Lights Out

About Lights Out Boston

Frequently Asked Questions

Lights Out Boston encourages building managers throughout the city to turn off architectural and window lighting overnight to help protect migratory birds and save energy.

Birds are threatened from human development in many ways, but towers and buildings are two of the biggest threats. Illuminated structures attract birds during night flight. When migrating through a brightly lit city, birds may become "trapped" in the lights. They often circle a tower or tall building until they collide with it, or die of exhaustion.

By turning out lights at night, Boston's building managers decrease the demand for electricity. By reducing their energy use, Lights Out building managers and tenants also help reduce the amount of heat-trapping gases, those that contribute to climate change, released into the atmosphere.

As a coastal city, Boston is especially vulnerable to the effects of rising sea levels from climate change. Mayor Menino has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the city by 80 percent by 2050. Lights Out building owners and managers are helping to meet this pledge.

Saved energy also translates into saved money. According to the US EPA, energy is the largest operating expense for commercial buildings, and accounts for nearly a third of their operating expense. This program makes environmental sense and fiscal sense.

For more information view our Frequently Asked Questions.

Find out which buildings are signed onto Lights Out Boston by visiting Participating Buildings.

If you are a building manager or owner who would like to help Mayor Menino and Mass Audubon protect and preserve Boston, visit Lights Out Resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:	How does Lights Out help reduce the potential impacts of climate change?
A:	Lights Out is an example of the City of Boston and Mass Audubon's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By turning out lights overnight, buildings commit to reduce their use of electricity. More than half of this country's electricity comes from coal, a substance rich in carbon. Reduced electricity use reduces the amount of carbon (a potent contributor to the heat-trapping gases that lead to climate change) released into the atmosphere. In 2007 Mayor Menino joined other mayors in consigning to reduce his city's greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. Mass Audubon committed to support development of near and offshore wind energy capacity resulting in no less than 1,000 MW of new production annually; reduce total consumption of our electricity, heating oil, and natural gas; obtain 50 percent of all our electricity from renewable sources, with an ultimate goal of 100 percent; and monitor and reduce fuel consumption by Mass Audubon vehicle fleet. Joining together to conserve energy and reduce our carbon footprint in a successful Lights Out program will help us meet common goals and demonstrates that we are leading by example to reduce the worst effects of climate change.
Q:	Why aren't buildings already turning off lights?
A:	Lights Out asks that all external and window lighting be dimmed or turned off from 11pm to 5am; this includes architectural and atrium lighting. Many buildings were designed with architectural lighting to raise their prominence in the city skyline. Additionally, many older buildings have lighting systems that illuminate an entire floor at once. Cleaning crews often light several floors of a building at once. And many tenants simply fail to turn off the lights when they leave their office.
Q:	Are the savings from reduced electricity use significant?
A:	Each building will realize different savings. But many buildings in other cities chose to follow Lights Out because they appreciate the savings.
Q:	Why is a dark city skyline beneficial to birds?
A:	Many migrating birds have difficulty adapting to urban environments. The lights of a brightly lit city skyline may sometimes confuse birds that are migrating after dark. They may become disoriented, and aimlessly circle an illuminated tower until they collide with it, or else become so exhausted they fall to the ground.
Q:	When are the periods of greatest conservation concern for protecting birds from collision?
A:	Migration season is the period of time when millions of birds fly north or south in search of more desirable living conditions and more plentiful food sources. In Massachusetts, spring migration occurs between April and May, and fall migration occurs during August through October. Some bird species that may die during their migration through Boston are species that may already be in decline, such as the Baltimore oriole. For some species, including songbirds, vireos, and warblers, up to 90 percent of their population may migrate through the Northeastern United States each year. When avian mortality associated with building collisions is added to the many other threats currently facing these bird species, the additive effect may be substantial.
Q:	How does reducing migratory bird mortality benefit humans?
A:	Birds are among the foremost predators of insects, especially mosquitoes, other insects, and weed seeds. Protection of the public from mosquito-borne diseases, including Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus, is a priority public health issue. A healthy ecosystem and a healthy human environment is one in which birds can thrive.
Q:	How many birds die in Massachusetts due to building collisions?
A:	Though little recent data exists on the extent of bird fatalities in Massachusetts, informal observations conducted from 1967-1974 by Boston bird watcher Henry Wiggin provide insight. During his observations, Wiggin collected dead or injured birds found in the immediate vicinity of his place of work; a high-rise tower in the Back Bay area of Boston. Wiggin documented the presence of 7,195 dead or injured birds during his eight-year survey. Averaged over an eight-year period, this number suggests that upwards of 1,000 birds per year may have been killed at this building alone.
Q:	Why does the program focus on skyscrapers?
A:	A radar study confirmed that many migrating birds (especially songbirds) fly at an altitude of 2000 feet or lower. Lights Out targets those tall buildings that are most likely to lie in the flight path of nocturnal migrating birds. All citizens are encouraged to be mindful of the Lights Out guidelines, particularly during the spring and fall migration seasons.
Q:	I haven't seen many dead birds; is there really a problem?
A:	It is difficult to accurately determine how many birds actually die from colliding with buildings. Gulls, crows and a variety of urban animal scavengers regularly seek and devour grounded carcasses, usually long before pedestrians see them. In addition, many buildings have maintenance personnel that routinely pick up dead birds. Although we frequently do not see dead birds on the streets, several different studies indicate that many may die from building collisions.
Q:	Have similar programs been previously implemented?
A:	In addition to Boston, Chicago, Toronto, New York, Detroit and Minneapolis all have similar programs and others are under consideration. Ornithologists studying bird collisions at a single building in Chicago, both before and after the Lights Out program was initiated, determined that there was an 80 percent decrease in avian mortality after implementing the Lights Out program.
Q:	How many buildings have signed up in other cities?
A:	The number varies. In Chicago, nearly 30 buildings participate in the program and are very happy with the results.
Q:	Is this program mandatory?
A:	No. A building manager's involvement is encouraged but participation is voluntary.
Q:	How can I find out more?
A:	For more information, and to learn about simple ways to help save energy and protect birds, visit www.massaudubon.org/lightsout.