Content about Gas discharge lamps

New York -- Walmart Canada has retrofitted all of the overhead sales floor lighting at its supercenter in Brampton, Ontario, from conventional fluorescent lighting to high efficiency LED 4-ft. retrofit lamps. The retailer estimates the change could save approximately 283,000 kilo-watt hours (kWh) per year, which will results in a savings of up to $26,000 per year.

New York -- Brookshire Brothers has launched a facility-wide lighting update, including in-store, parking lot, exterior signage and refrigerated case fixtures.

Using a combination of new linear fluorescent lighting and LED technologies -- from GE Lighting, East Cleveland, Ohio -- Brookshire will, once all of its stores have been completed, reduce its annual operating costs more than $235,000.

East Cleveland, Ohio -- Walgreens received GE Lighting’s Retailer of the Year award in recognition of the drugstore chain’s transition from F28 to F25 linear fluorescent lamps, a strategic move that enabled the company to achieve a 9% energy savings while also extending its re-lamp cycle — how frequently it changes bulbs — by 10%. The award was presented at GE’s third annual LED & Energy Efficient Lighting Trends for Retail conference, held at the lighting unit’s headquarters in East Cleveland, Ohio.

Sustainability is fundamental to The Timberland Co., which has committed to reducing its environmental footprint by cutting emissions from its facilities and stores by 50%. The company has identified lighting, which accounts for a significant portion of its total energy use, as a prime source for energy reduction. In 2009, it replaced incandescent and halogen track and flood lighting in many of its stores with LED technology.


Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores has reduced energy by switching to solid-state lighting in the parking lot at its Ohio headquarters and adjacent store. The energy-efficient LEDs have also had a positive impact on the overall appearance of the areas.


“We’re seeing an 80% lighting-system energy savings compared with our previous high-intensity discharge units,” said Debbie Mansfield, director, energy and facilities for Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, Hudson, Ohio, which operates more than 751 stores nationwide.


By Ron Harwood, ronh@illuminatingconcepts.com

We have all seen the sales people come through the office claiming to have the answer to our lighting energy and efficacy concerns. Virtually every “pitch” will deal with LEDs, and only a rare few will be touting the older fluorescent and the new, almost miniature metal halide lamps.

Bloomington, Minn. -- Mall of America plans to replace 5,400 metal halide and high-pressure sodium fixtures in the parking ramps with specially designed new fixtures LED technology from Acuity Brands. The installation will begin in July. It is part of a multi-faceted sustainability program that will be announced during the coming months. Anticipated completion will be this fall.

The new Cole Haan in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood combines the brand’s signature craftsmanship with a modern perspective that extends to the lighting. The 1,720-sq.-ft. space is a showcase for the latest in solid-state lighting technology.


“It’s the first specialty store we’ve ever done that is entirely lit with LEDs,” said Lisette Ditters, director retail and hospitality segment, Philips Lighting North America. 


Among other advantages, the LEDs considerably reduce the shop’s lighting-related energy consumption.