Butte College Gymnasium Achieves 70% Energy Savings with Aleo Lighting and Wireless Controls

As educational institutions continue to invest in energy-efficient infrastructure, Butte College in Oroville, California, has set a powerful example with its recent gymnasium lighting renovation. Working with Aleo Lighting and supported by manufacturer’s representative L an D Sustainability, the project transformed a multi-use athletic facility with advanced LED fixtures and intelligent wireless lighting controls. The result was a highly flexible system that reduced energy consumption by more than 70% while improving occupant comfort and performance.

Modern Lighting Solutions for a Complex College Gymnasium

Butte College serves approximately 15,000 students each year and is recognized as a national leader in sustainability, with initiatives focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency, green workforce development, and LEED-certified buildings.

The college’s gymnasium presented a unique challenge. The facility hosts a variety of sporting events, including televised games, and required a lighting control system capable of supporting complex sequences of operation across multiple areas of the building. College administrators sought a solution that would lower maintenance costs, reduce energy usage, and provide greater flexibility for different events and occupants.

Aleo Lighting Delivers High-Performance LED Fixtures and Smart Controls

The project included the installation of 50 Aleo Lighting luminaires equipped with wireless sensors, creating five lighting zones and four unique lighting scenes throughout the gymnasium. The upgrade replaced outdated T5HO fluorescent and metal halide high bays with Aleo’s XLB linear high bay fixtures and AleoBlue high bay sensors.

Using AleoBlue Bluetooth mesh technology, the system incorporated:

• Wireless zoning and grouping

• Scene control

• Occupancy sensing

• Manual dimming and control

• Luminaire-level lighting controls

• High-end trim settings

These intelligent controls allowed the gymnasium to accommodate everything from daily practices to high-profile televised competitions.

Wireless Lighting Controls Simplify Installation and Operation

One of the project’s primary goals was to achieve a sophisticated lighting control strategy without relying on complex wiring or additional control equipment. AleoBlue’s Bluetooth mesh platform enabled the college to implement its desired sequence of operations entirely wirelessly.

The lighting design established three primary zones within the gymnasium: perimeter lighting, pathways, and center court. Each zone required unique light levels that could be manually adjusted depending on the event taking place. Through wireless zone linking, multiple scene selectors, and customized scenes, the system delivered maximum flexibility while maintaining ease of use.

An additional advantage of the installation was Aleo’s plug-and-play sensor technology. Occupancy sensors with daylight harvesting capabilities were installed after the high bays were already in place, streamlining the installation process and reducing labor costs.

Achieving More Than 70% Energy Savings

The project’s results exceeded expectations. By upgrading to Aleo Lighting’s XLB linear high bays and implementing intelligent wireless controls, Butte College achieved energy savings of more than 70 percent while significantly reducing ongoing maintenance requirements.

The renovation also improved the overall experience for athletes, coaches, students, and spectators by providing:

• Customized lighting scenes for different events

• Improved visual comfort and performance

• Reduced maintenance costs

• Greater operational flexibility

• Simplified lighting management

• Enhanced sustainability

Aleo Lighting and L an D Sustainability Bring Smart Lighting to Higher Education

As Aleo Lighting’s manufacturer representative, L an D Sustainability works with contractors, distributors, engineers, and facility managers to deliver advanced lighting and controls solutions across commercial, industrial, and educational facilities.

The Butte College gymnasium project demonstrates how combining high-performance LED fixtures with wireless Bluetooth controls can dramatically improve both energy efficiency and building functionality. For schools and universities looking to modernize aging lighting systems, Aleo Lighting and L an D Sustainability provide proven solutions that reduce costs, simplify operation, and create better environments for students and staff.