Collaboration Aims to Reduce Light Pollution and Carbon Footprint of Chicago's Buildings CHICAGO, March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago (BOMA/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. 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 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.
