An outdoor lighting installation complies with the Energy Code if the actual outdoor lighting power is no greater than the allowed outdoor lighting power. This section describes the procedures and methods for complying with §140.7.

The allowed outdoor lighting power is the sum of the general hardscape allowance, and additional lighting power allowances.

• The general hardscape allowance is for luminaires that provide general hardscape lighting to hardscape areas such as parking lots, walkways, roadways, and other improved areas that are illuminated. The general hardscape allowance is calculated using the general hardscape area and perimeter length.
• Additional lighting power allowances are used for specific outdoor lighting applications such as outdoor dining areas, building entrances and exits, and outdoor sales frontage. These allowances are calculated per application (W per occurrence), per unit length (W/ft.), or per area (W/ft²).

The allowed lighting power must be calculated for the general hardscape lighting of the site and for specific applications if desired. (See §140.7(d))

The allowed outdoor lighting power is calculated by lighting zone as defined in §10-114. Local governments may amend lighting zones in compliance with §10-114. See Section 6.4.1 for more information about amending outdoor ordinances by local jurisdictions.

The actual power of outdoor lighting is the total wattage of all nonexempt lighting systems that will be installed (including ballast, driver, or transformer loss) (See §140.7[c]). The wattage of outdoor luminaires must be determined in accordance with §130.0(c) or Reference Nonresidential Appendix NA8. See Section 5.3 for more information about determining luminaire wattage.

The general hardscape allowance is calculated based on the general hardscape area, perimeter length and lighting zone that the property is located in.

The lighting power allowances for specific applications provide additional lighting power that can be layered in addition to the general hardscape lighting power allowances as applicable.

Most of a site will be classified as general hardscape and will be calculated using Table 6-4 (Table 140.7-A of the Energy Code) as the only source of allowance.

Some portions of the site may fit use categories that permit the inclusion of an additional lighting allowance for that portion of the site. These specific applications are detailed in Table 6-5 (Table 140.7-B of the Energy Code). Additional allowances for specific applications can be per application, per hardscape area, per specific application unit length, or per specific application area.

Hardscape ornamental lighting is calculated independent of the rest of the specific applications. See Section 6.5.3E for more information about the hardscape ornamental lighting allowance.

R. Building Façades

Building façade is defined in §100.1. as the exterior surfaces of a building, not including horizontal roofing, signs, and surfaces not visible from any public viewing location. Only areas of building façade that are illuminated should qualify for this allowance. Luminaires qualifying for this allowance should be aimed at the façade and should be capable of illuminating it without obstruction or interference by permanent building features or other objects.

Building façades and architectural features may be illuminated by flood lights, sconces, or other lighting attached to the building. Building façade lighting is not permitted in Lighting Zone 0 and Lighting Zone 1. Façade orientations that are not illuminated and façade areas that are not illuminated because the lighting is obstructed shall not be included. General site illumination, sign lighting, and/or lighting for other specific applications can be attached to the side of a building and not be considered façade lighting. Wall packs mounted on sides of the buildings are not considered façade lighting when most of the light exiting these luminaires lands on areas other than the building façade.

Question

Image: California Energy Commission

A city wants to illuminate its city hall (in Lighting Zone 3) on two sides (two façades). The structure is a three-story building with a colonnade on the second and third floors and a cornice above. The columns are considered important architectural features and the principal goal of the lighting project is to highlight these features. The columns are 30 ft. tall x 3 ft. in diameter and are spaced at 8 ft. For the purposes of determining the lighting power allowance for the building, what is the surface area to be illuminated? What is the lighting power allowance? The columns will be illuminated by downlights at the cornice and uplights above the first floor.

Answer

The area of the façade for the purposes of calculating the lighting allowance is the projected area of the illuminated façade. Architectural features such as columns, recesses, facets, etc. are ignored. The illuminated area for each façade is therefore 30 ft. x 150 ft. or 4,500 sq. ft. The façade allowance for Lighting Zone 3 is 0.17 W/sq. ft., so the total power allowed is 765 W per façade, or 1,530 W total.

Question

I am designing a hotel building. Permanently mounted marquee lights will be installed along the corners of the building. The lighting will be turned on at night, but only for the holiday season, roughly between mid-November and mid-January. The lighting consists of a series of 7 W LED luminaires spaced at 12 inches on-center (OC) along all the corners of the building and along the top of the building. Essentially, the lights provide an outline of the building. Are these considered façade lighting? Because they will only be used for two months of the year, are they considered temporary lighting and therefore exempt from lighting power allowance requirements?

