Power management company Eaton announced that its Cooper Lighting division’s McGraw-Edison Valet and Ventus light-emitting diode (LED) luminaires are replacing 6,050 existing parking garage fixtures at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) to improve efficiencies and optical lighting performance. The conversion will result in a 66 percent reduction in power consumption with an anticipated overall energy and maintenance savings of approximately US$1.2 million annually.

“Our team invested a significant amount of time field testing 12 different lighting fixtures and visiting local municipalities that completed parking garage lighting upgrades to take into account their lessons learned and implement best practices for a results-driven end product.”

Detroit Metropolitan Airport carpark before and after the LED upgrade. (LEDinside/Cooper Lighting)

“This project is improving the lighting performance in our parking facilities, reducing energy consumption, saving on maintenance costs and shrinking our carbon footprint,” said Tom Naughton, chief executive officer, Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA). “Our team invested a significant amount of time field testing 12 different lighting fixtures and visiting local municipalities that completed parking garage lighting upgrades to take into account their lessons learned and implement best practices for a results-driven end product.”

Consuming only 60 watts, the McGraw-Edison Valet LED fixtures are replacing 1,200 existing 210-watt, metal halide fixtures in the Blue Deck parking garage and 4,800 fixtures in McNamara Terminal Parking Structure. The Ventus LED pole-mounted fixtures are being installed on the upper open decks. The fixtures are estimated to reduce annual energy consumption by more than 7,345,000 kilowatt hours, resulting in 66 percent energy savings and providing improved uniform illumination.

“Replacing inefficient parking garage lighting with LED fixtures is one of the most practical, energy-efficient upgrades a city or business can make to save energy, reduce costs and lower carbon dioxide emissions,” said Mark Eubanks, president, Eaton’s Cooper Lighting division. “This project is a great example of how to increase overall efficiencies and performance to provide a safe and well-lit environment, all while helping save the airport energy and maintenance costs.”

In addition, the LED products incorporate the Lighting division’s LumaWatt Outdoor Wireless Control and Monitoring System, which manages the lighting levels according to pedestrian and traffic safety needs. Since the lighting runs 24 hours a day, the products are able to reduce light levels during low usage hours, increase the lighting on demand with occupancy sensors and harvest daylight, reducing power to the fixtures when needed to gain additional energy savings.

The Lighting division’s LED luminaires also provide maintenance savings, including labor and materials. On average, the existing light source needed to be replaced every 13 months, whereas the McGraw-Edison LED fixtures are designed to last more than 60,000 hours, or maintain minimal lighting levels for at least 10 years.

The energy saved in this project is equivalent to powering 880 U.S. households for one year, and the reduction of 7,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year is equal to taking 1,350 passenger vehicles off the road.

“This project is one of many initiatives currently underway as part of the Airport Authority's on-going commitment to promote sustainability practices, while conducting day-to-day operations,” said Ali Dib, director of Infrastructure and Engineering, WCAA.

Eaton’s Cooper Lighting division delivers a range of innovative and reliable indoor and outdoor lighting solutions, as well as controls products specifically designed to maximize performance, energy efficiency and cost savings. The Lighting business serves customers in the commercial, industrial, retail, institutional, residential, utility and other markets.

Eaton’s Electrical Sector is a global leader with expertise in power distribution and circuit protection; backup power protection; control and automation; lighting and security; structural solutions and wiring devices; solutions for harsh and hazardous environments; and engineering services. Eaton is positioned through its global solutions to answer today’s most critical electrical power management challenges.

Eaton is a power management company with 2013 sales of $22.0 billion. Eaton provides energy-efficient solutions that help our customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power more efficiently, safely and sustainably. Eaton has approximately 102,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 175 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.