Walmart, Walgreens and The Fresh Market among industry leaders in lighting efficiency

EAST CLEVELAND, USA: More than 45 retailers from across North America attended GE Lighting’s 3rd annual LED & Energy Efficient Lighting Trends for Retail conference at the lighting unit’s global headquarters in East Cleveland, Ohio, last week to share best practices, learn about new technologies and discuss emerging trends that can deliver immediate and sustained environmental and financial gains, while enhancing the visual appeal of products.

Over the last decade, retailers have shifted to more efficient light-emitting diode (LED) systems in signage, architectural lighting, refrigerated and frozen display cases, as well as accent and ambient lighting. The newest LED application on the radar screens of retailers of every size—including those operating hundreds or thousands of stores—is parking lot lighting.

As attendees listened to speakers, participated in tours of the GE Lighting Institute and went behind the scenes to talk with scientists in GE’s reliability labs, a common theme emerged: wherever possible retailers are shifting toward long-lasting, energy-efficient LED systems. Interestingly, in the minds of retail facility executives and CFOs, the maintenance cost savings tied to an LED system’s longer life are sometimes as motivating as the energy cost savings.

“It just makes good sense to switch to LEDs for many applications,” said Amy Laughead-Riese, principal of 37 Volts Light Studio, former Macy’s lighting designer and conference keynote speaker. “LED lighting significantly reduces energy and maintenance costs while increasing energy efficiency, directly impacting a retailer’s bottom line. At the same time, it allows a retailer to maintain a consistent lighting quality and brand image throughout a store and in multiple store locations.”

Retailers are looking to incorporate LED technology enterprise-wide, from distribution centers to the sales floor. GE’s journey with LED technology dates to 1962, when GE scientists invented the first visible LED. In the last 10 years, energy-sipping GE LED systems have transformed applications as varied as traffic signals, signage and refrigerated display case lighting.

While some retailers gravitate to LED systems for creative, high-end designs, others are switching for practical, energy-saving reasons. For optimal energy savings, retailers have even integrated motion sensors with LEDs that activate when customers approach a display or certain area. Walmart, one of the featured retailers at the conference, has set a goal to use 100-percent LED lighting in all of its 5,366 stores through new construction and retrofitting.

“We began our LED journey with our exterior signage and realized this could be a sustainable, long-term lighting solution. Switching to LEDs was a no brainer,” said Charles Zimmerman, vice president of international design and construction with Walmart. “Now we’re using LEDs in display cases, parking lots and throughout the store, and now our LED lights are outliving our refrigerated display cases, providing zero maintenance.”