Lighting Science Group  has developed a business partnership with Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar®.

Lighting Science® collaborated with the world's largest casual dining chain to monitor, evaluate and markedly reduce energy usage for lighting in their 23 company-owned restaurants. Through the installation of ultra-efficient and design-enhancing LED lamps, Applebee's should net an energy reduction for lighting of 88% per year.

Applebee's replaced over 3,000 incandescent and halogen lamps with Lighting Science's 8W A19 LED, 14W BR30 LED, 8W Par20 LED, and 6W MR16 LED. Following the project's completion, Applebee's reported an 88% reduction in total energy usage for lighting, sparing an average of 820 kilowatts per year.

The initial cost estimate of the LED lighting retrofit was tempered by utility rebates made possible with the lamps' Energy Star certifications. A tax deduction through the 2005 Energy Policy Act (EPACT) also applied. Considering these incentives, Applebee's anticipates a simple payback in a little over seven months.

 "Lighting Science is proud to partner with Applebee's, an American staple," said Keith Scott, Chief Commercial Officer at Lighting Science. "Our lamps improve their restaurants' bottom-line and achieve unrivaled lighting quality to enhance the customer experience. Given the energy, maintenance and architectural benefits, Applebee's will definitely reap the rewards of this innovative technology."