Image: California Energy Commission

Answer

The lighting is permanent lighting and must comply with the Energy Code. Temporary lighting is defined in §100.1. as a lighting installation with plug-in connections that does not persist beyond 60 consecutive days or more than 120 days per year. Anything that is permanently mounted to the building is considered permanent lighting, and the hours of intended use do not affect its status as permanent lighting. Because this lighting is primarily used to accent the architectural outline of the building, it may be considered façade lighting. And because all corners of the building are illuminated, all four facades may be illuminated. The area on each façade is 80 ft. x 100 ft. or 8,000 sq. ft. The total illuminated area is four times 8,000 sq. ft. or 32,000 sq. ft. The Lighting Zone 3 allowance for façade lighting is 0.17 W/sq. ft., and the specific application power allowance for façade lighting is 5,440 W.

There are 100 ft. x 4 plus 80 ft. x 4 luminaires (a total of 720 luminaires) on the building. Each luminaire is 7 W. The installed power is 720 luminaires times 7 W/luminaire or 5,040 W. The installed power is less than the specific application power allowance, so the façade lighting complies. If this building were in Lighting Zone 2, the specific application power allowance would be 0.1 W/sq. ft. or a total of 3,200 W. The lighting design would not comply in Lighting Zone 2.

Example 6-30: Power Allowance for Façades

Question

Portions of the front façade of a proposed wholesale store in Lighting Zone 3 are going to be illuminated. The front wall dimensions are 120 ft. by 20 ft. There is 250 sq. ft. of fenestration in the front wall that is illuminated by the façade lighting. Signs cover another 500 sq. ft. of the front wall, and another 400 sq. ft. is not illuminated at all. What is the allowed front façade lighting power?

Answer

The gross wall area is 2,400 sq. ft. (120 x 20). However, we must subtract all those areas that are not illuminated. Note that because the 250 sq. ft. of fenestration is intended to be illuminated by the façade lighting, this area may be included in the total area eligible for power calculations.

The areas not eligible for power calculations include:

500 sq. ft. of signs + 400 sq. ft. of unlighted façade = 900 sq. ft.

The net wall area used for façade lighting: 2,400 sq. ft. - 900 sq. ft. = 1,500 sq. ft.

From Table 6-5 (Table 1407-B of the Energy Code), the allowed façade lighting power density in Lighting Zone 3 is 0.17 W/ sq. ft.

The allowed façade lighting power based on the net wall area is 1,500 sq. ft. x 0.17 W/ sq. ft. = 255 W.

The allowed power is therefore the smaller of actual wattage used for façade lighting or 255 W.

Example 6-31: Sign Lighting

Question

Is sign lighting part of my façade lighting?

Answer

   The sign area must be subtracted from the façade area so that the area is not double- counted. The sign lighting must meet the requirements of the Energy Code for sign lighting. See Chapter 7 for more information about sign lighting.

Example 6-32: Hardscape vs. Façade Lighting

Question

If I mount a luminaire on the side of my building to illuminate an area, is it considered façade lighting or hardscape lighting?

Answer

It depends on the primary intent of the luminaire. For example, if the luminaire is primarily illuminating the walls (such as a sconce), then it should be considered part of the building façade lighting. If, on the other hand, the luminaire is primarily illuminating the parking lot beyond (most wall packs), then it should be part of the hardscape lighting. It should be noted that lighting power tradeoffs are not allowed between building façade and hardscape areas.

S. Sales Frontage

This additional allowance is intended to accommodate the retailers’ need to highlight merchandise to motorists who drive by their lot. Outdoor sales frontage includes car lots but can also include any sales activity.

Outdoor sales frontage must be immediately adjacent to the principal viewing location(s) and unobstructed for its viewing length. A corner sales lot may include two adjacent sides provided that a different principal viewing location exists for each side. Luminaires qualifying for this allowance shall be located between the principal viewing location and the frontage outdoor. The outdoor sales frontage allowance is calculated by multiplying the total length of qualifying sales frontage by the outdoor sales frontage lighting allowance in Table 147-B of the Energy Code.

When a sales lot qualifies for the sales frontage allowance, the total sales lot wattage allowance is determined by adding the following three layers:

• General hardscape lighting power allowance
• Outdoor sales frontage
• Outdoor sales lot

T. Vehicle Service Stations

According to the definition in §100.1., a vehicle service station is a gasoline, natural gas, diesel, or other fuel-dispensing station. In addition to allowances for building entrances and exits, hardscape ornamental lighting, building façade, and outdoor dining allowances, as appropriate, the total wattage allowance specifically applying to vehicle service station hardscape is determined by adding the following layers, as appropriate:

• General hardscape lighting power allowance
• Vehicle service station uncovered fuel dispenser (allowance per fueling dispenser, with 2 mounting heights of dispenser)
• Vehicle service station hardscape (less area of buildings, under canopies, off property, or obstructed by signs or other structures)
• Vehicle service station canopies (within the drip line of the canopy)

The lighting power allowances are listed in Table 140.7-B of the Energy Code.

