There appears to still be confusion on the differences between the Project Boundary and the Lighting Boundary.
The Project boundary is the same as shown in every other credit. All lighting within the project boundary must show compliance with this credit's requirements.
The Lighting boundary often has a lot of overlap with the project boundary. But they are separate. The Lighting boundary can be moved out at roadways or to the entire campus. The lighting boundary exists for a single purpose. As a line to measure spill light at.
People who should know better are confusing the terms. Both the LEED Reviewer and now GBCI want "ALL" lights within the lighting boundary to show compliance. For a campus project, this is problematic and against official LEED Interpretations.
Created on October 1, 2012
LEED Interpretation
ID# 10236
"If the LEED project boundary is smaller than the property line, projects can use the lighting boundary to meet the light trespass requirements of this credit. Buildings that are part of campuses or shared properties can use the "campus boundary", i.e. the campus property line, to comply with the light trespass requirements of this credit. All LEED projects attempting SSc8 should continue to meet all exterior requirements (LPD, uplight, trespass) based all of the exterior luminaries within the LEED project boundary. The lighting boundary is only for the purposes of the trespass calculation, based on the light emitted by the luminaires within the LEED project boundary. Project teams should take note that the LEED project boundary must be appropriately defined and comply with Minimum Program Requirement (MPR) #3- "Must be a reasonable site boundary"."
GBCI Case 01680820
"We recommend that you revise your documentation such as to account for ALL luminaries contained within the lightning boundary established for your project, or to revise the lighting zone accordingly, and to provide proper justification for the same."
Michelle Bombeck
Associate PrincipalO'Brien360
34 thumbs up
June 18, 2018 - 8:15 pm
Hi Bill - Did you get any clarification from GBCI on this issue? I I have a similar (but not the same) question - My project's presumed lighting boundary is the property boundary (though likely scooting out to the center of the adjacent streets). There is an existing surface parking lot in the NE corner of the property that we are excluding from the LEED boundary. We aren't doing any work on it but would be replacing the existing perimeter lighting to match the new site lighting. Can we just include those lights in our lighting boundary but exclude them from the LEED project boundary? My gut says not but that would mean us taking a 'donut hole' approach to the LEED boundary, since we'd include the lighting but not the parking lot. I've gotten pushback from reviewers when trying to use this approach in the past. Thoughts?
Bill Swanson
Sr. Electrical EngineerIntegrated Design Solutions
LEEDuser Expert
734 thumbs up
June 26, 2018 - 9:13 am
I believe it has been addressed. Below is the advice given to me from the Director of Quality at GBCI when I experience Reviewers inconsistencies or errors.
"On behalf of GBCI staff, we appreciate you raising this issue. We take claims of reviewer inconsistencies/errors very seriously and are constantly working toward improving our processes to ensure project teams receive consistent and accurate review comments. In this instance, we contacted you directly and the issue has now been resolved.
Should this happen in the future, please contact us through the LEED Certification Contact Us form, http://www.gbci.org/contact , select Certification Question and include project number and name so that we can resolve the issue for you.
Please note that the option to use the LEED Certification Contact Us form is always available to all project teams who have any concerns or requested clarifications regarding any LEED Certification review comments that are made. We strive to provide a fair review that is consistent with published LEED rating system requirements, the referenced standards, reference guides, and LEED Interpretations. At any time you feel the basis for a requirement has not been adequately referenced in the LEED review comments, or that the reviewer comment was in error, we welcome your feedback, and will provide clarification and correct any errors that may have been made.
Thank you for your continued commitment to LEED."
Bill Swanson
Sr. Electrical EngineerIntegrated Design Solutions
LEEDuser Expert
734 thumbs up
June 26, 2018 - 9:21 am
Regarding your question, "Can we just include those lights in our lighting boundary but exclude them from the LEED project boundary?"
Any lighting within the LEED project boundary needs to be included. From your description I could not tell if the light you are describing is inside of or outside of the project boundary. USGBC doesn't generally like donut holes in projects. There is a bunch of information about MPR2 which requires reasonable LEED boundaries. Where ever that boundary gets drawn, it will be used in all credits.
Kelli Kimura
Opsis Architecture13 thumbs up
January 12, 2024 - 4:20 pm
Hi Michelle,
I'm curious what approach you landed on and if you recieved any comments following review. We have a similar situation where a few exterior lights are being replaced adjacent to our LEED boundary (main project scope of work), but are within our lighting boundary (in this case campus boundary).
Thanks,