Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 60

PROJECT

lighting

Logistics, Lighting,
Efficiency
Warehouse upgrades
lighting off its
own shelves.

High-energy-efficient, smooth-dimming, 15-W T8 LED linear tubes from EarthTronics deliver 146 lumens/W for Bay Logistics' warehouse and office space.

ometimes the answer to improving a facility's

group re-lamping activities, they also wanted to determine

simply changed the lamp to start saving energy without

environment and operations, while saving ener-

if they could find a better solution to the fixtures' existing

reducing lumens."

gy, is right on the shelf. At least that's what Bay

32-W fluorescent tubes.

Logistics Inc., learned at its distribution center in Spring
Lake, MI.
Bay Logistics is a leader in the warehousing and logis-

The company immediately began saving more than

Jon Swart, Bay Logistics' vice president of operations,

50% on its lighting-related energy and anticipates an ex-

did his homework. To his surprise, he found the answer

cellent return on investment with payoff in just 18 months

on his warehouse shelves-a customer's LED product.

from installation. A total of 1,900 fluorescent lamps con-

tics marketplace, supplying transportation, warehousing,

Bay Logistics warehouses and ships products for Earth-

suming 32-W each were replaced with 15-W LED T8

and logistics services to its customers for almost three de-

Tronics, a Muskegon, MI-based, energy-efficient light-

lamps that provided 53% energy savings. Because the

cades. Conceived in the Detroit automotive trucking in-

ing-solutions company. The company's LED lamps, lin-

warehouse is a 24/7 operation, the return on investment is

dustry, the firm has evolved and diversified into new mar-

ear LEDs, and LED fixtures are sold under the EarthBulb

just nine months.

kets, including food and grocery, durable goods,

brand to commercial and industrial facilities, hotels,

"Making this decision was an easy one," said Cuncan-

chemicals, non-ferrous metals, and Class III Liquid Flam-

restaurants, retail stores, and residential consumers. All

nan. "This came directly out of the operations cost budget

mable HAZMAT containment. While the company has

EarthBulb lamps provide more than 80% energy savings.

and begins bringing real value to the bottom line quickly."

changed during the past 28 years, it consistently has main-

Swart realized his customer could offer the best solu-

The T8 lamp retrofit was done in the front offices as

tained its mission of caring about the environment. It also

tion in Bay Logistics' move away from fluorescent light-

well as the warehouse. The improvement in quality of

has remained committed to maintaining quality, up-to-

ing. EarthTronics staff recommended the company invest

light was noticeable. The EarthTronics LED provides a

date facilities in all segments of its operations. This in-

in its high-energy-efficient, smooth-dimming, 15-W T8

high CRI value of 84, which, combined with the white

cludes lighting.

LED linear tube that delivers 146 lumens/W, producing

5000K color temperature, increased visual acuity in the

"We pride ourselves on operating an environmentally

2,200 lumens. The product features glass-tube construc-

warehouse. "Our team members quickly commented on

friendly business," said Kurt Cuncannan, chief operating

tion that ensures proper cooling to support high lumen

the improvement in seeing and reading product labels and

officer. "We also make investments in people, systems,

maintenance for a 50,000-hr.-rated life. The new T8 LED

the typical paperwork done in the warehouse," said Swart.

equipment, and facilities to enhance our clients' ability to

is engineered to work with popular dimming systems

"A well-illuminated work place is essential in a warehouse

operate faster, smarter, and more efficiently."

found in many meeting and conference rooms, as well as

operation."

in energy-saving, daylight-harvesting applications.
LIGHTING PROGRESSION

the environment," Cuncannan concluded. "You can't

At its Spring Lake facility, Bay Logistics replaced its an-

PLUG AND PLAY

tiquated metal-halide fixtures with six-lamp, high-bay,

It was an excellent fit-delivering efficiency not only in

T8 fluorescent fixtures to illuminate its rectangular,

energy savings but also during the installation and in on-

200,000-sq.-ft. metal-fabricated warehouse. The facility

going maintenance. The energy-efficient T8 LED linear

houses automotive products, plastic containers, food

tubes are Design Light Consortium listed and UL rated

products, consumer electronics, and miscellaneous sun-

for Type A plug-and-play on electronic fluorescent bal-

dries. The warehouse has four- and five-high double-deep

lasts. This T8 Type A, direct-install LED linear tube is

static racking and four-high drive-in racking with open

compatible with instant start, program rapid start, and

floor areas.

emergency back-up electronic ballast systems. Installers

Recently the effectiveness of the T8 fixtures hanging
from the facility's 26-ft. ceiling was investigated by the

Circle 8 on the Reader Service Card.
Get information on LED high-bays.

motion sensors were in excellent condition and didn't re-

tremely simple," Swart said. "The T8 LED linear tubes

quire replacement. During the company's scheduled

were compatible with our existing fixtures' ballast. We

SEPTEMBER 2017

Want more information?
To download the information listed below,
visit commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/
1709earthtronics.

out the services of an electrician or outside labor.
"The switch from fluorescent to LED tubes was ex-

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE

beat that combination." CA

can change every lamp when retrofitting a property with-

company's operations team. The team learned that the

"The LED linear tubes save us energy and are great for

commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

Get information on LED wall packs.

http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/1709earthtronics http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture September 2017