We are excited to announce that more retail stores are making the switch to LED lighting! It seems a new business announces they are installing LEDs every day. We are glad company and business owners are seeing the ecological and monetary benefits of LED lighting at other stores, and if this trend continues, hopefully there will be a day that all retail locations will install solid state lighting. LED lighting is the best possible choice in retail stores because they create a pleasing and inviting atmosphere for customers and employees alike. The light isn’t harsh on the eyes, nor does it emit ultraviolet rays on customers. The directionality and conformity of light illuminates products and has even increased sales at some locations. Two retail stores have recently announced their plans for LED lighting.

The Timberland Company, a footwear and apparel retail store, partnered with Eco-Story, an LED company, and replaced 150 of their 50-to-90 watt halogen spotlights in each of its 50 stores in the United States with 10-watt PAR30 LED lamps. The expected lifetime of the lamps is six to ten years. Al Buell, store planning and construction project manager at Timberland, said Timberland decided to install LEDs because of the impact the lighting will have on the environment by reducing carbon emissions, lower electricity bills, federal tax incentives, and the financial savings advantages. The company also didn’t have to spend any money on installing the new lamps because the employees were able to switch out the old lights with the new lights. The company is expecting to save $100,000 from the LED installation!

Bassett Home Furnishings, a furniture showcase retail store in Fife, Washington, replaced their current lighting with Energy Star rated lighting. In order to be an Energy Star rated product, the lamp must be evaluated by Energy Star for light quality, energy efficiency, and lifetime. The store qualified for a utility incentive, and is planning on their monthly electricity bill to decrease by more than their monthly payment to finance the lighting. The new lighting is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emission by 311,000 pounds, sulfur dioxide emissions by 1,217 pounds, and nitrogen oxides by 772 pounds. We hope to keep seeing more LED lighting installations!