Sainsbury's has announced that its new store in Leek, Staffordshire, will be run by an LED lighting system that promises to cut down on energy consumption by around 60 per cent.
The firm said it is using the energy efficient ceiling spotlights as a way of taking advantage of highly efficient bulbs that also include daylight sensors to optimise the use of natural light when it is possible.
This store was opened last week, three years after plans for the development on the Churnet Works site off Macclesfield Road were first submitted.
According to the retailer, the new lighting system will cut energy use in the store by 59 per cent, when compared to traditional incandescent lighting.
It is hoped that this could deliver annual energy savings equivalent to that required to make ten million cups of tea.
The rollout will inevitably reduce maintenance costs and bosses believe that the shopping experience will be improved by ensuring a uniform level of light across the store.
Head of sustainability at the company Paul Crewe commented: "Finding a lighting solution that won't compromise our customers' shopping experience yet can help reduce our environmental impact and deliver reduced carbon and energy savings is key to us achieving our stretching carbon target."
The 40,000 sq ft supermarket has been built with a number of other energy saving measures in mind including larger windows and a rainwater harvesting system.
It also features a biomass boiler fuelled by sustainably certified wood pellets and water efficiency measures.
This green push is part of the retailer's pledge last year to invest £1 billion in energy saving technology as a way of reducing operational carbon emissions 30 per cent by 2020.
Mr Crewe added: "We originally trialled the LED system in one of our local convenience stores in Scotland late last year and the initial findings were so positive that we decided to install it in our new Leek supermarket."