Example 6-33: Canopy Area and Hardscape Area

Question

Where does canopy area end and hardscape area start?

Answer

The horizontal projected area of the canopy on the ground establishes the area for under-canopy lighting power calculations. This area also referred to as the “drip line” of the canopy.

U. Under Canopies

According to the definition in §100.1, a “canopy” is a permanent structure, other than a parking garage, consisting of a roof and supporting building elements, with the area beneath at least partially open to the elements. A canopy may be freestanding or attached to surrounding structures. A canopy roof may serve as the floor of a structure above.

The definition of a canopy states that a canopy is not a parking garage. A parking garage is classified as an unconditioned interior space, whereas a canopy is classified as an outdoor space.

The lighting power allowance for a canopy depends on its purpose. Service station canopies are treated separately. (See the previous section.) The two types of canopies addressed in this section are those that are used for sales and those that are not. Non-sales canopies include covered walkways and covered entrances to hotels, office buildings, convention centers and other buildings. Sales canopies specifically cover and protect an outdoor sales area, including garden centers, covered automobile sales lots, and outdoor markets with permanent roofs. The lighting power allowances are listed in Table 140.7-B of the Energy Code.

The area of a canopy is defined as the “horizontal projected area,” in plan view, directly underneath the canopy. This area is also referred to as the “drip line” of the canopy. Canopy lighting, either sales or non-sales, shall comply separately; for example, trade-offs are not permitted between other specific lighting applications or with general site illumination.

General site lighting or other specific applications lighting and/or sign lighting that is attached to the sides or top of a canopy cannot be considered canopy lighting. For example, internally illuminated translucent panels on the perimeter of a canopy are considered sign lighting, while the lighting underneath the canopy and directed toward the ground is canopy lighting.

Example 6-34: Power Allowance Under Canopies

Question

The first floor of an office tower in Lighting Zone 3 is setback 20 ft. on the street side. The width of the recessed façade is 150 ft. The primary purpose of the setback (and canopy) is to provide a suitable entrance to the office tower; however, space under the canopy is leased as newsstand, a flower cart, and a shoeshine stand. These commercial activities occupy about half of the space beneath the canopy. What is the allowed lighting power?

Answer

The total canopy area is 20 ft. x 150 ft. or 3,000 sq. ft. The general hardscape allowance for the site will need to be separately determined. The canopy allowance is an additional layer allowed only for the canopy area. The 1,500 sq. ft. used for the flower cart, newsstand, and shoeshine stand is considered a sales canopy, and the allowance is 0.622 W/ sq. ft. or a total of 933 W. The other 1,500 sq. ft. is a non-sales canopy, and the allowance is 0.270 W/sq. ft. or a total of 405 W. Trade-offs are not permitted between the sales portion and the non-sales portions.

V. Ornamental Lighting

“Ornamental lighting” is defined in §100.1. as post-top luminaires, lanterns, pendant luminaires, chandeliers, and marquee lighting. However, marquee lighting does not qualify for the ornamental lighting allowance. The allowances for ornamental lighting are listed in Table 140.7-B of the Energy Code.

The ornamental lighting allowance on the site is calculated by multiplying the total illuminated hardscape for the site by the hardscape ornamental lighting allowance in Table 140.7-B. This allowance is calculated separately and is not accumulated into the other allowances. This additional wattage allowance may be used for any illuminated hardscape area on the site.

Luminaires used for ornamental lighting as defined in Table 140.7-B shall have a rated wattage, as listed on a permanent, preprinted, factory-installed label, of 50 W or less.

Example 6-35: Bollard Luminaires

Question

Are bollard luminaires considered ornamental lighting?

Answer

No, Ornamental lighting is defined in Table 140.7-B of the Energy Code as post-top luminaires, lanterns, pendant luminaires, chandeliers.

W. Drive-Up Windows

Drive-up windows are common for fast food restaurants, banks, and parking lot entrances. To qualify, a drive-up window must have someone working behind the “window.” Automatic ticket dispensers at parking lots do not count.

The lighting power allowances are listed in Table 140.7-B of the Energy Code as a wattage allowance per application.

The wattage allowance in Lighting Zone 3 is 125 W for each drive-up window.

Luminaires qualifying for this allowance must be within 2 mounting heights of the sill of the window.

