The 21-Watt Fixtures Are 80 Percent More Energy Efficient Than The 80-110W Halogen Fixture

Co-op grocery stores on the Adriatic Coast in Italy recently installed the co-developed Martini Virgola GM and GEX GM light fixtures with Bridgelux Décor LED arrays. The 21-watt fixtures are 80 percent more energy efficient than the 80-110W halogen fixtures they replaced, while also reducing the heat and eliminating UV radiation that accelerate food spoilage. Bridgelux Inc., an LED chip and array provider based in Livermore, California, has developed the Decor line of ultra-high CRI LED arrays in cooperation with Martini Lighting, a division of Martini SpA of Milan, Italy. The arrays are designed to bring ultra-bright solid-state lighting to demanding applications such as retail, hospitality, museum and high-end architectural lighting. In fact, co-op retail grocers on the Adriatic Coast of Italy recently replaced incumbent lighting with Martini Lighting fixtures and Décor arrays, delivering an 80 percent decrease in energy consumption while reducing the heat and radiation that contribute to food spoilage. The project involved the one-to-one replacement of 80-110W halogen fixtures with just-introduced 21W Virgola GM and GEX GM fixtures incorporating new Décor ES Series LED arrays. “Our mission was to refresh the design of the interior fresh food section of the co-op supermarkets. When we proposed to co-op a solid-state lighting solution, they discovered the technology offered significant design benefits in addition to dramatic improvements in energy efficiency. We believe that the decision to develop an LED-based lighting solution not only aligns with COOP’s environmental sustainability values, but also improves the environment and shopping experience in their stores,” said Ing Mingozzi, a consultant with Ricerca & Progetto design firm based in Bologna, Italy. Goals of the project included reduced maintenance cost and longer service life associated with LED lighting, as well as an improved shopping experience due to improved light quality. The LED arrays feature a CRI of 97 with a 3-step MacAdams Ellipse color-control option for delivery of a full palette of colors over a wide range of light levels. The Décor line features a lumen output range of 1200 to 2500 lm at 25-50W, with R9 and R15 values of 98 for enhanced depiction of red colors and accurate representation of skin tones. “The new Décor arrays take us to the next level, enabling very high-end lighting design,” said Giorgio Martini, VP of Martini Lighting. “We can design precision lighting effects and striking contrast ratios, enhancing the presentation of retail merchandise. The Decor arrays now permit us to deliver the highest quality light, brilliantly rendering colors and textures. These are the elements that allow us to present our shops and restaurants in living color.” The Decor arrays feature the same form factor as previous Bridgelux array product generations, allowing field upgradeability. Source: LEDs Magazine