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Member News: METRO Took a Luminous Leap with IKIO's Custom Lighting and Retrofits

In Collaboration with METCO Engineering  

METRO is a cornerstone of transportation in the Houston region, spanning over 1,300 square miles and connecting people seamlessly. Recently, they decided to revamp their infrastructure for heightened sustainability and energy-efficiency. The idea was to identify outdated systems responsible for considerable energy wastage and replace them with new and more sustainable ones.

METCO Engineering, a prominent energy services company, approached METRO first for an overarching energy project that would involve overhauls at multiple levels. One of those levels was lighting, as most of their existing fixtures were old metal halide lamps and posed significant challenges in managing energy costs and their upkeep.

The scope of work included retrofitting all the traditional lights with LEDs of higher efficacy, better build, and rebate eligibility, which would then translate to maximized savings, financial profits, and lasting performance.

Since there were multiple locations involved, it also called for customization of luminaires depending on the specific area need. Knowing that a trusted self-manufacturer like IKIO would be up for the task, METCO joined hands with them; the end results were exemplary!

What Was the Approach?

The project entailed lighting upgrades in 8 locations, which included METRO warehouses, bus operating facilities, field service centers, and the HQ itself (Lee P. Brown). IKIO’s goal was not just to effectively retrofit the sites but to execute the project with minimum disruptions and within the set timeframe.

Streamlining was important and so the basics were first taken care of. IKIO conducted thorough energy audits on all the facilities to gauge their energy consumption patterns and areas of potential energy waste, as well as to assess compatibility with new, energy-efficient alternatives. Once the data was collected and analyzed, it was sent to IKIO’s photometrics team. They then provided an in-depth lighting layout highlighting the required number of fixtures to meet the desired footcandles and lighting expectations. All of this was done within a couple of days.

Even though the revamp was happening simultaneously on all the locations, each site had its unique requirements in terms of fixtures—luminaires in one location needed to have a certain finish for enhanced aesthetics, while in another site, the lights had to be of a specific wattage, and so on.

To reduce the scope of errors in such a large lighting project, IKIO decided to create prototypes that were fine-tuned location-wise and tested in the real-world setting first. This meticulousness ensured that the fixtures were produced to be an exact fit and caused no trouble during installation.

With the right prototype and accurate layouts, the rest was a breeze. IKIO has a vertically integrated setup and robust logistics, meaning that the production was done on time and the products were directly delivered to the site. With strategic warehousing, they managed to ship lights to different locations quickly as required and without any delays. As a result, the entire manufacturing project was completed within 4 months.

How the Upgrade Benefited the Client

  • Annual Electricity Savings: 5,546,526 KWh/yr
  • Annual Cost Savings - $305,058.86
  • of Fixtures Upgraded – 23,379
  • Payback Years –7.7

IKIO provided METCO Engineering with 23,379 fixtures for this retrofit project. Four out of the eight sites were huge parking lots, which needed a complete switch to LEDs from metal halides. With the strategic placement of IKIO’s LED products, the client not only accomplished better light coverage, but also reduced the overall number of fixtures. This would also result in lesser future maintenance expenses, and by extension, lower operating costs.

Amongst the lights used were UFO High Bays, Wall Packs, T8 Tubes, Downlights, Stadium and Area Lights, and luminaires from our Retail Range. Many of these were CCT selectable and dimming capable, as the client wanted enhanced control over the usage of lights.

The project was a huge success. METCO Engineering was very happy, as IKIO went beyond illumination to support them, be it through design-build assistance, energy assessments, or lighting layouts As for METRO, it is safe to say that within about 7.7 years, they will have their ROI and for at least the next 10 years, they can enjoy peace of mind knowing that there will be no major lighting repairs or replacements.

The power of collaborative innovation in the realm of sustainable infrastructure is immense. This METRO lighting project showcases how strategic partnerships and forward-thinking design can create brighter, greener futures for all of us.