Musco to solve the glare problem for the University of Colorado Colorado Springs with its LEDs. (Musco/LEDinside)

Musco’s innovative LED lighting system has helped the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) solve a major issue with the surrounding community.

When lights were installed in 2014 at the University’s Alpine Field outdoor sports facility, residents who lived in the surrounding area immediately notified UCCS. Even though the original design met horizontal spill requirements, light from the luminaire was creating glare viewed from their homes. After the original lighting supplier was unable to find a solution, UCCS contacted Musco’s Colorado sales representative to meet on site to see what could be done to remedy the issue.

Within days, Musco technicians and engineers were on site examining the situation. The original lights were installed on four 90-foot poles at each corner of the 85,000-square-foot field, which is used for recreation flag football, rugby, soccer, and lacrosse. The challenge was to find a solution that would still use the existing poles, but would significantly reduce the amount of glare and spill light.

“We were very pleased with Musco’s response,” said Gary Reynolds, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Administration at UCCS. “Their representative was down here within several days, we explained the problem, and they engineered a solution using Musco’s LED technology.”

The solution was Musco’s SportsCluster Green™ LED system, which directs light with pinpoint precision and enhances the light on the playing field, while dramatically reducing spill and glare.

The new system delivers to Alpine Field a cleaner, brighter, more uniformly distributed light. It has also reduced energy consumption at the facility. In fact, the new system cut energy consumption at Alpine Field by 53 percent.

“The system that we have designed around the LED light source has allowed us to install lighting on fields in the heart of communities without negatively impacting area residents,” said Jeff Rogers, Vice President, Musco Lighting. “We’re proud to have worked with the university to find a solution to its problem that benefits athletes, the university, and community members.”