WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif.-- As part of its commitment to sustainable operations, Raley's Family of Fine Stores selected energy-efficient LED lighting by Cree Inc. to illuminate its new petroleum station, car wash and convenience store in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
Featuring advanced LED technology paired with an integrated dimming system, Cree lighting delivers improved light quality combined with reduced energy consumption and maintenance costs for the store, with payback in less than one year based on typical commercial usage of 12 hours per day for exterior products and 24 hours per day for interior products, and the state of California average of 14 cents per kWh electric costs, lighting-related HVAC impact and relamp maintenance reductions.
A total of 60 Cree LED luminaires illuminate the South Lake Tahoe store, generating significant energy savings compared to the fluorescent, metal halide and halogen fixtures used at Raley's existing Fair Oaks, Calif., location. Cree's interior and exterior fixtures deliver exceptional color rendering, light quality and distribution and allow the use of fewer fixtures than required with traditional lighting, the company said.
The new Cree lighting system includes Cree 304 Series recessed soffit luminaires and Cree CR24 troffers in the c-store along with Cree 304 Series recessed canopy luminaires installed over the fuel canopy deck and Cree 227 Series recessed soffit luminaires in the car wash bay. Cree Edge wall-mount security luminaires, as well as post-top and arm-mounted luminaires provide further exterior lighting in the parking lot.
"Implementing energy-efficient LED lighting supports our goal of reducing overall energy consumption at new stores and in upgrades to our 128 locations," said Randy Walthers, energy and utility manager, Raley's. "We found a valued partner in Hi-Def Lighting & Electrical Inc. [formerly Fillner Construction Inc., dba Filner Electric] who met our needs with high-quality Cree LED lighting equipped with a sophisticated control system for remarkable savings and light quality."
Featuring an optional integrated sensor, Cree luminaires help Raley's conserve energy and meet California's daylight control requirement at the South Lake Tahoe store, said the company. Cree luminaries in the car wash, for example, operate at 20% power until the occupancy sensor brings them to full power and then dims them when not in use.
An additional benefit of the Cree lighting installation is the universal drivers that provide continuous illumination during periodic brownouts that are common to the area.
"In South Lake Tahoe, the voltage will drop as much as 30% during hot afternoons creating multiple problems with electrical systems," said Walthers. "Cree luminaires are unaffected by these erratic voltage drops and continue performing at peak efficiency due to dependable drivers that include AC input protection."
Mike Bauer, vice president of lighting sales at Cree, said, "Raley's is fast becoming a model of energy efficiency in the petroleum and convenience store industry," said "Cree offers a full suite of energy-efficient lighting for 24/7 operations, helping Raley's continue its mission toward environmental stewardship, while supporting their bottom line."
Durham, N.C.-based Cree is a leading provider of lighting-class LEDs, LED lighting and semiconductor products for power and radio-frequency (RF) applications. Cree's product families include LED fixtures and bulbs, blue and green LED chips, high-brightness LEDs, lighting-class power LEDs, power-switching devices and RF devices. Cree products are driving improvements in applications such as general illumination, electronic signs and signals, power supplies and solar inverters.
Raley's has 128 stores in Northern California and Northern Nevada: 78 Raley's Superstores; 20 Bel Air Markets; 22 Nob Hill Foods supermarkets; and eight Food Source warehouse-format stores. It also operates Aisle 1 fuel stations.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.