California State University, Channel Islands
IN-3: Innovation 3

In July 2007, CI commissioned a lighting consultant (Clanton & Associates) to develop Exterior Lighting Design Guidelines that establish six sustainability goals for the lighting of the campus building exteriors and grounds: 1. Good nighttime visibility; 2. Low maintenance; 3. Energy efficiency; 4. Reduced light pollution; 5. Minimal light trespass (nuisance glare); 6. Integrated aesthetics. To achieve these goals, the Guidelines define six strategies that have been applied to new construction, renovation and grounds projects: • Create vertical surface brightness; • Enhance wayfinding; • Minimize glare; • Maintain lighting uniformity; • Provide appropriate light levels; • Incorporate lighting controls. Over the past three years, the campus has replaced most of the existing luminaires with new luminaires that use either induction or compact fluorescent light (CFL) sources that achieve the follow: 1. Provide good nighttime visibility and a sense of security without the use of high levels of light. By using light sources with a warm color and reflecting the light off of the white plaster exterior walls, an appropriate uniformity of luminance is created that enhances the feeling of security and creates a comfortable visual environment. 2. The specific luminaires and light sources all have longer life spans than traditional sources, requiring less on-going maintenance over the life of theluminaires. 3. With the careful use of light to brighten wall surfaces, energy efficient with light sources and lighting controls, the energy required to operate the exterior lights has been reduced by 75% from the old design. 4. Fullly shielded luminaires for minimizing light pollution are mounted at lower heights to minimize the energy necessary to create appropriate lighting levels and minimize light pollution aimed in all directions and reflected off of the ground. 3500 lumens (similar to a 42watt CFL or 55 watt induction) is the limit allowed in these guidelines. 5. The nuisance glare is minimized with the use of shielded luminaires and low mounting heights. 6. The specific luminaries complement the existing campus architecture during the day and are consistent across the entire campus to reinforce the California Mission style architectural style. The project has been very successful and the campus received an award for best sustainable practices from the UC/CSU/CCC Sustainability Conference in 2008.