On a project located in New Jersey, US, we have some regional government mandated light poles for street lighting leading into our LPB. If these street lights are mandated by local government, are they considered exempt when calculating light trespass?

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Bill Swanson

Sr. Electrical Engineer

Integrated Design Solutions

LEEDuser Expert

516 thumbs up

Fri, 07/19/2019 - 18:35

Generally, government mandated light is NOT exempt. Government OWNED light would be exempt.

You said the light poles "... leading into our LPB." You only have to count lighting inside of the LEED project boundary.

Jeff Wiedmeyer

Facility Leaders in Architecture

LEEDuser Premium Member

1 thumbs up

Fri, 07/19/2019 - 18:50

Bill, Thank you for your reply. It is confusing to me because it seems to conflict with the reference guide, p.212, Step 5. Determining Exemptions, second bullet, where it reads, "Examples of exempt lighting include...government-mandated roadway lighting..." After looking again, it is a single light pole and it does occur just (<5') within the LPB. So we'll need to count it and consider it.

Bill Swanson

Sr. Electrical Engineer

Integrated Design Solutions

LEEDuser Expert

516 thumbs up

Fri, 07/19/2019 - 19:14

I'm finding it difficult to sort thru all of the official interpretations. I did some more digging and found
https://www.usgbc.org/content/li-10236

"Street lighting that is required by governmental authorities to be installed within the LEED project, specifically for the purposes of lighting a public street, does not need to be included in any of the calculations. Project teams should provide documentation of the government requirement and a narrative describing the application of this exemption to the project."

This interpretation is not listed as applicable to v4 projects. I haven't been able to find other interpretations that I remember of this topic.

If this is listed in the reference guide under exemptions then it just might be allowed, and I am wrong.

Bill Swanson

Sr. Electrical Engineer

Integrated Design Solutions

LEEDuser Expert

516 thumbs up

Mon, 07/29/2019 - 12:53

"After looking again, it is a single light pole and it does occur just (<5') within the LPB. So we'll need to count it and consider it."

I forgot to ask, is this a "roadway" light?

Jeff Wiedmeyer

Facility Leaders in Architecture

LEEDuser Premium Member

1 thumbs up

Mon, 07/29/2019 - 13:37

Bill, that is a good question. It is a roadway-type of light fixture that was mandated by the city's Planning Board for use at the edge of the site where the site meets a city street. It's location provides light to both the roadway and a side driveway entrance the building occupants and delivery trucks may use.

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