Press Contacts

SHINING LIGHT ON THE ENVIRONMENT
FAMILY DOLLAR Application Case Study

Since 1959, Family Dollar has been offering customers a variety of high-quality, good-value merchandise.  A family-friendly store, that operates on the principals of low-overhead and self-service. Headquartered in the Charlotte, N.C. area, Family Dollar operates 6,400 stores in 44 states. .  With this established base of stores and the potential for thousands more, Family Dollar turned to SYLVANIA Lighting Services (SLS) for a lighting solution that would save energy, reduce maintenance, drive down operating costs and improve store light levels throughout all the stores.
 

Family Dollar recognized the need for a change, to improve the existing lighting system in all stores and implement those improvements in stores to come.  The company wanted a consistent program that would incorporate brighter lighting, minimal operating costs, comprehensive maintenance service and environmental sustainability.  Family Dollar utilized their eight year relationship with SLS to achieve advanced applications in lighting solutions.

SLS experts first assessed the existing T8 fluorescent lighting systems installed nearly eight years ago at the Family Dollar stores.   A team of SLS professionals discovered that a simple re-retrofit and re-lamping strategy would promote energy efficiency, save money and improve the quality of lighting.   They then joined forces with members of the Family Dollar facilities and financial groups to create the most efficient and cost effective lighting systems and comprehensive maintenance program.

 
The project commenced in January of 2007 and 1,742 stores were completed within six to eight months of the initial installment.  Modifications were executed to meet the stores’ needs, which entailed a retrofit strategy replacing the dated lighting system with current, energy-efficient technology.  Installation took place during nighttime hours to ensure minimal disruption to the stores’ business, customers and employees.  “The ease of scheduling the retrofits was second to none and the quality of work and the value of the product installed certainly satisfied our expectations,” said Craig Burleson, energy project manager for Family Dollar.

The SYLVANIA OCTRON® FO28 XP™ SUPERSAVER® ECOLOGIC® fluorescent lamps are energy saving replacements for 32-Watt T8 fluorescent lamps.  These high performance lamps average 24,000 hours of life when used on the SYLVANIA QUICKTRONIC® QHE high efficiency electronic ballasts.  Lamps and ballasts were both installed by SLS to standardize the lighting systems throughout all facilities, reducing replacement inventory needs.

Annual inspections and on-call services provided by SLS are also included in the four year contract for preventative maintenance.

“From the crews who installed the fixtures to the project manager who oversaw the entire process, the endeavor ran smoothly,” expressed Burleson.

“The new lighting program is a huge win for Family Dollar, which enables them to reduce overall lighting maintenance costs, budget future lighting expenses over four years at fixed cost and allows them to achieve tremendous energy savings  while integrating environmental sustainability,” commented Scott Agnew, SLS executive account manager.

Retrofitting is expected to produce more than a million dollars in energy savings, and family dollar projects the project could pay for itself in less than three years.  In addition, the reduced energy usage products used should allow Family Dollar to take advantage of the Energy Policy Act (EPact) 2005 tax benefits.

“In the end, SYLVANIA Lighting Services did a fabulous job with our retrofit,” Burleson said.  “The new lighting will enable our Family Dollar stores to become more energy efficient, while providing a brighter and more inviting store to enhance our customer's shopping experience.”

LOCATION:	Family Dollar Stores across the U.S.
PRODUCTS:	SYLVANIA OCTRON® FO28 XP™ SUPERSAVER® ECOLOGIC® fluorescent lamps SYLVANIA QUICKTRONIC® QHE electronic ballasts.

   
For more information please contact: Kim Knoblauch at 919.368.2892 or kim@greystonepartners.net.