Upgrade to LED industrial lighting creates cost savings

The France-based Rubis Group operates 14 storage facilities along the North Sea, English Channel, the Mediterranean Sea and inland ports in France and Germany. When developing its newest facility, the company sought to improve energy consumption and environmental impact by using LED industrial lighting to achieve a zero-emission facility.

At the company’s other facilities, the combination of fluorescent linear and floodlights is inefficient and makes it difficult for staff to work without using supplemental lights. In addition, ongoing maintenance is a challenge. Workers must build scaffolding and work at high elevation, in teams of two, with portable lighting. Vibration from equipment takes a heavy toll on the fixtures, causing frequent failures.

The new facility’s LED fixtures (Dialight) reduced total energy consumption, maximized lighting efficiency, improved sustainability and safety, reduced maintenance demand and lowered total operating cost. In addition, because of its harbor location, the Dark Sky-compliant lighting reduces light pollution.

Arthur Wrana, Rubis’ environmental impact and assessment supervisor, worked with a supplier to design a lighting plan using 3D modeling to determine specific light placement for maximum efficiency and efficacy. The final plan called for an assortment of more than 270 linear, high-bay and 360-degree lights, each backed by a full-performance warranty between five and 10 years. This assured Wrana the fixtures would be virtually maintenance-free for many years.

“The product outshone the competition for its rugged, but appealing look, reliability and light efficacy,” Wrana said. “The outstanding warranty made this the smartest investment for our new state-of-the-art terminal.”

Rubis expects to reduce energy lighting consumption and greenhouse gases at the new facility by 60% compared to conventional lighting. Because the fixtures are resistant to salt-spray corrosion, they will hold up to the environment along the North Sea. Based on maintenance expenditures at other similar facilities, the company expects to save more than $100,000 per year on maintenance.

The lighting is expected to generate a payback period of less than four years, and according to Wrana, the company can easily meet annual governmental energy audit requirements and achieve its goal of a zero-emissions facility.

“We’ve been extremely pleased,” Wrana added. “The LEDs not only give us the high efficiency and low emissions we needed to meet our specifications, but they also give our facility a modern, safe and vibrant look, which our staff and customers both appreciate.”

The project has been so successful, the company plans to expand the project to retrofit existing facilities with LED fixtures.