Background
Alabama Power, a division of Southern Company that provides power to more than 1.4 million customers in the southern two-thirds of the state, partnered with the City of Hoover to convert five major sports facilities from outdated traditional lighting to an energy-efficient digital lighting solution. The ability to retrofit five facilities simultaneously ensured operational efficiency, consistency and compliance with the city's new energy efficiency codes, in addition to the limitations and inconsistencies of the facilities' current lighting systems. Ephesus Sports Lighting was awarded the project based on their track record of handling similar large citywide projects and their ability to provide unique solutions for a variety of different sports areas across all venues.
Facility Overview
Hoover Metropolitan Stadium (also known as Hoover Metropolitan Stadium) is a 10,800-seat stadium in Birmingham that hosts the Southeastern Conference (SEC) College Baseball Tournament and is the primary home of Hoover High School football. Built in 1988, it was the home of the Birmingham Barons minor league baseball team for more than 20 years, including 1994 when Michael Jordan played for the team. To ensure that The Hoover Met remained compliant with NCAA broadcast lighting levels for broadcasts on ESPN and SEC networks, facility operators understood that it was time to replace the outdated HID lighting originally installed in 1988.
The other four venues feature a pair of synthetic turf multipurpose fields at the Hoover Met complex; 13 baseball and softball courts at Shades Mountain Community Park and the Spain Park Sports Complex; and six tennis courts at Simmons High School. Each facility is lit using conventional lighting solutions that do not comply with city codes. In addition, because each lighting system had been installed independently at different times over the past 50 years, there was no consistency in maintenance or operations for the facility operators.
The Solution
At Metropolitan Hoover, Ephesus was able to increase light levels by more than 50% to meet SEC Tournament broadcast standards and NCAA Tournament requirements, which would open the field for a possible NCAA Regional Tournament game. The increase in lighting levels was achieved by replacing 1500 watt metal halide fixtures with 150 LumaSport 16 fixtures and 24 Prism RBGA fixtures, while reducing energy consumption by more than 60%. To help simplify installation, Ephesus was able to secure its pre-wired cross arms to existing utility poles. The innovative wireless AirMesh control system allows facility operators to seamlessly switch from baseball lighting to high school soccer settings. In addition, the combination of RGBA luminaires
Hoover encounters complex multipurpose field: Wireless AirMesh control system will control 24 LumaSport 8 fixtures mounted on existing poles and cross arms
Shady Hill Park Baseball/Softball Field: A total of 255 LumaSport 8 fixtures were installed on existing poles and cross arms to illuminate nine baseball and softball fields. Each site lighting can be individually controlled via a wireless AirMesh control system.
Simmons Middle School Tennis Courts: New pre-wired cross arms and 24 LumaSport 8 fixtures were secured to existing poles to provide lighting for six tennis courts.
Spanish Park Stadium Baseball/Softball Fields: New pre-wired cross arms and 224 LumaSport 8 fixtures were secured to existing poles to illuminate two baseball and two softball fields. Each field lighting can be individually controlled via a wireless AirMesh control system.