Problem:
How do you light up a parking lot without lighting up your neighbors?

Solutions:
Some neighbors will always want complete darkness, but you need good lighting to mix cars and pedestrians safely, of course. If there is a bank ATM in your lot, new laws require at least 10 footcandles within 5 feet of the ATM and at least 2 footcandles within 50-60 feet of the ATM. Without an ATM, you might want to cut the lighting in half. Some communities use even lower levels for a more natural look with less light pollution. Many states also have laws that prohibit lighting up adjacent residential properties (1/2 footcandle max in Virginia, for example).

What irritates both neighbors and shoppers is glare. The worst glare comes from open (non-cutoff) wallpacks that shine outwards and not down, and non-cutoff pole lights such as modern circular globes on short poles (called lollipops). These fixtures are hard to look at without squinting. There are traditional fixtures with internal reflectors which perform better. The least glare is from a full cutoff fixture (usually shaped like a shoebox) on a pole. With the proper fixture, you can create a well lit space that is safe, pleasant, attracts customers, and builds good neighborhoods.

Additional information:

	Light Pollution - Dark Sky Organization explains how excess light hurts star gazing and astronomy
	New York State ATM Safety Act - Typical of most states in the US, based on an act passed in California in 1997.
	Safe School Lighting - Pathway and parking area safety discussion on Lithonia's Web site

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