Desired Outcome
Create a warm impression, reduce electrical loads and use standardized lighting.
Results
New pole and canopy LEDs slash energy by 48%.
Melrose Village Plaza is a retail neighborhood with the grocery store Albertsons, CVS Pharmacy and Kimco Realty’s regional office as anchor tenants. Built in 1990, the parking lot was originally equipped with over 80 215W low pressure sodium fixtures. There were also 138 miscellaneous high pressure sodium and halogen luminaires for exterior lighting. Through its Illumi-Nation program, Kimco is upgrading all of its properties to LED lighting.
“Particularly in retail but for all sectors, exterior lighting should create a pleasant first impression. People driving by should have an overall sense of invitation, visual appeal and security,” says Nate Mitten, Senior Manager of Property Standards and Improvements for Kimco Realty. “The improved light distribution of LEDs, higher lumens per watt and lower maintenance costs can provide a strong business case for an upgrade project.”
The switch to LEDs at the Melrose property dropped the watts per ballast from 215W to 139W, a 35% reduction in electrical demand. One-to-one replacements were used for all canopy fixtures to yield 67% energy savings. The formerly washed-out parking area is now cheerfully lit, with an average light level of 3.1 footcandles (a 109% increase) and uniformity at an average/minimum ratio of 4.4:1. Completed in August 2015, the upgrade has lowered energy use by 48% and is projected to save approximately 70,000 kWh annually.
“Our Illumi-Nation program is the first time we’ve taken a standardized approach to lighting upgrades across the portfolio. We completed over 100 LED upgrades in 2015 and have 60 more targeted for 2016. Our strategy is to source fixtures with 10-year warranties through a single national distributor. We then hire regional contractors for installation,” Mitten explains. “Our local property managers serve as the quarterbacks for our projects; their input, coordination and oversight is critical to a successful rollout.”
INFORMATION AND IMAGES COURTESY OF KIMCO REALTY
Low-Maintenance Fixtures Deliver 53% Savings for Historic School
Eliminated high pressure sodium lighting and created more perceived light output.
Parking Garage Secures $116,000 Annual Savings with LEDs
Lowered yearly energy consumption by over 1,230,000 kWh and achieved a 3.5-year payback.
LED Lighting Satisfies Hotel Guest Experience
Uniform lighting creates an inviting atmosphere with portfolio savings projected at $1,750,000 per year.
