Our project is a large commercial building in an undeveloped area within an urban boundary. The land adjacent to our site is undeveloped or residential in character. The adjacent vacant areas will be developed with commercial buildings. For SS8 in LEED 2.1, please confirm that lighting environmental zone E4 will be allowed for this project.
It appears from the description that the site\'s mixed commercial and residential urban character may qualify as an E4 zone, so long as high levels of night time activity occur. The reference standard (IESNA RP-33-99) defines Environmental Zone E4, Areas of High Ambient Brightness, as "urban areas having both residential and commercial use and experiencing high levels of night time activity". It also states that Environmental Zone E3, Areas of Medium Ambient Brightness, "will generally be urban residential areas". Accordingly, documentation submittal should demonstrate that the site is more an E4 zone than an E3 zone. Such documentation might include a detailed narrative demonstrating the project\'s mixed residential/commercial urban context and the level of night time activities, along with photographs and/or documentation of the site\'s use category defined by local zoning. Applicable internationally.