Our project is an office building located in an area surrounded mostly by residential properties. The office building and site will comply with the Light Pollution Reduction credit. The firm that will occupy this office building works on many projects of a sensitive nature so security is a significant concern, both for employees arriving early or working after dark and for protection of the facility from intrusion. Is it acceptable to include motion-sensor activated lights that do not fall within the allowable site lighting wattage? These lights would be located in the immediate vicinity of the building and would only be enabled to turn on when other site lights are off. They would only remain on for a limited time following activation. If such motion-sensor activated lights are allowed, can they be excluded from the other requirements of this credit, property line illuminance and uplight components, since their purpose is only safety and security?
The applicant is requesting confirmation if it is acceptable to exceed the lighting power density requirements with motion responsive after?hours security lighting that is only enabled when the other site lighting is off. Based on the description provided, this strategy is only acceptable provided that when the security lighting is ON, the combined security and general lighting that remains ON, does not exceed the lighting power density thresholds and the security lighting is capable of being controlled to prevent simultaneous operation with the offsetting exterior luminaires. The second question asks if the lights can be excluded from the other requirements of SSc8 and the answer is no. These luminaires must meet the light trespass requirements relative to their declared environmental zone at the applicable site boundary, as well as the sky glow requirements of the credit. Applicable Internationally.