How to Brilliantly Light a Car Dealership While Slashing Energy Costs by 85%

Energy efficient LED shoebox lights paired with an innovative lighting control system allowed one Pennsylvania Lexus dealership to showcase their cars while maintaining a small energy footprint.

At the intersection of PA Rt. 611 and Maryland Road, adjacent to the Willow Grove Interchange of the PA Turnpike, sits the newest of the Doylestown-based Thompson Organization's six car dealerships. The 42,000 square-foot Thompson Lexus of Willow Grove building, which opened its doors to the public on May 1, sits on nearly 10 acres of land, brimming with a sizable inventory of the brand's latest-model luxury automobiles. And while the shining new vehicles are attracting most of the attention, few customers even notice that the entire property is transformed each evening into a showcase for some of the most advanced outdoor LED lighting and control technology to be found anywhere in the greater Philadelphia area.

Environmentally and Neighbor Friendly

The complete exterior lighting package, supplied by ELEDLights of Hatboro, PA, consists of 193 pole-mounted LED fixtures, which each supply more than 33,000 lumens at only 300W of power. By comparison, a traditional metal halide fixture might use more than 3 times as much power to generate an equivalent light output. On this basis alone, the Thompson Organization will reduce its comparative lighting energy costs by 60-65%, saving thousands of dollars per month. In addition, by pairing dimmable LED technology with innovative control capability and efficient scheduling, savings are boosted to 85% or more, even by the most conservative estimates. Aside from the obvious tax and employment benefits the dealership will provide for the community in general, minimizing the impact on the local power grid is just one example of the Thompson Organization's commitment to being a good neighbor. Respectful of nearby businesses and residents, and in conformance with township regulations, LED fixtures around the perimeter of the property utilize forward-throw optics to prevent spillage into roadways or adjacent property.

Advanced Lighting Control Covers All the Bases

Key to the lighting control system are wireless transmitters, mounted to each LED fixture and connected internally to the light's power supply and dimming control. An antenna on the roof of the dealership receives the signals from the controllers and transmits them through an Ethernet gateway to a computer running central management software. The software allows different lights to be grouped together based on their location, function, and the amount of light needed at different times of day and gives the user complete flexibility to group the fixtures into as many groups as desired for optimized sales and energy savings. The controllers also include integrated photocells with adjustable thresholds to accommodate weather-related and seasonal light level changes, and can also be synchronized with motion sensors and security cameras.

No Matter How Complex, We Make Your Lighting Project Easy on You

From new construction to retrofit projects for both outdoor and indoor applications, ELEDLights provides full turnkey LED lighting solutions, eliminating layers of distribution and unnecessary cost. Through direct consultation or in cooperation with a client's architectural or engineering firm, ELEDLights can provide full lighting plans and point-by-point illumination studies to help customers select the best and most affordable LED lighting for their needs. By working hand-in-hand with electricians and general contractors throughout the installation of your lights, ELEDLights provides a level of customer service that insures easy implementation of your lighting project from start to finish.

With offices and warehouses in both Huntingdon Valley and San Diego, ELEDLights employs a full staff of lighting professionals who, in addition to helping you select your lights and mounting options, can assist you in calculating your energy savings, arranging financing, applying for utility rebates, and much more. For assistance, call 215.355.7200 (Huntingdon Valley) or 858.581.0597 (San Diego), or email Kyle Mann, VP of Marketing, at lights@eledlights.com—or browse our LED parking lot lights and parking lot light retrofits today!