by AF 0327 h3 — March 29, 2010—The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Chicago, the City of Chicago and Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) have united to endorse voluntary year-round Exterior Decorative Lighting Guidelines for Chicago’s buildings, according to a recent announcement.
The guidelines provide year-round recommendations for all non-emergency exterior lighting, including crown and facade lighting, signage, street-level and tree lighting. When implemented throughout the city, the guidelines will reduce the carbon footprint of Chicago-area buildings, protect migratory birds and decrease light pollution.
The year-round Exterior Decorative Lighting Guidelines were formalized following several successful years of collaboration with the Earth Hour campaign, which BOMA/Chicago, ComEd and the City of Chicago have participated in since its inception in 2008.
As the trade association representing more than 260 buildings in downtown Chicago, BOMA/Chicago is in a unique position to rally support for the voluntary year-round Exterior Decorative Lighting Guidelines.
Twenty-one buildings have formally endorsed and implemented the guidelines. The voluntary year-round Exterior Decorative Lighting Guidelines contain morning- and evening-specific recommendations that mirror the changing sunrise and sunset times in order to reduce light pollution while maximizing efficiency.
The morning guidelines suggest that Chicago’s buildings program their exterior lights to go on no earlier than 5 a.m. and to turn off no later than 30 minutes before official sunrise. The evening guidelines encourage buildings to turn their decorative lights on no earlier than 30 minutes after sunset. Evening lights should be powered off no later than 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and no later than 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with the exception of July 4 and December 31, when evening lights may remain on until 1 a.m.
For more information, see the BOMA/Chicago Web site.
