Power Up Your Exterior Lighting: Boost Safety and Security
By Andrew Boerschig
Introduction
As an electrical contractor in the lighting industry, Guarantee Electrical collaborates with a diverse range of clients. From general contractors to end users, local utilities, and everyone in between, we excel in delivering quality projects. A key focus in our work involves upgrading exterior legacy fixtures to new, energy-efficient LED lighting.
Building Strong Partnerships
As an Energy Solutions Project Manager, I’ve developed strong relationships with lighting manufacturers on National Account Lighting Projects. These manufacturers trust our team to complete their projects accurately, safely, and within budget. Our expertise has positioned us as a reliable partner in the industry.
In July 2023, I connected with Robin McKim and Robert Whiteside from Think Green Solutions, based in Ontario, Canada. They had a National Account LED lighting upgrade project in St. Louis and needed a qualified union electrical contractor for a turnkey solution. After meeting with the National Account Project Manager, Robin McKim, at the project site—T-Force Freight in St. Louis, MO—we quickly moved forward with the project.
Project Overview
Think Green Solutions provided T-Force Freight St. Louis with all the new LED lighting fixtures needed for the project. While the scope included both interior and exterior fixtures, this article focuses on the exterior portion.
The site had a mix of existing legacy HID fixtures, ranging from 284W to 455W, many of which were nearing the end of their lifespan or were non-operational. Think Green Solutions supplied new exterior LED area and wallpack fixtures, ranging from 80W to 280W, with 160 lumens per watt efficacy. These fixtures significantly reduced energy usage and offered flexibility in fixture placement, thanks to their power-selectable features.
Sustainable Solutions
Think Green Solutions is committed to providing sustainable LED solutions designed to last. In an industry where most exterior LED fixtures experience color shift within 3-6 years, it was crucial for the customer to work with a manufacturer that could deliver long-term results.
From start to finish, we completed the project within an on-time 8-week period and stayed within budget, delivering a solution that exceeded expectations.
Visual Impact: Before and After
When it comes to exterior lighting projects, energy and maintenance savings are important, but the true test lies in the visual impact. How does the site look at night after the project is completed?
In partnership with Think Green Solutions and T-Force Freight, Guarantee Electrical used commercial drone technology to capture before and after photos of the site. The difference was striking. The phrase, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” couldn’t be more true. The visual transformation was eye-opening, making a clear case for the effectiveness of the new LED lighting.
The Importance of Quality Exterior Lighting
Why is quality exterior lighting so important? There are several key reasons:
- Enhanced Safety: Proper exterior illumination with new LED lighting increases safety for employees and customers. In our example, T-Force Freight operates 24/7, so having adequate lighting ensures that everyone can navigate the site safely, reducing the risk of accidents.
- Improved Security: Increased exterior light levels enhance property security. T-Force Freight had been experiencing security issues, but the new LED lighting has drastically reduced the likelihood of such incidents. As I always say, people tend not to do bad things in the light, and this project is proof of that.
- Light Pollution and Dark Sky Compliance: While increasing light levels was a priority for this project, we also considered potential issues with light pollution and dark sky compliance. In the end, all parties agreed that enhanced lighting was essential for this site.
Conclusion
We’d love to hear from you: What is most important to you and your customers when it comes to exterior lighting needs? What industry trends and challenges are you experiencing in your market? As lighting professionals, what can we do to improve exterior lighting applications and solutions moving forward?
Links from the article
Article Links:
- Home – Think LED | LED Lighting Solutions (thinkgreensolutions.com)
- TForce Freight
- Guarantee Electrical Company | Electrical Contractor | St. Louis, MO | (geco.com)
- Lighting | Guarantee Electrical Company (geco.com)
Who is Andrew Boerschig?
Andrew is a standout project manager at Guarantee Electrical in St. Louis, recognized for delivering innovative energy solutions across the nation. His journey, illuminated through a causal LinkedIn story, showcases the critical yet often overlooked role of electrical contractors in the lighting industry. Without a contractor, no project gets completed hence the challenges and value, that a contractor can bring to an end-user and to specifiers. Their challenges, and partnerships with distributors, manufacturer representatives / lighting agents, and manufacturers are not discussed. Here is his third article.
- LinkedIn Profile – Andrew Boerschig (Problem Solver) Pure Energy – Storyteller | LinkedIn
- Guarantee Electrical – Guarantee Electrical Company | Electrical Contractor | St. Louis, MO | (geco.com)
- Guarantee Electrical – Energy Solutions – Lighting – Lighting | Guarantee Electrical Company (geco.com)
More Articles from Andrew Boerschig in the Series: The ‘Life’ of an Electrical Contractor in the Lighting World
LED Lighting Retrofit Success: Simple Solutions for Complex Needs – US Lighting Trends
The ‘Life’ of an Electrical Contractor in the Lighting World – Article 2 – US Lighting Trends
The ‘Life’ of an Electrical Contractor in the Lighting World – US Lighting Trends
