GE

Lighting

a sparkling proposal

Riddles Jewelry is newly engaged with GEs LED lighting solutions

LED replacement lamps will lower lighting energy costs by 20-25% a year
TH E S I TUATI O N
Family-owned Riddles Jewelry opened its first store in Webster,
S.D., in 1959. More than half a century and many stores later, Riddles
still prides itself on offering a warm, friendly atmosphere in all of its
locations across nine states. Lighting plays an especially important role
at Riddles, from the subtle shimmer of precious stones to the setting
of an elegant, inviting atmosphere.
T H E S O LU TI O N
Riddles Jewelry locations house between 80 and 210 spotlight fixtures,
depending on store size. The retailer is moving from 75-watt halogen
lamps to GEs 20-watt PAR38 LED replacement lamps, a product of
GE ecomaginationSM. Working with Dakota Supply Group, Riddles
has installed GEs LED replacement lamps in 47 stores and plans to
complete the project by the end of 2013.

O P E R AT I N G I M P A C T

2025% reduction in store

lighting energy costs/year
Rebates of $11.25 and $27
per lamp in some stores

We began researching LED jewelry store lighting about five years ago
and got really serious about two years ago when Dakota Supply Group
introduced us to GE. After looking at a number of options, GEs LED
replacement lamps offered the best combination of energy savings
and the best look for our merchandise once its out of the cases.
- Dan Casanova, Vice President of Riddles

At locations that have used GEs LED replacement lamps for more than one
year, Riddles has seen lighting energy cost savings between $100 and $150
a month in smaller stores (80-100 fixtures) and from $175 to $225 in larger
stores (up to 210 fixtures), based on a $.10 per kWh rate and 4,000 hours of
operation annually.

E N V I R O N M E N TA L I M P A C T

327 tons of coal burning

avoided for electric power
generation

GE 2013 95290 9/2013

THE SOLUTION CONTINUED...

These savings are also the result of reduced loads on building cooling
systemseach Riddles store, even those in colder climates, typically runs its
air conditioning throughout the year because of the heat generated by in-store
halogen lighting. GEs new LED replacement lamps stay much cooler than the
halogen bulbs, and though Riddles has not yet recorded exact load reductions,
store managers have reported a noticeable decrease in the cooling demand on
HVAC units.
Once all 57 locations are complete, Riddles expects to save about $100,000
a year in lighting energy costs, not including reduced maintenance as the result
of longer-lived LED technology. The retailer also said it plans to specify GEs LED
lamps for all jewelry store lighting projects moving forward.
GE and Dakota Supply also assisted Riddles in analyzing rebate opportunities
from local utilities for each store, then applying for the rebates as rollouts
occurred. At its Rapid City, S.D., store, Riddles received a rebate of $11.25 per
lamp. At another in Minn., Xcel Energy provided a rebate of $27 per lamp.

GEs 20-watt LED lamps are replacing

75-watt halogen bulbs in 57 stores.

We operate in markets that have fairly low energy costs, but the return on
investment is still good. With rebates, we expect a 14-month ROI per store.
In markets with no rebates, payback becomes 20 to 22 months, which is still
a good return, said Casanova.
Riddles is also retrofitting parabolic lenses in store walkways, moving
from 32-watt fluorescent lamps to GEs 25-watt T8 lamps. And based on the
success Riddles has achieved to date, the retailer is considering switching from
fluorescent to LED lighting in its display cases, as well.
For more information, visit gelighting.com/retail.

Riddles new LED lamps also produce less

heatstore managers have reported
a noticeable decrease in cooling demand
on HVAC units.

GE 2013 95290 9/2013