Tallahassee, Fla.-based cooperatively owned grocery store New Leaf Market selected Cree’s new CS18 LED linear luminaires for a recent lighting upgrade in its 13,7000 square-foot store, resulting in significant energy savings and enhanced lighting.

In switching from linear fluorescents to Cree CS18® LED linear luminaires, the cooperative not only realized 57 percent energy savings in its 13,700-square-foot store but introduced a dramatic improvement in the quality and reach of its lighting – an improvement that was immediately apparent to employees and customers alike.

 
“Colors really pop now, with our new LED fixtures,” said Larrane Hartridge, the market’s general manager. “The apples really do shine brighter. And the amount of additional light also has been impressive. Customers have commented on how much better things look, without even knowing why.”

 
Robby Gilliom, Service Manager at Weston-Trawick, who recommended Cree to New Leaf Market, installed the Cree LED fixtures in half the store in one night, with the fluorescents remaining in place in the other half, affording a vivid “before-and-after” contrast. The upgrade in illumination was striking, even on the bottom shelves, as was the enhanced color quality, with a greater than 90 color rendering index (CRI) improvement.
 
Robby appreciated the ease with which the Cree system was installed since each row requires only one connection. It’s estimated that over the lifetime of the fixtures, the cooperative will save $22,557 more with the Cree solution than it would have had it opted for a new fluorescent system. In addition, it takes only eight months to recoup the incrementalupfront cost of using LED through the improved energy and maintenance savings.

Here are some additional details:
 
•    In keeping with its commitment to advancing green initiatives at every opportunity, New Leaf Market installed 38 Cree CS18 LED linear luminaires to replace the previous T8 linear fluorescent fixtures to provide striking illumination from the enhanced color quality to make each product’s natural color pop.
•    Due to ease of installation with the CS18 luminaires, half of the store’s lights were replaced in just one night.
•    As a result, the cooperative saw energy savings of 57 percent, totaling to approximately $28,155 over the lifetime of the LED luminaires. Due to the longevity of the LED luminaires, New Leaf Market will be able to nearly eliminate maintenance associated with relamping for even more cost savings.

About The CS18TM LED linear luminaire

The CS18TM LED linear luminaire delivers up to 8000 lumens of exceptional 90 CRI light while achieving up to 120 lumens per watt. This breakthrough performance is achieved by combining the high efficacy and high-quality light of Cree TrueWhite® Technology and Cree MicroMixingTM Optics with a unique thermal management approach. The CS18 is available in neutral or cool color temperatures and has 0-10V dimming as standard option. Its compact, lightweight design easily accommodates suspended installations, making the CS18 perfect for use in grocery retail, showrooms and light industrial applications in new or upgrade construction.

Record-setting Performance
Innovative technology and incredibly efficient luminaire design give the High Efficacy CS Series its unmatched performance combination of 120 LPW, 90 CRI, and minimum L85 at 75,000 hours.

Fast Install, faster payback
A lightweight, intuitive design minimizes installation time for upfront savings that speed up payback, while the CS Series’ longevity can virtually eliminate costly high-ceiling maintenance year after year.

Architectural look & quality
In addition to beautiful light quality, the CS Series’ appeal is heightened by a stylish open design, which transforms the heat sink into a sleek aesthetic element that brings architectural appeal to any space.

Total versatility
Engineered for versatility, the CS Series features integral through wiring and several quick connection features that make suspended, surface mount, and continuous row installation simple and easy.