Can a Jewelry Store Be Eco-friendly and Still Make Their Diamonds Sparkle?
By guest columnist Howard Gurock, President, Eco-Lite Products LLC
Many states now restrict the amount of wattage that can be consumed in new store construction and remodeling which makes properly illuminating a retail space using less wattage a real challenge. Jewelry stores are a unique type of retail establishment. The amount of light necessary to make diamonds sparkle and gems glow is far more than would be required to illuminate a shirt or sweater. Using inadequate lighting in a jewelry store is a recipe for disaster. However, there are ways that a jewelry store can properly light their space and make their merchandise look fantastic while being “green”.
Stores with high or vaulted ceilings require the use of higher wattage lights spaced closer together than a store would require with a lower ceiling. If stores insist on the higher ceiling look then the use of decorative pendants or tracks which are lowered should be considered. By bringing the light source closer to the merchandise, a store owner will be able to use lower wattage lights spaced farther apart, which will reduce overall power consumption.
Changing the color schematic for a store will have an enormous impact on the lighting. The use of white or bright colors will permit light to “bounce” off the surface thus increasing the amount of light that a fixture will deliver, while the use of darker or light absorbing colors will have the complete opposite effect.
Lighting technology has come a long way over the past decade. Jewelry stores that are still using inefficient lighting, such as a 50W MR16 Halogen light for example, are perfect candidates for changing over to newer more efficient technologies. Most stores, when using an MR16 in a track or recessed installation, space them 12” to 18” apart. This means that a typical six foot showcase has between 200W to 300W of light above each case. These halogen lights burn extremely hot and increase the ambient temperature requiring, in some cases, air conditioning to be used in the winter in northern stores!
Switching to ceramic metal halide is a great way to reduce wattage while upgrading the quality and power of the light. A six foot showcase that requires 300W of halogen lighting will only need 140W of ceramic metal halide lighting. This translates into a 54% reduction in wattage which means lowered electric usage and lowered ambient heat, all of which results in lowered electric bills.
LED lighting is another way to reduce power consumption. Changing the lighting inside of a showcase from halogen to LED lights has dual benefits. A six foot showcase using halogen lighting inside will typically require 140W of power to light the case. The heat generated by these lights in the confined space of a showcase causes the glass and metal framing that many cases feature to become extremely hot and uncomfortable to customers who lean on them. In contrast, using LED technology in this same six foot case will require less than 50% of the power used by the halogens and will not create any heat on the glass and metal framing. It will also dramatically enhance the look of your diamonds and other jewelry.
One last way to be green is to use motion sensors specifically made to keep the lights inside showcases off while there are no customers in the store. They immediately turn on when a customer walks in and are a great way to save energy. Many top retailers are using these specialized sensors. In the jewelry world, having the showcase lights off for just 5 minutes per hour will, in many instances, translate into over 275 hours of electrical savings.
For more information on green store lighting alternatives, please contact Howard Gurock, President, Eco-Lite Products, LLC howardg@eco-lite.com, www.eco-lite.com
By Fruchtman on November 17, 2009 :: Filed under Technically Speaking,Think
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