Why We Light• To Improve Visibility• To Extend the Day• To Enhance Commerce• To “Feel Safe” • Fear of Litigation• Primal Fear of the Dark

Lighting and Safety• Does more Light = More Safety?• No evidence to support this assumption• Street Lighting increases “feeling of safety”• Used as a sales technique since Edison• Used by cities to placate public• Reducing crime much more complex• Chicago study showed that increasing lighting

levels can actually increase crime

Crime Trend - 1990-2014

Lighting Statistics• 80% is used for Commercial &

Public Exterior Lighting• ~750 million Outdoor Lighting Fixtures*

Worldwide • ~160 million Outdoor Lighting Fixtures*

in US– *Commercial & Public Exterior (Road, Street,

Parking + Buildings)

• Total Wasted Energy is approx. 60-70% overall from:– Unwarranted (not needed) = 25%– Over-lighting (excessive illumination) = 25%– Not dimmed or on curfew = 25%– Glare =15%– Uplight = 10%

Lighting Statistics

• Approx. Wasted Energy = 1.1 PetaWattHours Annually– The equivalent output of 500 power plants– Could power ~ 7,750,000 homes– Producing 750 million tons of CO2

– Cost = Approximately $110 billion (US Dollars)

Lighting Statistics

• Blue-rich white light increases perception of glare and…

• Decreases visual acuity/safety• Increases circadian disruption which..• Reduces quantity and quality of sleep• Adversely impacts ecology

AMA Report Warnings

• Use warm white light <3000K CCT– Minimize short wavelength SPD

• Reduce adverse impact from– Glare– Light trespass– Sky Glow

• Minimize circadian disruption• Reduce ecological impact

AMA Recommendations

Lighting Quality & Color Use appropriate color temperature Assess public preferences More blue SPD increases perception of

glare and light trespass Use IES BUG Rating UG 0 or 1 fixtures

Lighting Quantity & Controls Broad Spectrum white light is different Increased visibility allows lower levels Most neighborhoods w/ speed limits 30 MPH

or less don’t need street lights Use pedestrian centric lighting Use controls to adapt lighting to time of night RP-8-14 includes adaptive control guidance

based on road classification Community can choose lower lighting levels

Public Outreach• DOTs need to engage lighting experts for

design and planning• Pilot test all options: fixtures/CCT/controls• Solicit public preferences with surveys/tours• Use professionals to devise “neutral” questions• Engage broad demographic sampling• Use social media, web and print advertising,

and mail to engage widest population diversity• Hold frequent town hall public meetings• Base final decisions on the data

Lighting Standards• Lighting standards can’t keep pace with rapid

evolution in technology.• Committees for lighting standards rely on

volunteers and are very slow moving.• No money available for needed research• Luminance and uniformity are inferior metrics• Standards traditionally have erred on the side

of more light

Lighting Standards• We see by contrast, not brightness.• Broad-spectrum white light improves both

luminance and chrominance contrast• Standards will likely evolve to reduce

recommended luminance levels for broad-spectrum white light

Legal• US has 70% of world’s supply of lawyers• Fear of litigation dictates US lighting policy• Lighting lawsuits are rare…• Judgments even more so• Cities routinely settle out of court

• No legal requirement for public lighting• Adhering to recognized lighting standards

does not always provide liability shield• Negligence due to poor maintenance is most

common claim• Cities can establish their own standards

based on research or community preference

Legal

Best Practices• Smart controls maximize savings/flexibility• Right amount of light for the time of night• Headlights work better <=30 mph• Use pedestrian centric lighting• Reduce glare, uplight, & light trespass• Preserve neighborhood ambiance with

appropriate luminance & color temperature• Adopt ecologically responsible choices

Thank youPlease join SOLA today

Bob Parks, LC, MIESExecutive Director

Smart Outdoor Lighting Alliance (bparks@sola.lighting)