FCA is a global manufacturer of automobiles. This manufacturing facility assembles sub-assemblies for the new Jeep Gladiator. This project was a ground up design as the operation was moving into an abandoned building. Citra designed a new lighting layout, emergency lighting layout, and emergency light circuiting. FCA has differing light level requirements dependent upon the type of operation in the space and thus this and many other criteria had to be taken into account for the final design.
Case Studies
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles – Temperance, Michigan
Opportunity
Solution
Citra’s designers ran simulations of various layouts and fixture types. Citra’s in-debt knowledge of LED products and lighting design enabled it to win out among three competitors with the lowest energy consumption lighting layout while achieving all of FCA’s light level requirements. Citra’s lighting solution was 26% more efficient than the two competitors at only a marginally higher cost. FCA recognized this and awarded the project to Citra.
Benefits
FCA is enjoying a larger energy savings as a result of smart design. Many clients overlook the value a true expert can bring to its organization. They approach lighting modernization projects as simple fixture or lamp swap outs. This approach can cost the end-user significant dollars as can be seen on the FCA project. FCA realized a 26% energy savings premium over two other designs by carefully examining the solutions beyond just looking at the upfront cost.
Adaptive Energy – Ann Arbor, Michigan
Opportunity
Adaptive Energy is a manufacturer of portable fuel cells for various industries. The manufacturing space consisted of (144) 400w MH high bay fixtures over the main area. Secondary areas had 8’ continuous strips with (2) 8’ T12 lamps. Generally, light levels were sufficient but these fixtures consumed a lot of energy and required quite a bit of maintenance. The office and lab spaces consisted of 2×4 troffers with (3) T8 lamps each. The exterior lighting was 400w MH for parking lot area heads, 250w wall packs, and 400w flood-lights.
Solution
Citra’s team went to work and analyzed several different options for each of the areas. All options were presented to the management of Adaptive Energy and they were very shocked at the level of savings that could be achieved. Citra’s engineered solution for the plant replaced the existing (144) 400w MH high bays with (66) 88w high bays. These new premium fixtures are a very high efficacy fixture with an ultra long rated life. It made sense to go with such a fixture due to the long run hours and significant reduction in energy that could be achieved. This resulted in an outstanding 91% energy reduction while improving light levels by 10%. The 8’ continuous strips were retrofitted with a lensed retrofit kit, which provided a clean finished look and produced light, which is 30% brighter with significantly superior distribution. Energy went from 246w per 8’ section to just 54w. This is a 78% reduction in energy consumption. The existing T12 lamps had a rated life of 12,000 hours. The new retrofit has a rated life of 100,000 hours. The office troffers were retrofitted with a troffer door kit. These provide a new look, superior lighting distribution, and an 83% energy reduction with a 100,000 hour rated life. The exterior 400w MH area heads were replaced with 75w area heads with a lumens/watt rating of 175. This increased the light levels significantly while dropping the energy consumption by 84%. The 175w wall packs were replaced with a 50w wall pack, which raised light levels considerably. The existing 400w flood-lights were replaced with 165w flood lights to dramatically increase light levels for exterior dock areas.
Citra’s solutions don’t stop at lighting. Citra has a myriad of funding solutions to fit the unique needs of each of it’s clients. Adaptive Energy took advantage of the Citra / Constellation EME Program which provides on-bill funding of the entire lighting modernization project. The project cost was $135,000 for which Adaptive Energy invested zero dollars upfront, actually makes $1693.00 per month for (60) months, and then owes nothing at the end of the term. In essence, Adaptive Energy never invests a single penny into the lighting modernization project and earns $101,580 over the (60) month term.
Benefits
Adaptive Energy’s existing lighting created a situation for massive savings. Citra’s experienced team of experts furthered these savings by showing management how utilizing ultra high efficacy premium fixtures provide for maximum savings. Overall energy savings exceeded 80% providing an improvement in quality of lighting and optimized light levels.
Employees of Adaptive Energy have experienced dramatically improved working conditions with increased visual acuity, enhanced safety, and an overall more comfortable environment.
