This customer is one of the largest privately-owned supermarket chains in the U.S., with stores located mainly in the southern states. Founded over half a century ago, the company has earned a position in the Fortune 500 by building its stores on a solid philosophy of customer care and responsible citizenship.
Original Situation
Over 100 of the company’s stores had lighting systems that consisted of some 150 magnetic ballast fixtures with aluminum reflector and 360 Watt lamps.
The Solution
Metrolight proposed installing its Smart Electronic Ballasts for HID™ 400W in the largest store. Once the store’s lighting team saw a demonstration of these ballasts, they decided to conduct a pilot study with one store. The number of lamps required was dramatically reduced by over 50%, without reducing the light output.
The customer had considered using a T5HO fluorescent system, but preferred the metal halide because of:
Lower maintenance costs and significantly longer lamp life
Greater ease in adding fixtures for additional displays
Problems leveling and balancing the T5 fixtures
Improved light quality and general store atmosphere
The Result
After gaining energy savings of over 50% during the one-month trial period at the pilot site, the company decided to retrofit over 100 stores, replacing the existing 360 Watt systems.
Today, each store saves over 50% in energy costs, while increasing their maintained lumens and doubling lamp life. Since the stores now use 50% fewer fixtures for their lighting, 50% less heat is generated, resulting in dramatic savings on air conditioning bills. The company has saved an impressive sum of over $2 million per year in energy costs at the stores where the Metrolight system was installed.
The table below refers to the pilot site
Features
Before Installation
After Installation
Lamp Power Wattage / Setup
360 Watts
300 Watts
Power Consumption W
423
422
Lumens Measured
350 Lumens
730 Lumens
Operating Hours
18
18
Electricity Cost $
0.08
0.08
Total Installation Cost $
-
$18,000
Total Annual Electricity Cost $ (US$)
$33,349
$15,970
Average Annual Maintenance Cost1 (US$)
$7,500
$2,700
Total Annual Savings $
$22,179
ROI
0.81
Notes:
1. Relamping every 2 years with magnetic ballast and every 4 years with Metrolight Smart Electronic Ballast for HID™
