Mar 1 2013
Rooms To Go, America's #1 independent furniture company, has recently completed an effort initiated in 2010 to convert 115 of its retail stores to LED lighting.
The switch to energy efficient 16-18 watt LED track lamps from the 60 watt halogen track lamps previously in use by the retailer has resulted in an average overall store energy savings of 35-45 percent with a project investment payback in less than 12 months.
In addition to the significant reduction in energy usage from the switch to LED lighting alone, Rooms To Go has also been able to further reduce energy consumption by selecting a wider optical beam-spread for the LED lamps, using a 25 degree angle instead of the 12 degree angle employed for the halogen lamps. This change has not only provided a more even lighting effect but has allowed Rooms To Go to decrease the number of lamps per store by as much as 10 percent, resulting in further energy savings. And since the LED lamps produce less heat, a decrease in air-conditioning demand has contributed to increased energy efficiency as well.
Proving that a commitment to energy efficiency doesn't have to be costly, Rooms To Go engaged Real Win Win, an energy management company, to assist the company with taking advantage of utility rebate incentive programs to help cover the initial cost of switching to LED lighting. Using Energy Star Certified LED lamps, provided by Philips and MSI, assisted greatly in the rebate application process. By utilizing more than 16 utility rebate programs, designed to promote energy efficiency through the introduction of new technologies, Rooms To Go's LED conversion project presented an investment payback in less than 12 months.
Over 45 Rooms To Go store locations were awarded rebate program incentives for deploying energy efficient LED lighting. Participating utility partners include: Progress Energy, City of Austin, Duke Energy, Electric Power Board of Chattanooga – TVA, Middle Tennessee Electric Corp – TVA, Nashville Electric Service – TVA, Knoxville Utilities – TVA, Gulf Power, Georgia Power, Centerpoint, AEP Texas, Lakeland Electric & Water, Pineville Electric, South Carolina Electric & Gas, and Gainesville Regional Utilities, CPS Energy.
According to Yolanda Slade , Project Manager for the CenterPoint Energy Commercial Standard Offer Program, which provided Rooms To Go with its single largest utility rebate since launching the conversion project, promoting energy efficiency is equally beneficial to the utility companies: "The conversion to efficiency LED lighting will provide lower energy consumption at the site, and less stress on the CenterPoint Energy electric grid, thereby, helping to avoid the building of additional power plants."
Bob Balzar , TVA vice president for Energy Efficiency and Demand Response adds: "Lighting is a significant component of any company's energy use. Switching to more efficient LED lighting is shown to reduce energy consumption, save on maintenance costs and provide more lighting color and control flexibility and options. We appreciate businesses like Rooms to Go that are willing to invest in energy efficiency improvements and help lower the overall energy demand."
For Rooms To Go, benefits such as an average store energy usage reduction of 35-45 percent, a 5-10 percent decrease in the number of lamps needed to light each store, a more even lighting effect, reduced air-conditioning demand and a longer lifespan versus halogen lamps made the switch to LED lighting an obvious one. And with a quick project payback thanks to the energy efficient LED's and utility rebates offered around the country, it is CEO Jeffrey Seaman 's hope that others will soon follow suit: "Rooms To Go is proud to set a positive example for companies striving to be energy efficient and operationally effective."
Source: http://www.roomstogo.com/