STATER BROS. INSTALLS SOLAR LIGHTING IN NEW STORE

KAITLEN JAY EXUM

COLTON, Calif. -- Prompted by the successful retrofits of a solar-lighting system in its stores during the California blackouts last year, Stater Bros. Markets here has installed the energy-conserving system in a new location and also will install it in a store that's opening next spring.

The "daylighting" system, called Solatube, is a network of tubular skylights designed by Solatube International, Vista, Calif. It was installed during the construction of Stater Bros.'s new 43,235-square-foot Chino Hills, Calif., store, and will be included in its new Corona, Calif., location. There are no plans to retrofit existing markets with entire daylighting systems, although individual Solatube skylights may be used on an as-needed basis.

"The projected energy savings resulting from the Solatubes will cut our annual lighting energy costs [in the Chino Hills store] by nearly half," said Mike McCasland, property development manager, Stater Bros. "In addition, the Solatubes will keep the store lighted in the event of a blackout situation."

Last year, six Stater Bros. markets were retrofitted with emergency Solatube systems to provide back-up lighting during the rolling blackouts of California's energy crisis. Based on the positive results of the retrofitted markets, Stater Bros. decided to use Solatube as more than just an emergency lighting system, including the total daylighting system in the new Chino Hills store's design.

The Solatube system relies on a transparent acrylic dome attached to the supermarket's roof to filter out UV rays and, inside the dome, a stationary optic reflector that harvests sunlight. The sunlight is then conducted through reflective tubes and directed into the store through diffusers (skylights) that look just like normal light fixtures, according to Scott Limbacher, vice president of construction and maintenance, Stater Bros.

A total of 164 21-inch Solatube skylights, along with the harvesting controls, were installed in the Chino Hills store, which opened in May. "The construction and installation of the skylights allow a large amount of light to enter the store without any major modifications to our roof structure," said Limbacher.

Working from six to 10 hours per day, the system automatically switches on the store's electric lights at night or during particularly dark days, said Neall Digert, technical director, Solatube International.

Intended to decrease lighting and cooling expenses, the Solatube system cost Stater Bros. $300 to $400 per skylight, although price varies depending upon the length of tubing used. Digert said that there is a typical savings of 20% of annual energy expenditures. Additionally, according to Limbacher, a brightly sunlit supermarket enhances the colors of products and the store's atmosphere.

Stater Bros.'s installation is Solatube's first in the supermarket industry.