GELighting

O P E R AT I N G I M PA C T

GE 2013 95290 9/2013

327 tons of coal burning avoided for electric power generation

Riddles Jewelry is newly engaged with GEs LED lighting solutions

LED replacement lamps will lower lighting energy costs by 20-25% a year THE SITUATION

Family-owned Riddles Jewelry opened its first store in Webster, S.D., in 1959. More than half a century and many stores later, Riddles still prides itself on offering a warm, friendly atmosphere in all of its locations across nine states. Lighting plays an especially important role at Riddles, from the subtle shimmer of precious stones to the setting of an elegant, inviting atmosphere.

THE SOLUTION

Riddles Jewelry locations house between 80 and 210 spotlight fixtures, depending on store size. The retailer is moving from 75-watt halogen lamps to GEs 20-watt PAR38 LED replacement lamps, a product of GE ecomaginationSM. Working with Dakota Supply Group, Riddles has installed GEs LED replacement lamps in 47 stores and plans to complete the project by the end of 2013.

We began researching LED jewelry store lighting about five years ago and got really serious about two years ago when Dakota Supply Group introduced us to GE. After looking at a number of options, GEs LED replacement lamps offered the best combination of energy savings and the best look for our merchandise once its out of the cases. - Dan Casanova, Vice President of Riddles

At locations that have used GEs LED replacement lamps for more than one year, Riddles has seen lighting energy cost savings between $100 and $150 a month in smaller stores (80-100 fixtures) and from $175 to $225 in larger stores (up to 210 fixtures), based on a $.10 per kWh rate and 4,000 hours of operation annually.

a sparkling proposal

E N V I R O N M E N TA L I M PA C T

2025% reduction in store lighting energy costs/year

Rebates of $11.25 and $27 per lamp in some stores

GEs 20-watt LED lamps are replacing 75-watt halogen bulbs in 57 stores.

Riddles new LED lamps also produce less heatstore managers have reported a noticeable decrease in cooling demand on HVAC units.

THE SOLUTION CONTINUED...

These savings are also the result of reduced loads on building cooling systemseach Riddles store, even those in colder climates, typically runs its air conditioning throughout the year because of the heat generated by in-store halogen lighting. GEs new LED replacement lamps stay much cooler than the halogen bulbs, and though Riddles has not yet recorded exact load reductions, store managers have reported a noticeable decrease in the cooling demand on HVAC units.

Once all 57 locations are complete, Riddles expects to save about $100,000 a year in lighting energy costs, not including reduced maintenance as the result of longer-lived LED technology. The retailer also said it plans to specify GEs LED lamps for all jewelry store lighting projects moving forward.

GE and Dakota Supply also assisted Riddles in analyzing rebate opportunities from local utilities for each store, then applying for the rebates as rollouts occurred. At its Rapid City, S.D., store, Riddles received a rebate of $11.25 per lamp. At another in Minn., Xcel Energy provided a rebate of $27 per lamp.

We operate in markets that have fairly low energy costs, but the return on investment is still good. With rebates, we expect a 14-month ROI per store. In markets with no rebates, payback becomes 20 to 22 months, which is still a good return, said Casanova.

Riddles is also retrofitting parabolic lenses in store walkways, moving from 32-watt fluorescent lamps to GEs 25-watt T8 lamps. And based on the success Riddles has achieved to date, the retailer is considering switching from fluorescent to LED lighting in its display cases, as well.

For more information, visit gelighting.com/retail.

GE 2013 95290 9/2013