Tesco Says First All-LED Store Will Produce 30% Energy Savings

Tesco expects the lighting system at its first all-LED store to produce 30 percent energy savings compared to other Tesco Express stores.

The UK’s largest retailer opened the doors to its all-LED store in Loughborough, England this week.

All external signage at the new Express supermarket, as well as lighting on the sales floor and in staff areas, use energy-efficient LED fittings. The store’s cold rooms, fridges and freezer are also lit by LEDs.

The only place in store that uses standard lighting is the bakery oven, where temperatures are too high for LEDs to function.

Tesco environmental program manager Emmily Sjolander says LED systems are especially effective at reducing energy usage at Express supermarkets because of these stores are smaller and have a lower ceiling height than standard Tesco supermarkets. If the lights deliver the expected savings, she says the company will likely implement LEDs in other stores.

Tesco says the LED systems will help it reach its goal of being carbon neutral by 2050.

In recent years Tesco has trialed various energy-efficient technologies at its flagship zero-carbon stores, the most recent of which opened at Cefn Mawr, Wales in March. Energy-saving features include lights that dim according to the level of natural daylight, rainwater collection for flushing staff toilets, and renewable energy installations.

Technologies that are successful at zero-carbon stores are then implemented across Tesco’s 2,700 UK locations, and incorporated into Tesco’s new-build program.

In August, the UK government began a trial with Tesco and 11 other companies to test more than 300 low-carbon commercial vehicles.

In the US, Tesco operates the Fresh & Easy chain, whose environmental initiatives have included rooftop solar installations, natural gas vehicles, and CO2 refrigeration.