Cree LEDs light Waste Connections facility

In a move to improve lighting quality and safety at its Cold Canyon Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Waste Connections Inc. upgraded its lighting system with Cree-powered Xeralux LED high-bay fixtures. Xeralux fixtures feature Cree XLamp XP-G LEDs, helping Waste Connections reduce its energy costs by almost two-thirds and nearly eliminating its maintenance costs. “Our previous lighting technology didn't deliver the high-quality light our facility needed,” said John Ryan, facilities manager at Cold Canyon. “Now, not only do we seem to have more light, but we also have a brighter, whiter light that is very pleasing. The employees love it.”

The Xeralux Light Engine for High Bay (XLE-HB) replaced more than 80 400W metal-halide lamps, sockets and ballasts with high-quality LED light. According to Waste Connections' analysis of site energy consumption, the Cold Canyon MRF is now saving 260-285 kWh per day, translating to more than $13,000 per year. As a result, Waste Connections anticipates a payback time of less than three years and the virtual elimination of maintenance due to the 50,000 hour projected lifetime of the installed products.