South African Grocery Chain Saves Energy with Skylights

By: Jenny Corry

As electricity prices are rising across the globe, South Africans have become all too familiar with the effects. However, South Africa as a whole – in particular its business sector – has more funds to invest in energy-efficient innovations than many other African countries. Given South Africa’s potential to inspire surrounding countries to invest in energy efficient technology, in May 2010 the Alliance partnered with Global Marketing and Communications to host business leaders from South Africa in major U.S. cities to demonstrate how energy efficiency can save energy and money.

As a result of this trade mission, which was led by the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and focused on energy-efficient building solutions, one of South Africa’s largest grocery store chains installed energy efficient skylights – the first commercial investment of its kind for the chain, and one that has far-reaching effects.   

Bringing Energy-Efficient Technologies to New Markets

Prior to the trade mission, South African supermarket chain Pick n Pay had been looking for ways to cut down on electric lighting costs by using more natural light. However, the company had ruled out skylights because of concerns about heat gain, glare durability and waterproofing.   Additionally, Pick n Pay management had never seen skylights installed, making them a risky investment.

But the trade mission to Washington, D.C., and New York City helped to persuade Pick n Pay General Manager Ponen Rajah to install skylights in the flagship store, which was scheduled to open in Gauteng, South Africa, in October 2010 – a few months after the trade mission ended. 

“My visit to the U.S. gave me an opportunity to experience the effects of these skylights and to clear up the doubts we had about skylights,” Mr. Rajah said.

The new skylights were supplied by daylighting products manufacturer Sunoptics, part of Alliance Associate Acuity Brands.

• Top two photos of Pick n Pay and its skylights; courtesy of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency

The ‘Highlight’ of Pic n Pay’s Flagship Store

Six months after the installation, the Alliance checked in with Mr. Rajah to find out if the skylights were meeting expectations. 

“The skylights are the highlight of the flagship store. They work very efficiently and create a pleasant shopping environment,” Mr. Rajah said.

Moreover, with skylights brightening the store’s entire main floor, managers were able to keep lights dimmed by 80% during daylight hours.

From Skylights, to LEDs, to U.S. Jobs

The success of the skylights encouraged Pick n Pay to introduce other energy efficient technologies. For instance, the flagship store installed Beta LED manufactured LED lights in its parking lot and parking garage.  LED lights and skylights are now standard specifications and are being implemented in two projects.

These and other energy efficiency advancements at Pic n Pay were so effective that the company won an ETA energy efficiency innovation award for serving as a role model for South Africa’s retailers.  

USTDA anticipates that initial sales from Pick n Pay will lead to more orders for the 700+ Pick n Pay locations in South Africa, as well as other South African businesses. Such orders have the potential to create jobs in America while reducing energy use and costs for South Africa.

•  Photo: Daylighting dome used by Pick n Pay; courtesy of Sunoptics, an Acuity Brands company. Many of the largest U.S. retailers, including Walmart, Best Buy and Home Depot, use this Signature Series dome.

For More Info

See USTDA’s summary of this project on page 11 of its slick Annual Report.