Sustainable Building Technical Manual - Etn-presco.net

❑ Maintain irrigation systems regularly for efficiency.Poor maintenance causes significant water losses and undermines the value of irrigationsystems. Periodically adjust sprinkler output by testing actual performance with arain-gauge. Inspect for vandalism, accidental damage, and sinkage; reset sprinklerheads flush with the ground. Regularly inspect for leakage. Drain the system for winter,and flush it when reactivating. Recent systems are self-cleaning; older ones mayrequire flushing to remove sediment.Outdoor Lighting and Electrical Systems★ S I G N I F I CA N C E .Lighting consumes about one-fifth of all U.S. electricity; of this, existing efficiency measurescould save an estimated 90 percent. Site lighting, one of the fastest-growing sectorsof the lighting industry, can be carefully designed to avoid waste. The environmentaland social costs of this type of lighting must be carefully weighed against its benefits.“Light pollution” can disrupt biological cycles in plants and animals, including humans.Glare increases hazards by blinding people and making areas outside the light even lessvisible. Jurisdictions like Tucson, Arizona, with astronomical observatories and other specializedfacilities, have legislated against light pollution, which often hinders effectivestargazing by over-illuminating the night sky.. ☛ SUGGESTED PRACTICES AND CHECKLISTI❑ Light the minimum area for the minimum time.Limit all-night illumination to areas with actual all-night use or extreme security concerns—simpletimers or photocells can be used to turn lights on and off at seasonallyappropriate times. For security lighting, motion-sensors can spotlight intruders withoutbeaming constant glaring lights.– Use cut-off fixtures, shades, or highly focused low-voltage lamps to avoid spillover.Linear “tube lights” and fiber-optics can light the way for pedestrians without illuminatinga whole area.– Question the “brighter is better” myth, especially for security and advertisement.– Some local ordinances encourage excessive lighting; seek waivers or revisions.❑ Clearly identify the actual purpose of lighting to determine minimum acceptablel e v e l s .Hazard lighting is usually focused on the hazard, bright enough to warn, identify, andallow judgment of distance. Area lighting, seldom as bright or focused, allows a user tochoose a safe route. 1 6 Follow manufacturer’s guidance on light distribution and intensity.❑ Use energy-efficient lamps and ballasts.The most efficient new lamps produce ten times as many lumens per watt of poweras a conventional incandescent bulb. Most newer bulbs are designed to fit old fixtures;some require a conversion kit. Operating-cost savings (including deferredbulb replacement, labor, and equipment rental for inefficient, hard-to-reach parking-lotlamps) quickly recover the cost of re-lamping. New fixtures are often miniaturized,allowing design flexibility.❑ Use low-voltage lighting.Increased efficiency has made 12-volt or 24-volt lighting effective and popular for sitelighting. 17 Lower-voltage fixtures are safer and often less expensive to install than typical120-volt options. They can decrease power and energy usage.❑ Use renewable energy sources for lighting and other outdoor power.