LIGHTING THE WAY TO ENERGY SAVINGS

If recent reports are to be believed, businesses are set to experience the impact of the volatile energy market for at least the next two years. For those responsible for the management and operation of buildings, this only adds to increasing pressures to reduce operational costs and CO2 emissions.

But there are relatively simple, small changes that can make big differences to energy costs and consumption, including the use of more energy efficient lighting.

Here in the UK, the government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme was introduced at the beginning of October, but a Treasury-led review will explore a new approach from April 2023. The emphasis will be on incentivising businesses to become more energy efficient. This sends a clear message that organisations need to identify and implement energy efficiency measures, to protect themselves against soaring operational costs.

Fortunately, there are some relatively straightforward steps that can be taken to achieve this, and reviewing core building services should be at the top of the priority list. Lighting is fundamental to any business. Whether it is an office building, retail premises or an industrial warehouse, having the correct lighting will make a big difference to reducing energy demand and operational costs.

According to Climate Group, lighting accounts for nearly 5% of global CO2 emissions. Compared to old technologies, a global switch to energy efficient LED technology could save over 1,400 million tons of CO2 and avoid the construction of 1,250 power stations.

Did you know that most of the energy that goes into lighting an incandescent lamp is actually spent on heating the filament? An LED lamp only loses around 5% of the energy generated to heat, whilst 95% is converted to light.

LEDs (light emitting diodes) were first created in 1927, but the use of this technology for residential and commercial properties didn’t really become popular until the 2000s. By 2019, it started to replace halogen and fluorescent bulbs which were being phased out.

By replacing outdated lighting with modern LED systems, coupled with intelligent control systems, buildings can be made more efficient, generating savings of 60% to 80%.

LED luminaires also have a life expectancy that is 20 times longer than traditional bulbs and can function for over 50,000 hours before having to be replaced. With less maintenance, this also offers significant savings as well as reducing their carbon footprint.

Businesses of all sizes in any industry can benefit from energy efficient lighting, including offices, retail stores, restaurants and warehouses. In businesses where lighting is used 24 hours a day, such as data centres, warehouses and production plants, the benefits are amplified many times over.

There are relatively simple, small changes that can make big differences to energy costs

Sadly, not all businesses appreciate the benefits of LED lighting. But it’s relatively easy to construct a compelling case for them to upgrade. The good news is that such upgrades are easy to do and can be achieved in return for relatively small investments.

Alongside replacing traditional lighting with LED lamps, installing lighting control systems can add a level of flexibility that is also beneficial for businesses. For example, PIR or motion sensitive sensors ensure that lights are switched off when rooms or areas are unoccupied.

Equally, daylight dimming is also a feature of some luminaires, automatically decreasing the brightness of the light emitted as natural light levels increase. Providing a more organic lighting design benefits building occupants and also ensures that energy is not wasted.

Beyond that, installing controls and sensors allows businesses to make informed decisions about how their buildings are being used, and make changes to lighting schedules and settings. This can dramatically reduce energy consumption as the lights are subsequently only on when needed.

No business can afford to be inactive when it comes to energy, and lighting is the perfect place to make positive changes. Whilst retrofitting buildings with modern, efficient lighting could be seen by many as a complex and time-consuming affair, this isn’t the case. With the cost of even the higher-end systems steadily falling, there has never been a better time to talk to customers about embracing the benefits of LED lighting.

Wholesalers and distributors are on hand to provide guidance on lighting solutions that reduce energy demands and save money. CEF,

cef.co.uk