Example 6-36: Power Allowance for Drive-Up Window

Question

A drive-up window in Lighting Zone 2 has width of 7 ft. What is the allowed lighting power for this drive-up window?

Answer

The width of a drive-up window in not used for determining the allowed wattage. In Lighting Zone 2, 30 W is allowed for each drive-up window.

X. Guard Stations

Guard stations include the entrance driveway, gatehouse, and guardhouse that provide access to secure areas controlled by security personnel who stop and may inspect vehicles and vehicle occupants, including identification documentation, vehicle license plates, and vehicle contents.

There is an allowance of up to 1,000 sq. ft. per vehicle lane. Qualifying luminaires shall be within 2 mounting heights of a vehicle lane or the guardhouse.

The power allowances for guarded facilities are listed in Table 140.7-B of the Energy Code.

Example 6-37: Specific Application Power Allowance for Guard Stations

Question

A guard station to the research campus of a defense contractor consists of a guard station building of 300 sq. ft. Vehicles enter to the right of the station and exit to the left. What is the outdoor lighting power allowance? The guard station is located in Lighting Zone 2.

Answer

Since there are two vehicle lanes, the specific application allowance for a guard station located in Lighting Zone 2 is 2 lanes x 300 sq. ft. x 0.176 W/sq. ft. or 105.6 W.

Y. Security Cameras

Security cameras for general hardscape areas apply to nonbuilding-mounted security cameras that require higher levels of general illumination to identify objects or determine what activities are occurring in a space.

This allowance applies for any general hardscape areas where a security camera is installed within two camera mounting heights of the general hardscape area. The camera must be mounted at least 10 feet away from an adjacent building to qualify for this allowance. This allowance can be applied to the entire general hardscape area associated with the camera’s field of view.

The power allowances for security cameras are listed in Table 140.7-B of the Energy Code.

Example 6-38: Power Allowance for Security Cameras

Question

My building has two parking lots located on either side of the building. The parking lot on the east is 180 ft. long and 130 ft. wide and has two security cameras mounted on the building. The parking lot to the west is 180 ft. long and 250 ft. wide and has security cameras mounted on the light poles. This building is in Lighting Zone 2. What is the outdoor lighting power allowance I can use?

Answer

Since the parking lots are located on separate sides of the building, the power allowances must be calculated separately for each parking lot. The security camera allowance applies only to the parking lot on the west side of the building, since these cameras are mounted on poles more than 10 feet away from the building (see Example 6-36).

First the general hardscape allowance for both parking lots in Lighting Zone 2 must be calculated.

The east parking lot general hardscape area is 180 ft. x 130 ft., or 23,400 sq. ft. The area wattage allowed is 23,400 sq. ft. x 0.019 W/sq. ft. or 444.6 W.

The perimeter of this hardscape is the sum of the sides 180 ft. + 130 ft. + 180 ft. + 130 ft. or 620 ft. The linear wattage allowed is 620 ft. x 0.15 W/sq. ft. or 93 W.

The initial wattage allowance will be split between the east and the west parking lots. Half the initial wattage allowance is equal to 100 W.

The general hardscape allowance for the east parking lot is 637.6 W (444.6 W+ 93 W + 100 W).

Similarly, the west parking lot general hardscape area is 180 ft. x 205 ft., or 36,900 sq. ft. The area wattage allowed is 36,900 sq. ft. x 0.019 W/sq. ft. or 701.1 W.

The perimeter of this hardscape is the sum of the sides 180 ft. + 205 ft. + 180 ft. + 205 ft. or 770 ft. The linear wattage allowed is 770 ft. x 0.15 W/sq. ft. or 115.5 W.

The initial wattage allowance will be split between the east and the west parking lots. Half the initial wattage allowance is equal to 100 W.

The general hardscape allowance for the west parking lot is 916.6 W (701.1 W + 115.5 W + 100 W).

The security camera allowance can then be applied to the west parking lot general hardscape allowance. The west parking lot general hardscape area is 180 ft. x 250 ft. or 36,900 sq. ft. The west parking lot security camera allowance is 36,900 sq. ft. x 0.018 W/sq. ft. or 664.2 W.

The total wattage allowance for the west parking lot is 916.6 W + 664.2 W or 1580.8 W.

The calculation for the west parking lot can be tabulated as below.

Example 6-39: Application of Security Cameras

Question

My building has a security camera mounted to a building above a side entry door facing the loading dock. Can I apply the security camera allowance to the loading dock general hardscape area?

Answer

No, the security camera allowance does not apply to the outdoor lighting system of the building as these are building-mounted security cameras. The security camera allowance applies only to security cameras that are installed within 2 mounting heights of the general hardscape area and mounted more than 10 feet away from buildings.