We asked around our membership for information about the query. No one we asked had heard of such a policy or law. We believe a call to the NY City Commissioner of Finance (who oversees NY City taxation) or Con Edison (who supplies electricity to most of NY City) would give the surest answer.

SELENE members understand that at least until recently, individual building owners have thought that lighting their buildings at night was a good idea, especially when energy was cheap and only a few scientists were concerned about global warming. Even today, some buildings, such as the Empire State Building, are known for their colored nighttime lighting. (Though, they are switching or have switched to more efficient lighting technologies.)

An article in the New York Times last month suggested that there is a trend toward shutting such lights off when employees have left and cleaning crews are not at work. In October a bill was introduced in City Council that would require motion-sensor controls to shut off unnecessary lights in commercial buildings. Of course, Council legislation moves very slowly, and there's no telling whether or when this bill will be enacted. Mayor Bloomberg has been actively promoting sustainability and has established a goal of reducing the City's greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2030.