US: Timberland cuts retail carbon footprint with new lighting

25 November 2009 | Source: Joe Ayling

Outdoor apparel firm The Timberland Company is bidding to shrink the carbon footprint of its US retail stores by 11% by installing new LED lighting.

LED lighting will be replacing less efficient incandescent spotlights in 70% of Timberland stores by the end of the year, according to a statement.

Timberland said the new LED lamps are twice as efficient as the comparative foot-candle incandescent bulbs they replaced. LED lamps feature a service life of more than 10 years, it said.

"All of our new US stores are built to LEED certification standards, but the green standard of even six months ago is not the standard of today," said Al Buell, manager of store construction at the company. "Shifting to LED lighting is a part of a small but fast-growing trend that is redefining green design."

In all, 49 of Timberland's 70 North American stores will convert to LED lighting.