Walmart showcases energy efficiency leadership

Walmart has announced results of a major lighting initiative with Current, powered by GE. The retailer has now installed more than 1.5 million LED (light emitting diode) fixtures across 6,000-plus stores, parking lots, distribution centres and corporate offices in ten countries. This has over the past decade reduced lighting energy consumption and reduced costs by over $100 million.

“Energy is one of the key operating expenses that we can reduce while delivering system upgrades that improve the customer shopping experience,” says Mark Vanderhelm, Walmart’s Vice President of Energy. “The ripple effect from these LED conversions throughout the business is truly staggering. 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.”

The partnership between Walmart and GE started with refrigeration display lighting and many stores now also feature Current’s TriGain technology, which is engineered to improve product visibility and enhance colour vibrancy in areas like produce departments. Walmart is also moving to complete LED and controls retrofits in 100% of its distribution centres in the US, along with a new initiative to replace all other forms of overhead lighting with LED.

“Walmart is setting a great example for the retail industry to follow,” says Maryrose Sylvester, President and CEO at Current by GE. “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. Walmart is once again on the leading edge of progress.”