the job and not waste our energy? It means selecting the right lite source for the task.

Continue to California Title 24 ENERGY STAR