SS Credit: Light Pollution Reduction

Good lighting lets you see—great lighting lets you see without being seen.

 What is the Intent of this Credit?

The goal is to:

👉 increase access to the night sky
👉 improve nighttime visibility
👉 reduce negative impacts on people and wildlife

🎯 Big Picture

Light should go where it is needed—not into the sky or neighboring spaces.

🌍 Why This Matters

Poor lighting design causes:

• skyglow (loss of night sky visibility)
• disruption to wildlife (especially nocturnal species)
• glare and discomfort for people
• light trespass into neighboring properties

🧩 Three Core Requirements

✅ 1. Uplight Control

👉 Prevent light from:

• escaping upward into the sky

✅ 2. Light Trespass Control

👉 Prevent light from:

• spilling into adjacent properties

✅ 3. Exterior Signage Control

👉 Limit brightness of:

• internally illuminated signs

💡 Key Concept: Light Trespass

👉 Defined as:

unwanted light spilling beyond the intended area

⚠️ Impacts

• annoyance
• distraction
• reduced visibility
• ecological disruption

⚙️ Two Compliance Methods (For Uplight + Trespass)

🔵 Option 1: BUG Rating Method

❓ What is BUG?

👉 Luminaire classification system:

• B = Backlight
• U = Uplight
• G = Glare

📊 What It Does

👉 Limits:

• uplight (sky pollution)
• backlight (light trespass)
• glare (visual discomfort)

📌 Requirement

👉 Luminaires must:

👉 not exceed BUG rating limits

(based on lighting zone)

🎯 Exam Insight

BUG = fixture-based control
(not site calculation)