VCU news

By Jonsette Calloway
VCU Parking and Transportation

Virginia Commonwealth University Parking and Transportation recently completed a yearlong lighting project in its Jefferson Street and West Broad Street parking decks. The parking and transportation team worked in partnership with VCU Facilities Management and Kenall Manufacturing to retrofit both parking facilities with more than 500 new 49-wattage TekDek LED luminaries. These bulbs have received the highest possible efficiency rating from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Each LED light maintains its own IP address, giving staff the capability to monitor an individual light and troubleshoot directly. 

The LED bulbs are equipped with a control system that utilizes occupancy sensors, giving the department the ability to reduce lighting during periods of inactivity. The system is unique in that the entire setup can be controlled and adjusted through nearly any mobile device. Each LED light maintains its own IP address, giving staff the capability to monitor an individual light and troubleshoot directly. Specialized reporting capabilities also allow parking staff to monitor and program lights remotely, eliminating the need for technicians to manually inspect each individual unit. Reports can then be emailed directly from any mobile device.

“The goal of the project was to reduce energy consumption while maintaining a well-lit, safe environment,” said Keith Van Inwegen, Facilities Management project manager. “By reducing the number of fixtures, using the latest LED technology, motion sensors, photocells and a web-based control system, energy usage has been reduced by 46 percent.”

The new LEDs have a lifespan of up to 150,000 hours, which is considerably longer than previous bulbs installed throughout the facility. In addition to providing greater longevity for the department, parking subscribers should benefit as well through the luminaries’ specialized optics, which significantly reduce disabling glare, optimizing driver and pedestrian safety.

“Overall, our subscribers have enjoyed the newly improved lighting quality, as we are committed to ensuring a safe parking experience in each of our facilities,” said Barbara Kidd, parking operations manager. “We hope to expand this project throughout our remaining decks in the future.”

The new lighting system has resulted in a cost savings of more than 55 percent for the Jefferson Street Deck and nearly 25 percent for the West Broad Street Deck. In addition to the financial benefits, the department looks forward to further energy reductions across both facilities.

This lighting project marks yet another important step VCU is taking in its commitment toward a more sustainable future.

For more information on VCU Parking and Transportation, visit parking.vcu.edu.