LED Lighting System Upgrade at Calipatria State Prison

Calipatria State Prison, located in California’s Imperial Valley, is a high-security correctional institution operated by the California Department of Corrections. Originally constructed on the site of a former Naval Air Station and opened in 1992, the facility was the first prison built in the California desert and currently houses over 2,500 male inmates, many of whom are classified as high-risk offenders.

To modernize the facility’s infrastructure, improve energy efficiency, and enhance safety and security, Noresco contracted GreenTech Energy Services, Inc. to perform a comprehensive lighting system upgrade across the prison’s interior and exterior environments.

Goals for the project included:

• Enhancing energy efficiency and reduce long-term utility costs
• Improve lighting quality and visibility in all areas of the prison
• Increase durability of fixtures to withstand vandalism and harsh environmental conditions
• Ensure safety and security during power outages through emergency lighting integration

To address the facility’s diverse lighting needs, GreenTech Energy Services implemented a comprehensive upgrade spanning all interior and exterior environments. Each area received tailored solutions designed to maximize energy efficiency, enhance durability, and improve safety throughout the prison.

Interior Upgrades

Cells & Bathrooms:

• • Replaced incandescent and compact fluorescent screw-in bulbs with LED A-lamp screw-ins
  • Upgraded all T8 and T5 fluorescent lamps with LED self-ballast tubes

Administrative Areas (Offices, Hallways, Storage Rooms):

• • Installed tamper-proof LED fixtures for vandalism resistance and long-term performance

Exterior & Specialized Lighting

Canopy Areas:

• • Replaced hardwired compact fluorescent and high-pressure sodium fixtures with 10-Watt LED canopy fixtures

Roadways & Perimeter:

• • Upgraded 400-Watt metal halide cobra heads to energy-efficient 133-Watt LED cobra heads

Storage Facilities & Chemical Rooms:

• • Installed LED explosion-proof fixtures, replacing outdated high-pressure sodium models

Dormitories & Firing Ranges:

• • Replaced flood lighting with 54-Watt LED pole-mounted flood fixtures

High Bays (Interior & Exterior):

• • Converted from metal halide to new LED high bay fixtures

Wall Packs (Restrooms & Exterior Walls):

• • Installed security-mounted LED wall packs with motion sensors
  • Replaced full-faced high-pressure sodium wall packs with LED alternatives on exterior buildings and guard towers

Emergency Systems

• Implemented emergency ballast systems across the facility to ensure uninterrupted lighting in the event of power outages

The comprehensive lighting upgrade delivered measurable improvements in energy efficiency, fixture durability, security, and emergency preparedness across the entire facility.

• Significant Energy Savings: Dramatic reduction in electricity usage due to high-efficiency LED lighting throughout the facility
• Increased Fixture Longevity: Durable and tamper-proof fixtures reduced maintenance and replacement costs
• Enhanced Security: Improved brightness and visibility across all zones, including perimeter and high-risk areas
• Emergency Readiness: Continuous lighting capability during outages boosts operational security and safety for inmates and staff

The lighting retrofit at Calipatria State Prison by GreenTech Energy Services represents a critical step in modernizing California’s correctional facilities. The combination of energy-efficient LEDs, vandal-resistant fixtures, and emergency lighting systems not only supports cost savings and environmental goals but also directly contributes to a safer and more secure environment for both staff and inmates.