Oct 18 2012
Digital Lumens today announced that Ben E. Keith Foods, the eighth largest institutional foodservice distributor in the nation, has deployed the Digital Lumens Intelligent LED Lighting System in the cold storage areas of its new 475,000-square-foot distribution center in Missouri City, Texas. The new lighting system is expected to save more than 90% of the lighting used by the fluorescent lighting considered, and 75% over plain LED alternatives.
The Fort Worth-based company is expanding to the Houston metro area with an 82-acre development that is expected to be completed and operational in 2013. With a company-wide commitment to sustainability, the new facility presented an opportunity to implement best practices in all aspects of the design. In addition to the intelligent LED lighting, the new distribution center includes an underground water retention pond, skylights in dry areas of the facility, crane-operated aisles, and all measures required to meet LEED gold criteria for the administration offices portion of the building.
"Distribution operations -- from facilities to fleet operations -- are particularly energy-intensive, which is why efficiency is a primary consideration in every aspect of our business," said John Fershtand, Director of Fleet Operations and Energy, Ben E. Keith Foods. "With this new project, we had the opportunity to identify products and technologies that will create a state-of-the-art facility from both the operations and energy efficiency perspectives, and lighting was a key decision. After reviewing numerous lighting alternatives, including fluorescents and plain LEDs, we selected the Digital Lumens Intelligent Lighting System for its energy efficiency, including the ability to provide light only when and where staff are working, maintenance-free operation, long lifetime, excellent light quality, and rugged design."
"We are honored that Ben E. Keith Foods, which has long been at the forefront of optimizing energy efficiency across operations, has selected and deployed the Digital Lumens Intelligent Lighting System in this stellar new facility," said Michael Feinstein, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "By building intelligent LED industrial lighting into the facility from the start, Ben E. Keith Foods is minimizing the facility's lighting energy footprint, reducing the thermal load on refrigeration systems, and adding an important new tool to their portfolio of sustainability measures. And, having the ability to review energy usage and fine tune the fixture settings, they will be able to ensure that lighting is always aligned with the team's needs."