Walmart Puerto Rico Rolls Back Energy and Maintenance Costs in Parking Lots with GE Evolve(TM) LED Area Lights

"Walmart is running hard and head-on at operational inefficiencies and sustainability concerns that it can address with technology solutions such as LEDs," says Jaime Irick, president and CEO of GE Lighting Solutions. "This commitment to use GE Evolve LED area lighting in Puerto Rico builds on what Walmart has accomplished globally with LED systems in signage and refrigerated display cases. They're continuing to set the standard for the industry."

On average, nearly one-third of a Walmart store's energy consumption is tied to lighting. In addition to substantial energy and maintenance cost savings, the new LED parking lot lighting significantly reduces the greenhouse gas emissions associated with Walmart Puerto Rico's operations. Newly constructed Walmart stores in Puerto Rico will feature the energy efficient GE Evolve LED Area Lights.

"In 2009 alone, Walmart Puerto Rico's operational energy efficiency initiatives saved more than 8.0-million kWh, equivalent to USD $1.4 million*. A large portion of these energy-efficient initiatives are tied to the continuous lighting improvements that Walmart is working with GE to help us achieve," says Charles Zimmerman, vice president of international design and construction for Walmart. "Our latest initiative in Puerto Rico turns a high cost area such as outdoor lighting into an energy efficiency bellwether not only for our company on a global scale, but for the industry as a whole. We know outdoor LED lighting represents a huge opportunity for retailers to make strides economically and environmentally." 

GE delivers lots of efficiencies

The GE Evolve LED Area Light combines the latest in LED system electronics, thermal management, mechanical and optical design to make the advantages of LED lighting a practical reality in parking lots and general lighting applications. It offers retailers new construction and retrofit alternatives to 400-watt and 1000-watt parking lot lighting while providing an estimated 10-year service life (50,000-hour rated life) that is four times the recommended service interval of a traditional high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting system such as metal halide.

Light-level uniformity improves significantly with the LEDs because they more effectively throw light where it is intended, reducing hot spots and dark spots. The result is less reflected light and glare at all viewing angles, and improved utilization for a positive impact on property appearance, security and pedestrian visibility.

Additionally, Evolve's optics offer more directional focus of light for on-site activities in the parking lot and controlled perimeter spill light, while reducing off-site light pollution to surrounding areas. The luminaire's low glare and high uniformity benefits promote improved performance in security camera operation, since cameras are susceptible to glare sources and work better with a smaller range of scene brightness.

"Many of our stores are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so replacing traditional metal halide parking lot lamps every couple years is costly," adds Zimmerman. "We like the idea that GE's outdoor LED systems only need to be replaced about every 10 years. In fact, we're counting on that performance."

Consuming from 97 to 220 watts (depending on the lighting distribution pattern), the GE Evolve LED Area Light replaces traditional 400-watt to 1000-watt HID systems that can spill and waste light. It also improves visibility and quality of light with a comparatively higher color temperature (5700K) versus standard HID and a 70-plus color-rendering index. GE accomplishes this with lower lumens and energy savings because the fixture's advanced optical design leverages the LED characteristics to precisely deliver light and improve vertical foot candles. GE Evolve LED luminaires are RoHS compliant and contain no mercury or lead. 

Walmart's innovation heritage

Over the past several years, Walmart has engaged GE in Puerto Rico and around the world for LED lighting systems that have transformed how retailers light their stores--from outdoor signage to refrigerated display cases and now, parking lots.

Walmart Puerto Rico launched its Sustainable Development Program in 2007. The initiative established sustainable strategies to maximize energy efficiency, while reducing the amount of solid waste and gas emissions at all Walmart stores, Walmart Supercenters, Sam's Club membership warehouses, Amigo Supermarkets, and Super Ahorros. As part of the effort, the company has successfully created alliances with the government, private ventures, communities, and environmentally concerned non-profit organizations.

GE Lighting Solutions, a proven expert in the LED category, has an expansive installed base of more than 25 million linear feet of LED lighting. GE offers an extensive line of high-performance LED product solutions, including lamps, architectural lighting, retail display, signage, outdoor lighting and transportation solutions. GE Lighting Solutions earned more awards than any other company in this year's Next Generation Luminaires(TM) Competition, including a Best-in-Class award for the GE Evolve(TM) LED R150 Cobrahead Luminaire, a new LED street and roadway light. GE Lighting Solutions consists of GE Lighting's light-emitting diode systems operation based in Cleveland and its commercial and industrial lighting fixture group in Hendersonville, North Carolina. The units were combined earlier this year to support a strategy to serve as an industry-leading solutions provider for the rapidly growing indoor and outdoor fixture segments that use LED systems and other energy-efficient lighting technologies. 

About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., or "Walmart," serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,400 retail units under 55 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2010 sales of $405 billion, Walmart employs more than 2.0 million associates worldwide. A leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity, Walmart ranked first among retailers in Fortune Magazine's 2009 Most Admired Companies survey.

About GE -- Appliances & Lighting

GE -- Appliances & Lighting spans the globe as an industry leader in major appliances, lighting, systems and services for commercial, industrial and residential use. Technology innovation and the company's ecomagination(SM) initiative enable GE -- Appliances & Lighting to aggressively bring to market products and solutions that help customers meet pressing environmental challenges. General Electric, imagination at work, sells products under the Monogram(R), Profile(TM), GE(R), Hotpoint(R), Reveal(R) and Energy Smart(R) consumer brands, and Tetra(R), Vio(TM) and Immersion(R) commercial brands.