Commercial, Energy Efficiency, Power Prices  -  January 16, 2018

Walmart saves $100 million in energy with LEDs

Walmart Stores Inc. has installed more than 1.5 million LED fixtures in more than 6,000 locations, the company announced on January 16 at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show.

The LED installations, at Walmart’s stores, parking lots, distribution centers and corporate offices in 10 states, are the result of an initiative between Walmart and General Electric that began 10 years ago, including an extensive lighting program with Current, powered by GE. According to the announcement, Walmart is also completing LED and control retrofits in all U.S. distribution centers and plans to install LED to replace all other forms of overhead lighting.

Overall, this energy initiative has reduced energy costs by more than $100 million over the last decade. "Energy is one of the key operating expenses that we can reduce while delivering system upgrades that improve the customer shopping experience," said Mark Vanderhelm, Walmart’s vice president of energy. "We believe that by continuing to reduce one of our biggest operating expenses, we’re supporting future innovation and delivering on our promise of Every Day Low Prices."

Walmart’s LED investments are part of Walmart’s science-based emissions reduction plan. The goal is to reduce emissions 18 percent from 2015 to 2025 through increased energy efficiency, sourcing of renewable energy and improvements in refrigeration systems and fleet efficiency.

Noting Walmart’s position "on the leading edge of progress," Maryrose Sylvester, president and CEO of Current by GE said, "We believe the global LED and controls transformation is paving the way for the next generation of smart retail, where steady advancement toward new digital solutions will continue improving the shopping experience."

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