McDonald’s Case Study
Learn how a McDonald’s franchise owner partnered with Citra to upgrade his facilities with high-quality LED lighting with miminal upfront costs.
Background
Neel Chapatwala, a McDonald’s franchise owner of 20 family-run and operated restaurants, was looking to upgrade his facilities.
19 of the restaurants did not have LED lighting when he purchased them, and the LED lighting already in place at the remaining five restaurants wasn’t sufficient for the ambience and energy savings the facilities needed.
Chapatwala planned to upgrade the LED lighting in all of his restaurants – even the ones with lighting already in place.
Due to the upcoming reinvestments by McDonald’s, wherein LED lighting upgrades were recommended by the McDonald’s corporate office, he elected to upgrade a few locations at a time.
The Citra Solution
First, Citra’s site audit team conducted detailed assessments of the existing lighting and site details at Chapatwala’s facilities. The areas included were the parking lots, exterior signs, and kitchens.
Next, Citra’s design team developed a 3-D model of one of the McDonald’s locations and tested area fixtures from several manufacturers to compare performance.
Citra also took a myriad of other factors into consideration such as the manufacturer’s financial standing, ability to back their warranty, rated life of fixture, and component and build quality.
Project Financing
After the fixture specifications were finalized, Citra calculated the economics of the project to identify cost-saving measures for Chapatwala and his franchise. This took far more into account than just the payback period, potential rebates, and the cost of the lighting itself.
To do so, Citra detailed out the labor considerations prior to starting the final economics to capture all facets of the project.
While conducting a thorough year-by-year cash flow analysis for Chapatwala, Citra discovered that the project economics qualified for Citra’s Lighting-As-A-Service (LaaS) Program.
The LaaS Program is designed so that businesses can implement projects in their entirety at no or little upfront capital. Business owners benefit from the fact that this program creates a cash-flow positive scenario monthly and includes a service contract covering all products and labor.
By electing to take advantage of Citra’s LaaS Program, Chapatwala was able to reap the benefits of the new lighting immediately and keep his money to invest in other areas of his business.
Project Economics
The term of the LAAS Program will last 60 months.
After 60 months, Chapatwala will have the opportunity to own the lighting with a $1.00 buyout.
Also, Citra included a 60-month service contract as part of the LaaS Program agreement which will cover covered repairs and/or replacements of any failures during the fixed term.
Monthly Energy & Maintenance Savings | $10,446.00 | |
Monthly Lighting-As-A-Service Fee | $8,816.00 | |
Monthly Net Positive Cash-Flow | $1,630.00 | |
Annual Net Positive Cash-Flow | $19,560.00 | |
Cumulative 60-Month Cash-Flow | $97,800.00 | |
Total Project Value | $452,000.00 | |
Total Upfront Capital Needed (First & Last Months’ Payment Plus $250.00 Application Fee) | $17,882.00 | |
Total 60-Month Net Cash-Flow to Customer | $79,918.00 |
Because of Citra’s LaaS Program and detailed project financial analysis, Chapatwala didn’t have to spend a significant amount of capital to obtain the benefits of new, high-quality LED lighting.
But he will not just save money; he will actually make money because he didn’t have to use his own financial resources to pay for the entire project upfront.
When the project began, Chapatwala placed a deposit of $17,882.00 on a project worth $452,000.00. He is estimated to make almost $80K in 5 years based on his ultimate net savings from this project, and he will have the opportunity to purchase the lighting for his company for only $1.00.
In essence, this customer will be able to upgrade his facilities without having to spend a significant capital on a project worth $452,000.00.
Citra was very professional and very knowledgeable compared to other vendors I spoke with. They really got into the details of the solutions they provided. I felt more comfortable with Citra because they assessed my restaurant quickly to find what would be the best fit and what would work best for who we are. I found Rajul to be the most knowledgeable about LED lighting of all the vendors I talked to – even people who’ve been in the industry for decades.- Neel Chapatwala, McDonald’s Franchisee Owner