Watch CBS News

Nino's Cuts Energy Use 75 Percent With New Lighting

TROY -- In a significant move to save energy costs and to expand its green footprint, Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace has adopted American-made solid state lighting technology with incentives from DTE Energy's Your Energy Savings Program and technology expertise from Macomb County-based Lexicon Technologies International.

With a close to 100 percent retrofit, Nino's president, Kirk Taylor, today announced the company has replaced over 3,000 75-watt halogen lamps and nearly all of the stores' incandescents with 6-watt and 19-watt LED lamps. The retrofit encompassing all three Nino's stores is now complete and has significant benefits for the consumer, the company and the environment.

"We just completed this project and are already noting the benefits," Taylor said. "We've enhanced the shopping experience as the new lamps provide more natural light illuminating the true and beautiful colors of our produce. Additionally, our fresh produce brought daily to the stores is no longer under the heat of the higher watt bulbs adding to its freshness. By changing to LEDs, we fully focus the new energy-efficient lighting on the variety and scope of our product selections in our many departments."

Taylor added, "In addition to reducing the heat directed at our products, we've had the added benefit of decreasing our air conditioning and refrigeration costs. Even more important for the future of our environment, these lights have no toxic mercury, providing a major benefit to our "green" commitment."

Besides the aesthetic enhancement of products and energy savings, the store also was enthusiastic about purchasing the lamps from a Michigan supplier. Lexicon Technologies International of Shelby Township is a privately held, high tech manufacturer of solid state lighting.

"When Lexicon was founded, we had one objective: to deliver the absolute finest LED lamps to the global marketplace, and we succeeded," said Joseph Dobosz, the company's president. "The EnterpriseLED product line remains the premier cost-effective solution amongst end-users and specifiers of this lighting technology. It was important to Nino's management to embrace business with a U.S. based manufacturer, one with intense quality controls and sophisticated technology. "

DTE also praised the move.

"Nino's 'green' incentive partnership with DTE Energy's Your Energy Savings Program is significant as the program offers cash incentives to help business customers reduce their energy use," said Gerald Polk, manager of energy optimization for DTE Energy. "These incentives reduce the upfront cost of installing more efficient equipment and make it easier for customers to invest in energy efficiency. Since a portion of energy costs are a controllable operating expense, every dollar saved can make an impact on the bottom line."

Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace was founded by the late Nino Salvaggio in St. Clair Shores in 1979, and as the company grew, additional stores opened, in Troy 1996 and Clinton Township in 2003. More at www.ninosalvaggio.com.

More about Lexicon Technologies at www.lexiconlighting.com.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.