Total Yearly Energy Savings:
$4,0905-Year Return on Investment:
207%The Backstory:
Performance Indoor Training's (PIT) outdoor soccer field in Frisco, Texas, relied on aging 1,000-watt metal-halide fixtures that could no longer support safe, effective nighttime play. To upgrade the lighting system, Pro Lighting Texas reached out to LED Lighting Supply for expert, consultative support. The President, Des Henderson, worked with LED Lighting Supply’s Product Specialist, Jeff Cesenaro, to recommend the proper lighting solution for the soccer field.
The Challenge:
The lighting in place barely reached a light level of 1 foot-candle (fc) across the entire 35-by-55-yard field. The four existing poles were unevenly spaced across the field, adding to the light level issue. Recreational soccer fields generally require 5-10 foot-candles of light with tight uniformity for optimal playing conditions. This meant players were training and competing in conditions well below what is recommended for nighttime visibility and safety.
The new lighting solution needed to adhere to the current poles, which added a unique complexity to achieving the improved lighting solution. Pro Lighting Texas initially had concerns about whether the existing poles could safely support the weight of the recommended light fixtures. LED Lighting Supply worked with the customer to determine whether the existing pole structures would support the new light fixtures with available mounting solutions. By reviewing photos the customer shared, Jeff confirmed the existing poles would sufficiently support the new lights. The soccer field needed more uniform field lighting without rebuilding the pole infrastructure. The lighting solution needed to be compliant with dark sky standards set by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). This meant light containment was as much a priority as brightness.
Lighting Plan Created for Performance Indoor Training
Lighting Plan Metrics:
- Mounting Height: 24 feet
- Foot Candles (fc) Achieved: 7 fc
- Uniformity (Avg/Min): 11.53
- Product(s) Used: MLLG-AG-LED-IMF-400-5-[Optic]-TR-[V]
Before
After
Strategy & Solution:
The LED Lighting Supply team approached the project by first evaluating the field's layouts and pole constraints. Due to the existing pole layout, their placement shaped the entire fixture recommendation. Photometric layouts helped pinpoint proper fixture counts and angles, ensuring evenly distributed light coverage across the field, despite uneven pole placement. Mounting limitations encouraged the Pro Lighting Texas team to utilize bullhorns, slip fitters, and adapter options to balance performance, practicality, and cost. The poles were fitted with 3-fixture bullhorns, but the project called for four fixtures per pole. Jeff specified 4-fixture bullhorn mounts to close that gap while keeping everything else in place.
Jeff initially ran a lighting plan with 12 flood lights, which confirmed that the coverage would fall short of the foot-candle and uniformity targets. He revised the plan to include 14 400-Watt flood lights with 45-degree optics and individual top visors. The optics push the light farther across the field for consistent illumination, while the visors keep the light contained to the field. This adjustment achieved uniform light coverage across the entire field.
* A qualified engineer or licensed electrician should always verify pole load capacity, mounting hardware, and electrical work against local codes before installation. LED Lighting Supply provides free lighting plans and expert help with fixture selection.
The Results:
With the flood lights mounted to the existing poles, PIT's soccer field increased from a barely usable 1 fc average to an average illumination reading of 7 fc. Following installation, the field easily meets the recreational soccer foot candle guideline. All of this was possible without reorienting the existing pole layout or creating light trespass onto neighboring areas.
The upgrade paid off beyond the improved lighting itself. Based on local commercial and industrial utility rates, PIT's new LED system is saving approximately $4,300 per year, including $4,090 in energy savings and $210 in maintenance savings. The soccer field project, completed in Frisco, Texas, paid for itself in just 1.6 years. Over five years, the project is projected to generate $14,500 in savings, achieving a 207% ROI, while reducing annual energy consumption by over 45,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh).
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* Savings and payback estimations are based on the local utility rate of $0.089 per kWh for commercial and industrial buildings in Frisco, Texas.
PIT's project displays the possibilities of a lighting upgrade being developed around the site. By working within the constraints of the four poles rather than replacing them, the LED Lighting Supply team delivered a solution that addresses the safety and illumination challenges within an attractive, cost-effective plan.
