Cree lights way to savings

USA: Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-scale grocery retailer in the northeast United States, recently selected energy-efficient LED lighting by Cree Inc. to illuminate its 51,364-square-foot store in Geneva, N.Y.

The store, which opened in November 2012, features Cree CS18 luminaires and CR24 troffers lighting the aisles, specialty departments and pharmacy for an estimated energy savings of 70 percent over the T5 fluorescent lighting that Tops Markets had previously installed.

Featuring Cree TrueWhite Technology, Cree CS18 and CR24 architectural troffers provide exceptional color rendering, helping to improve the visual shopping experience by making the merchandise colors more vibrant and appealing. In addition, the Cree CS18 troffers solve the need for strong vertical light levels when mounted on the store’s 13-foot ceiling.

Designed to offer up to 100,000 lifetime hours, Cree CR24 troffers help Tops Markets reduce energy consumption by offering dimming capabilities – key considerations for the 24-hour store. In addition to savings achieved through dimmable light levels and decreased maintenance costs, the Cree LED troffers are backed by a 10-year limited warranty. Tops Markets estimates the Cree system will pay for itself within two-and-a-half years.