Orvis replaced about 300 lamps in the outlet store, reducing the store’s electricity usage by 8,400 kilowatt hours a month and saving almost $900 a month in electricity.
Since the LED lights are cooler than incandescent lights, the store also saved on air-conditioning costs. The LED lamps are estimated to last about 40,000 hours and hence will not need replacement for around 10 years.
Charles Clerici of Vermont’s business development services department said, “This LED project was one of the first of its kind in the state of Vermont. LED is a very promising technology but getting early adopters is always a critical path to getting success with the technology.”
According to Orvis’ director of technical services John Smith, the company expects to recover its costs on the lamps less then a year’s time and may also expand the use of LED lamps to its flagship stores and other retail stores in its chain.
