Lighting is an essential part of retail design. It can set a mood, allow a retailer to highlight certain items or areas, and help consumers make purchasing decisions. At the same time, the reduction of artificial lighting in and around retail establishments must be part of any overall energy reduction plan. According to the U. S. Department of Energy, lighting for industry, stores, offices, and warehouses represents 80 to 90 percent of total electricity use.

There are many techniques that businesses can employ to reduce the energy needed to light their stores, display windows, signs and parking lots. Here are a few:

• Replace old bulbs with new, energy efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) or Light-Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs. Learn more.

• Outdoor signage should be set to turn off at a predetermined hour. Many municipalities are adopting ordinances to control outdoor lighting.

• Parking lots can use high efficiency lighting and motion-sensor technology to turn lights on only when necessary.

• Energy Star LED “Exit” signs save money every day.

• Skylights and windows that allow natural light indoors save energy every day; many surveys show that customers prefer natural light in shopping areas.

• Dimmer switches can be used to adjust interior lighting as daylight increases or decreases.

• Display windows may not need any lighting during daylight hours, and should be on timers to shut off when street traffic diminishes at night, or in accordance with municipal lighting codes.


Resources:

Seattle City Light has a web site with case studies of how retail stores saved energy and money utilizing natural daylight and alternative light sources. They cite a 1999 study showing that skylights boosted sales by an average of 40% (in terms of sales per sq. ft. per year). 

Earth Easy has devoted a large portion of their site to energy efficient lighting, with great information about both CFL and LED bulbs.

An excellent article about "new technologies creating brighter, longer-lasting and more efficient lighting for retail environments" by Vilma Barr is available online at Display and Design Ideas Magazine.