Project Overview
Air Canada’s YVR operations facility in Richmond supports a wide range of aviation, maintenance, training, administrative, and operational functions.
Radiance Energy led a comprehensive lighting upgrade across the site, replacing more than 6,000 fixtures with high-efficiency LED technology across maintenance areas, offices, training centres, and hangar spaces.
The Challenge
The existing lighting system had high flicker rates, uneven illumination, and significant energy and maintenance costs.
Training spaces, flight simulation rooms, flight-attendant study areas, retail areas, and other indoor environments were poorly lit, while exterior aviation areas required lighting that minimized glare during nighttime operations.
The Solution
Radiance Energy implemented a large-scale LED retrofit tailored to the different operational environments across the Air Canada facility.
Indoor areas were upgraded with low-flicker, evenly distributed LED lighting to improve visibility and working conditions. Exterior aviation areas received anti-glare lighting designed to reduce visual interference during nighttime operations.
The project represented an investment of approximately $1.4 million and was financed over 36 months through Radiance Energy’s Lights for Service model.
Project Results
- 74% energy cost savings
- More than 6,000 fixtures upgraded
- Average monthly savings of more than $30,000
- $4 million projected net savings after 10 years
- 36-month Lights for Service financing
- 10-year warranty
- 20-year life expectancy
- Improved lighting quality across offices, training areas, maintenance spaces, and operational environments
Lighting Built for Complex Aviation Operations
Aviation facilities require very different lighting conditions across hangars, offices, training spaces, maintenance areas, and airside environments.
At Air Canada YVR, the retrofit was designed around those varying requirements rather than using a single standard fixture strategy. Low-flicker interior lighting improved working and training conditions, while specialized exterior lighting addressed glare and nighttime visibility requirements.
The result was a large-scale lighting system that supported both operational performance and significant long-term cost savings.
“Our new lights are great — clear and bright! But like any business it is often the people who make the difference. I want to commend the installers who efficiently changed the lights in our office area. They were friendly, professional, respectful, and easy to speak with. They were respectful of my work area and made sure that I was always informed of their work schedule — always checking with me first before starting to work. Before they left, they cleaned the office better than how they found it! Kudos to the Radiance Energy Team!”
