The Marvel Food and Deli which opened its doors early in June 2009, is the first commercial new construction in the U.S. to be outfitted exclusively with LEDs (light-emitting diodes). The 16,000 square foot supermarket and deli is situated on a 43,000 square foot lot and utilized LED's for both interior and exterior lighting.

Marvel Food & Deli owner, Andrey Ivanstov, was introduced to LEDs by his energy conservation consultant, Javad Maadanian, president of 3 Co. (Collaborative Constructions Consulting Company). The product selection and installation was directed by electrical contractor Aleksey Guyvoronsky, owner of 5 Star Electric in Auburn. After conducting extensive internet research and interviews, he selected LEDs designed and manufactured by Michigan based Clean Light Green Light.

According to Guyvoronsky, in order to meet Washington State's energy code, the project needed to come in at 27,000 watts. By pairing the CLGL LEDs with control systems, he orchestrated several lighting "scenes" maximizing the lighting efficiency in accordance to specific zonal needs and time of day both inside and outside. He was able to bring the project in at under 9,000 watts.

By utilizing the LEDs and other energy-efficiency measures, Marvel Food and Deli became eligible for a grant from Puget Sound Energy (PSE) their local energy provider. An increasing number of U.S. utility companies are offering financial incentives for new installations of LEDs and retrofits of older lighting systems. Partnering with a local utility can reduce costs substantially, further motivating inquiries and investment in LEDs.

"This is the first project that we have seen where LEDs were used exclusively," said Corey Corbett, Energy Management Engineer with PSE.  "In facilities with high operating hours such as this one, we will probably see more of these projects." Ivanstov commented that he has noticed a "very reasonable" electric bill. In addition to utility rebates, the improved energy efficiency can make businesses eligible for corporate tax exemptions under new federal stimulus programs.