Metro has awarded a zero-cost, performance-based contract for the replacement of over 13,000 parking garage light fixtures in the next year — a key part of Metro’s sustainability agenda.
Under the 10-year contract, outdated and inefficient lighting will be replaced with new high-efficiency LED lighting that will create a brighter environment for riders, use less electricity, and lower costs. The contract was awarded to Philips Electronics through a competitive, technology-neutral procurement process that will be funded entirely through the resulting $2 million in energy and maintenance savings.
Metro has 25 parking facilities that will benefit from improved lighting as a result of the project.
"Today's contract award advances our commitment to improving the system’s infrastructure for our customers for years to come,” said Richard Sarles, Metro general manager and CEO. “This high-efficiency LED lighting overhaul not only means increased safety and visibility for riders, but also a 68 percent reduction in energy consumption at these facilities.”
The contract award will provide light quality that is far superior to Metro’s existent yellowish, high-pressure sodium lighting. Designed to each garage’s unique characteristics, the new LED lighting will direct light when and where it is needed. Each fixture will respond to its environment by automatically dimming in response to motion and ambient light from the sun or other sources. As a secondary benefit, the performance of existing security cameras will improve as a result of the higher quality light. The project is expected to save Metro more than 15 million KWh in energy per year, reducing carbon emissions by the equivalent of 140 tanker trucks of gasoline — or the electricity used by 1,456 homes — annually. Each garage will be individually metered to allow real-time performance tracking and automated reporting.
In addition to the energy savings, the contract also includes the maintenance of the lighting system for the life of the contract. This will allow resources to be redeployed to other operational and maintenance needs throughout the system, redirecting approximately $600,000 annually in labor and material resources to other system maintenance tasks.
