The use of mercury vapor lighting in store interiors
Posted: 25 Apr 2017 00:57
It seems like there were two periods of time where many larger stores decided to experiment with mercury vapor lighting of various types.
It seems like the advantage here was a relatively long life of the bulbs, however, they were known to gradually dim as they aged and tended to shift colors. A bulb replacement would take care of that, but often the fixtures would be replaced instead.
There were a number of stores which used 2' X 2' square mercury recessed fixtures in suspended ceilings that were built during the late 1970s-early 1980s. A few I do remember were JCPenney and Montgomery Ward stores at Clackamas Town Center. Some Pay 'N Save stores also used a simpler round recessed version, but were replaced by fluorescent strip lighting while leaving the original fixtures intact. Some independent stores also used them, but they faded out of use in new stores by around the late 1980s. Some stores retained the fixtures until later, but most were ultimately replaced by conventional fluorescent lighting, or more recently, LED fixtures.
The second period came during the early to mid-90s when many stores adapted a "warehouse" style open ceiling. Examples include Fred Meyer, Costco, Home Depot, TOP Foods, and a variety of other stores. Much like the fixtures already mentioned, most of these were replaced by more efficient lighting, some have LED replacement bulbs in existing fixtures.
Was there any chain, grocery or otherwise, that ever used the mercury vapor lighting and actually stuck with it for long periods of time (10+ years), particularly the recessed version from the 1970s? With the possible exception of the warehouse ceilings, it never (at least from what I have seen) really gained widespread, consistent use for more than maybe a 5-10 year period, and it doesn't seem to be an overly great choice for indoor lighting especially as the bulbs age, or for lower ceilings.
A lot of people don't pay attention to things like lighting, but it is one of those things that can make a big difference in overall appearance of a store.
It seems like the advantage here was a relatively long life of the bulbs, however, they were known to gradually dim as they aged and tended to shift colors. A bulb replacement would take care of that, but often the fixtures would be replaced instead.
There were a number of stores which used 2' X 2' square mercury recessed fixtures in suspended ceilings that were built during the late 1970s-early 1980s. A few I do remember were JCPenney and Montgomery Ward stores at Clackamas Town Center. Some Pay 'N Save stores also used a simpler round recessed version, but were replaced by fluorescent strip lighting while leaving the original fixtures intact. Some independent stores also used them, but they faded out of use in new stores by around the late 1980s. Some stores retained the fixtures until later, but most were ultimately replaced by conventional fluorescent lighting, or more recently, LED fixtures.
The second period came during the early to mid-90s when many stores adapted a "warehouse" style open ceiling. Examples include Fred Meyer, Costco, Home Depot, TOP Foods, and a variety of other stores. Much like the fixtures already mentioned, most of these were replaced by more efficient lighting, some have LED replacement bulbs in existing fixtures.
Was there any chain, grocery or otherwise, that ever used the mercury vapor lighting and actually stuck with it for long periods of time (10+ years), particularly the recessed version from the 1970s? With the possible exception of the warehouse ceilings, it never (at least from what I have seen) really gained widespread, consistent use for more than maybe a 5-10 year period, and it doesn't seem to be an overly great choice for indoor lighting especially as the bulbs age, or for lower ceilings.
A lot of people don't pay attention to things like lighting, but it is one of those things that can make a big difference in overall appearance of a store.