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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.

Brookshire Brothers has launched a comprehensive lighting update involving 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 Brothers will reduce its annual operating costs more than $235,000. The relamping has eliminated more than 3.8 million lbs. of CO2 emissions, with a reduction of 2.4 million kilowatt hours (kWhs) in electricity use.

Solid-state lighting took center stage at the SPECS Sustainability session, “LEDs: Perception and Reality.”

Speaker Leigh Savage, national accounts manager, GE Lighting, debunked many of the myths that surround LED lighting. They included:

• LEDs produce no heat at all. FALSE

• LEDs are more efficient than any other light source. NOT NECESSARILY.

• LEDs are still too expensive to use in retail applications. FALSE

The Co-operative Group’s new 24-hour flagship in London belongs to a class of stores that, while still relatively small, is fast-growing: It is illuminated completely with LEDs.

New York City -- Solid-state lighting figures prominently in Starbucks’ newly renovated Time Square flagship in New York City. The retailer utilized the services of Focus Lighting, a New York-based architectural lighting design firm, which called upon LED Source, an international supplier of LED lighting.

“LEDs are the most energy-efficient lighting solution on the market,” said Joe Zamore, VP of business development, LED Source, Wellington, Fla., which specializes specializes in full-scale evaluations and retrofits.

GE Lighting devised an innovative way to educate retailers about lighting trends and products, and has been on the road since February with its GE Lighting Revolution Tour. Chain Store Age talked with GE’s Cate Gutowski about the tour, its objectives and what lies ahead for retail lighting.

Ultra Diamonds has unveiled a contemporary prototype that provides the ideal home for its sparkling merchandise. The design showcases the breadth and diversity of the jewelry retailer’s assortment, while putting a stylish new spin on the space.


“It also makes the environment more inviting and accessible,” said Gordon Eason, creative director, JGA, Southfield, Mich. 


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.


Some call 2011 the year of the LED lighting revolution, and that isn’t far from reality. There is no question that the industry has started to move closer to mass adoption of LED lighting solutions as prices stabilized, and as the industry promoted the energy gains to be made through LED installations without sacrificing lighting quality.

Chain Store Age talked with Bill Plageman, VP marketing for Fairfield, N.J.-based Amerlux Lighting, about trends in LED lighting and whether the product is gaining real traction among retailers.

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.

Somerset, N.J. -- Philips Lighting Wednesday announced that Macy's has selected its custom-designed Philips EnduraLED solid-state LED lamp as part of the nationwide program to retrofit 117,000 halogen-based accent lighting in 86 of its U.S. stores.