1st Choice Savings & Credit Union, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Retrofit Team
MANUFACTURER’S REPRESENTATIVE: Optics Lighting, Calgary, Alberta
Materials
Optics Lighting evaluated a number of lighting solutions and realized LED technology would solve maintenance issues but noted performance would still be challenging because of the unique dimensions of the room and ceiling.
After a thorough evaluation, the team decided it would be beneficial to pilot KIM Lighting’s ArcheType X luminaire. It has the ability to place light where it’s needed most with target efficiency. In ArcheType X, LEAR modules are individually controlled to provide custom-adjustable light distributions. Each optical assembly accommodates 359-degree rotation and tilts between 0 and 70 degrees.
ARCHETYPE X MANUFACTURER: KIM Lighting by Hubbell Lighting
The Retrofit
The Lethbridge location was designed to be a bright and inviting facility with an open lobby, a high ceiling and glass façades that allow sunlight into the build- ing. Although the architect had the best intentions, the lobby’s lighting became an issue because of the physical position of the building itself. Facing north, the large windows offered plenty of daylight on sunny days—and glare during prime working hours that made it difficult for staff members to do their jobs. To rectify this issue, the maintenance team applied a tint to the windows. The tinting strategy amplified the illumination issues in the facility on overcast days. The 22 legacy 150-watt indirect/direct metal halide fixtures provided inadequate illumination for the lobby, and many people visiting the facility were compelled to comment on how dark it felt.
Additionally, the metal halide fixtures’ recurrent maintenance issues were becoming cost-prohibitive and 1st Choice’s facilities team would often wait to service these fixtures knowing another issue was destined to come up shortly. Lamp and ballast failures were prevalent every week or two and an upgrade to Medium Base MH lamps proved unsuccessful when the burnouts continued.
After replacing the metal halide lamps with ArcheType X, the lighting at 1st Choice is more efficient, evenly illuminated across the entire ceiling and the required footcandles are being met on the floor. In fact, the custom distributions of the ArcheType X allowed the team to reduce the number of fixtures from 22 to 14 while achieving greater uniformity and efficacy. 1st Choice now is using 57 percent less watt- age: The legacy fixtures operated at 3,300 watts; the ArcheType X fixtures operate at 1,414 watts.
In addition to staff and members being pleased with the new lighting, 1st Choice is saving money on energy and maintenance costs. Facility representatives are also in the process of securing a utility rebate and expect to incur additional monetary savings once the application is approved.
PHOTOS: Hubbell Lighting