Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in Canada has completed the installation of a new state-of-the-art LED lighting system for its airfield, making it the first airport in North America to deploy an adaptive dimming system based upon gate usage.
Developed by Musco Lighting, the solution works to reduce power consumption, expand coverage and increase safety for airport employees. Special glare control technology ensures that high-quality light is only applied where needed. This improves operational efficiency by eliminating glare.
Musco’s LED solution is designed as a complete system, with all lighting, structural and electrical components engineered to work together. The system is backed by a long-term warranty that covers parts and labor, guaranteeing no additional costs for the next 10 years. BC Hydro provided incentives for the project through its Industrial Energy Manager program, which the airport has participated in for more than a decade.
Don Ehrenholz, vice president, engineering, Vancouver Airport Authority, the airport operator, said, “Our primary objective is to operate and maintain a safe, secure and sustainable airport. The new apron lighting system significantly reduces YVR’s energy consumption, while streamlining operations and improving safety with improved coverage, reduced glare and increased lighting levels. It’s a win-win situation. We will continue to work collaboratively to find innovative ways to reduce energy consumption as we strive for environmental excellence.”
Jeff Rogers, vice president of Musco Lighting, said, “Every lighting project is unique. Lighting airports brings a number of additional considerations, and at an airport with the size and scope of YVR, the challenges are even more extensive. So this has been a milestone project, and the team at YVR has been outstanding to work with. When you see the quality of light, the uniform distribution, the virtual elimination of glare and the cut off preserving darkness around YVR, it’s really impressive.”