CBEA LED Site (Parking Lot) Lighting Specification
Learn More
- Read a fact sheet.
- View a webinar presenting an overview of the specification.
- Download the full specification.
- Use this document as a framework for standard measurement and verification (M&V) of lighting retrofit and replacement projects.
- Read a fact sheet about lessons learned from DOE GATEWAY demonstration projects completed on LED site lighting applications to date.
- Read DOE's GATEWAY Report on a Walmart demonstration project.
- Read the Exterior Lighting for Energy Savings, Security, and Safety report.
- View a Google Map of where the CBEA Site (Parking Lot) Lighting Specification has been applied.
- Pinpoint your location on a Google Map in which the specification is being utilized.
To maximize the benefits of converting to light-emitting diode (LED) technology from the traditional high-intensity discharge (HID) technology used in most parking lot lighting, CBEA members developed a performance specification that should be applied to a specific site, rather than a specific product. Working with DOE and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, a CBEA Project Team developed performance specifications and evaluation procedures based on CBEA member needs.
Commercial building organizations (e.g., large retailers or developers) can work with LED area luminaire manufacturers, designers, or engineers to provide lighting solutions that comply with the specification for specific site lighting locations. The specification provides information about both the luminaire and how the site should be lighted. Key details include:
- Luminaires should be characterized by backlight, uplight, and glare (BUG) ratings per IES TM-15-11.
- Luminaires should carry a five-year warranty covering the luminaire, finish, and power supply.
- Light source life claim requirements must be met.
- Testing requirements are identified.
- Different amounts of light (illuminance) are needed for different parts of the parking lot.
- Both power density and illuminance requirements are by lighting zone (LZ); different environments need more or less light (and thus use power differently).
The following table shows some of the benefits of LED lighting, as compiled by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory:
|
Product Feature |
LED Benefits |
|---|---|
|
Overall Lighting System Efficiency |
Very efficient because of LED directionality, meaning nearly 100% of light leaves the luminaire |
|
Life |
Expected long life (50,000+ hours) but actual end-of-life performance not completely understood |
|
Maintenance |
Very low maintenance expected due to long life and durability |
|
Environmental (Mercury) |
Contains no mercury |
|
Light Output Depreciation |
Low lumen depreciation rate |
|
Lighting Uniformity |
Directionality and flexibility make uniformity ratios below 10:1 easily achievable |
|
Dimmability |
Fully dimmable |
|
Durability |
LED technology is much less fragile and less susceptible to vandalism, breakage, or damage from high winds and vibration |
|
Light Pollution |
Easy to reduce light pollution effects due to inherent directionality of source |
The following table describes the specification's basic power density and illuminance requirements:
|
Lighting Zone |
Power Density |
Minimum Illuminance (lm/ft2) requirements per LZ |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Main Area |
Perimeter |
Front Aisle |
Vertical |
||
|
LZ2 |
0.05 W/ft2 |
0.50 |
0.20 |
1.00 |
0.25 |
|
LZ3 |
0.06 W/ft2 |
0.75 |
0.40 |
1.50 |
0.40 |
|
LZ4 |
0.08 W/ft2 |
1.00 |
0.50 |
2.00 |
0.50 |