Photos: Fiber optics lighting the way

Fiberstars' EFO (efficient fiber optics) lighting has begun showing up in some supermarkets' freezer and refrigerator cases. Light from a high-intensity bulb is fed into specialized fibers. Because the electrical components are kept at a distance, the light won't heat up seafood or other items that need to be kept cold. It also cuts electricity usage.

That's no ordinary freezer. Grocery chain Albertsons conducted a test with EFO (efficient fiber optics) lights in a store in Fullerton, Calif., and found that the lights could cut power bills by nearly $5,900 a year in a store with 100 freezer and refrigerator cases. The store is currently contemplating putting these lights in wine areas and seafood counters.