Airport Finishes Garage Light Retrofit; New LEDs Improve Visibility, Reduce Costs, Save Energy

Sacramento International Airport has completed its months-long initiative to improve lights in the parking garage, replacing 1,820 high-pressure sodium light fixtures with energy-efficient LEDs. Besides improving visibility, the new lights will save 1.7 million kilowatts of energy annually, enough to power about 196 households a year.

This translates into savings of $184,000 a year in energy and maintenance costs for Sacramento International Airport .

In addition to replacing the lights, airport crews cleaned the floor deck, repainted traffic markings and added wayfinding signs between Terminal A and B.

“Our plan is to eventually replace all our light fixtures with LEDs,” said Director of Airports John Wheat. “It’s a win-win for the airport and our customers, as LED lights are brighter, require less maintenance, and use less energy than conventional sodium lights.”

Crews worked alongside electricians from the County Department of General Services to complete the job, which began in February and finished ahead of schedule.

The $654,545 project qualified for a $153,526 SMUD rebate. Sacramento International Airport expects to recoup the cost of the retrofit in a little more than three years.

The six-story parking garage opened in 2004 and offers covered parking for both Terminal A and Terminal B.