Texas Retail Plaza Achieves 24-Month Payback with LED Flood Lights Retrofit

A 200,000 sq ft retail plaza in Houston, Texas, achieved a complete return on investment in just 24 months by retrofitting its outdated parking lot and facade lighting with 150 NGTlight LED Flood Lights. The project delivered a 75% reduction in energy consumption and eliminated nearly $15,000 in annual maintenance costs. The key to this rapid payback was the combination of the fixture's high efficacy (150 lm/W) and a significant $15,000 utility rebate, secured by selecting a DLC Premium listed product. The upgrade not only improved the property's financial performance but also enhanced curb appeal and visitor safety.

The property management firm faced two primary challenges: soaring electricity bills for their 24/7 exterior lighting and a poorly lit environment that was deterring evening shoppers. The existing 400W metal halide fixtures were inefficient and produced a dim, yellowish light with an average illumination of only 10 foot-candles (fc). Frequent outages resulted in a constant cycle of expensive repairs requiring lift rentals. The business objectives were clear: reduce operational costs, improve the property's aesthetic appeal, and enhance safety, all with a project payback of 36 months or less.

NGTlight was selected to provide a turnkey solution featuring their 100W LED Flood Lights. The conclusion was that a direct replacement offered significant savings, but the choice of optic was also critical. A Type III distribution was selected to evenly illuminate the large parking areas, while a narrower Type II was used for the building facade. The implementation involved: 1) Replacing 150 400W metal halide fixtures with 150 100W NGTlight LED Flood Lights. 2) Installing integrated photocells on all fixtures to ensure automatic dusk-to-dawn operation. 3) NGTlight managing the entire utility rebate application process on behalf of the client. The fast delivery from NGTlight's North American warehouse was a key factor in completing the project on schedule.

The project was a resounding success, transforming the property's appearance and financial performance. The core conclusion is that modern LED technology offers a powerful combination of efficiency and quality. The new 5000K lighting created a bright, safe, and welcoming environment, which the property manager credited for a noticeable increase in evening foot traffic. The financial results were equally impressive. The 75% reduction in energy use, combined with the elimination of maintenance, generated over $25,000 in annual savings.

The key lesson from this retail plaza retrofit is the importance of selecting a partner who can provide both a high-quality product and comprehensive support services. The conclusion is that NGTlight's management of the rebate process simplified the project for the client and was critical to achieving the 24-month payback. The property management firm was so impressed with the results that they have now standardized on NGTlight products for all exterior lighting upgrades across their portfolio of 20+ properties. The next step is to explore adding smart controls to the system to unlock even greater savings through scheduled dimming during late-night hours.