Case Study: St. Bernard Catholic Church

A Brighter Path Forward: St. Bernard Welcomes New High-Efficiency Lighting

Enhancing the Beauty of the Sanctuary Through Innovation

St. Bernard Catholic Church is shining brighter than ever following the successful installation of a state-of-the-art LED lighting system. By upgrading to the HyLite LED Lotus Lamp, the church has not only embraced modern energy efficiency but has also dramatically enhanced the beauty and functionality of its sacred space.

“Facing either a re-lamp using outdated PAR incandescent lamps or a complete LED refixturing and dimming control upgrade reaching 6-figure costs, the HyLite Lotus Lamps provided the most elegant solution allowing us to drastically improve St. Bernards light quality and show a reasonable energy saving ROI for around the same labor cost as a simple re-lamp.” — Chris Driscoll, PKK Lighting, Inc

Precision Engineering for the Sacred Space

The Lotus Lamp was selected specifically for its versatility. To ensure every corner of the sanctuary was illuminated in clear, warm light, a mix of 40/60W and 100/150W dual-wattage models were installed. The Lotus Lamp restores the natural beauty of our sanctuary with an exceptional Color Rendering Index (CRI) of over 90. It ensures that every architectural detail and liturgical color appears true and vivid just as they would under natural sunlight.

The church’s architecture presented unique challenges: high vaulted ceilings and specific focal points like the altar. Therefore, the installation utilized various beam angles: 15°, 25°, 40°, and 120°. By using these specific lenses, even light coverage was achieved. This custom approach eliminated dark spots and glare, and allowed the architectural details of the church to truly stand out. The light is directed downward onto the pages of the hymnal and the beauty of the sanctuary. The result is a space that feels more open, sacred, and most importantly, easier to see.

Beyond the immediate visual upgrade, this system offers long-term peace of mind. Rated for up to 60,000 hours of lamp life, these LED’s drastically reduce the need for frequent, difficult bulb changes in high ceiling applications. This install-and-forget reliability means less maintenance and worry-free lighting for years to come, allowing the focus to remain on ministry rather than building upkeep.

By the Numbers: A transformation in Clarity

The impact of the new HyLite LED Lotus Lamps is best seen in the footcandle (fc) readings, a measure of light intensity reaching a surface. The improvements are, quite literally, night and day:

Location Before After Improvement
Altar 13 fc 60 fc +360%
Tabernacle 9 fc 45 fc +400%
Lectern 20 fc 40 fc +100%
Pews 2-10 fc 35-45 fc +567%

*Images and light level readings provided by Chris Driscoll of PKK Lighting, Inc. www.pkklighting.com*

Stewardship through Sustainability

While the visual improvement is striking, the fiscal impact is equally impressive. By replacing aging 500W and 300W lamps with high-efficiency dual wattage 100W/150W and 40W/60W HyLite Lotus Lamps, St. Bernard has achieved a massive reduction in energy demand without sacrificing light quality.

Based on 1,000 hours of annual use at a rate of $0.13 per kWh, the church is projected to save $4,192 every year in energy costs alone.

Category Before After Savings
Total Power Used 40,300 Watts 8,060 Watts 80% Energy Savings
Estimated Annual Operating Costs $5,239 $1,047 $4,192 Saved

*Energy Calculations provided by Chris Driscoll of PKK Lighting, Inc. www.pkklighting.com*

Enhancing the Worship Experience

While the technical data is impressive, the real benefit is felt by the congregation:

  • For the Reader: The Lectern now sees double the light intensity, making it easier for lectors to share the Word of God without eye strain.
  • For the Clergy: The Altar, the heart of the Mass, has seen a nearly five-fold increase in brightness, ensuring the Liturgy of the Eucharist is the focal point it is meant to be.
  • For the Faithful: Perhaps the most vital change is in the pews. Previously, lighting was uneven, ranging from very dim (2 fc) to moderate (10 fc). Now, the entire seating area enjoys a consistent, bright 35–45 fc, making it much easier for parishioners to read hymnals and prayer books.

This upgrade represents more than just new bulbs; it is an investment in the community. By switching to high-efficiency LED’s, St. Bernard is significantly reducing energy consumption and maintenance costs, ensuring that resources can be focused on mission and ministry for years to come.

See the Lotus Lamp in Action!

*Images and light level readings provided by Chris Driscoll of PKK Lighting, Inc. www.pkklighting.com*

Dual Wattage: 40W-60W Model

Multi-CCT Options: 3000K, 4000K & 5000K

PAR56 Retrofit

Dual Wattage: 100W-150W Model

Multi-CCT Options: 3000K, 4000K & 5000K

PAR64 Retrofit

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