Bear Valley Visitor Center Lighting Retrofit Guide for National Parks

National Park Service; California Lighting Technology Center; University of California, Davis

Many national parks offer services to visitors in areas that are remote and offer refuge from urban life. Providing basic comforts in our parks, however, often requires electricity, but evidence of humans’ effects on the environment proves that it is imperative to take action to reduce this energy use and protect resources. One highly effective way to reduce our energy consumption is through the integration of energy-efficient lighting technologies. This lighting handbook was developed by the U.S. National Park Service and the Bear Valley Visitor Center at Point Reyes National Seashore because we are committed to implementing energy-use reduction strategies and lowering carbon emissions through lighting retrofits, photovoltaic systems, and other energy-conscious lighting practices. Such preservation will leave the park unimpaired for future generations to enjoy. Lighting plays a significant role in the safety and enjoyment of national parks, but in the built environment, this lighting accounts for 20 to 30% of all electricity use. Light quality and energy efficiency can work concurrently to enhance visitors’ stays without interfering with the natural beauty of the scenery and wildlife or using more resources than necessary. And when combined with the right sensors to maximize efficiency without compromising quality, lighting can be vastly improved, typically saving more than 50% in retrofit applications. This guide aims to assist in the process of integrating energy-efficient lighting technologies as retrofits into national parks, and it offers tips for evaluating light sources, performing a lighting audit, and pairing lamps with lighting controls. During the guide’s development, lighting audits were conducted at the Bear Valley Visitor Center in an effort to identify the most applicable recommendations. This guide is intended to function as an overview of opportunities that exist for lighting improvements in visitor centers in the National Park Service facilities, as well as in other parks throughout the United States.