FEATURE LIGHTING & CONTROL SYSTEMS


Savvy school set to save thousands thanks to green lighting upgrade


School in West Monmouth is set to save tens of thousands of pounds and significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions after investing in a lighting upgrade with the support of Salix Finance


upgrades means lighting controls are increasingly becoming essential additions to a project rather than a ‘nice to do’. Monmouth School also installed a


brand-new PIR controls system to switch lighting off when occupants leave a space, ensuring that lights are only used when needed, resulting in an impressive 194,000kWh of savings from both the lighting and controls. As well as the immediate financial


savings made from lower energy bills, the upgrades also have the added benefit of reduced general maintenance costs. In total, the improvements are estimated to save the school more than £183,000 over the lifetime of the installation. Following the success of the lighting


F


or schools across the country, energy consumption is an important


consideration, as they look to not only strengthen their environmental policies but also reduce outgoing spend and improve learning environments. Retrofits and lighting upgrades, for


example, are a simple way to improve energy efficiency without impacting on the classroom experience. Efficient LED fittings, which also have an extended working life, are an effective way of reducing energy consumption, all while reducing greenhouse emissions at the same time. One school to see the benefits of


lighting upgrades is West Monmouth School in Torfaen, which is set to save tens of thousands of pounds and significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions after investing in a transformational lighting upgrade with the support of Salix Finance. The savvy secondary school has


installed numerous energy efficiency measures as part of its commitment to improving its energy efficiency, including upgrades to lighting throughout the school and the installation of lighting control systems to monitor or detect occupancy. The new technologies are predicted to


32 WINTER 2017 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT


cut the school’s energy costs by more than £20,400 per year and reduce carbon emissions, as well as greatly improve the learning environment for its 700 students. The project involved the replacement of


850 outdated light fittings, which no longer provided effective lighting to classrooms, with modern highly efficient T5 upgrades that have helped to create a better lit and more comfortable working environment for pupils and staff. While the previous lights had an


average wattage of 123W, the new T5 fittings have an average of 66W, reducing the amount of energy used in the school without compromising on the quality of lighting output provided. In fact, the switch is predicted to cut the school’s kWh usage by 66%. As well as opting for more energy


efficient lighting, reducing the operating time of lighting is another effective way of saving energy. Fast-moving developments in luminaire technology, lighting legislation and ever-increasing energy costs are some of the main drivers for including modern lighting controls as part of a wider lighting upgrade. With these considerations in mind and with more organisations taking a more holistic approach to lighting


Figure 1: West Monmouth School in Torfaen, received a replacement of 850 outdated lighting fittings, which no longer provided effective lighting to classrooms


upgrades project and the visible improvements to the quality of lighting, the school is now considering further projects to improve energy efficacy, including the replacements of its outdated boiler system to a more energy efficient option. The energy improvements were made


possible thanks to more than £84,000 worth of interest-free funding from Salix Finance - an independent, government- funded organisation which provides 100% interest-free loans to the public sector to increase its energy efficiency. The project was identified and


supported by the Council’s Schools Energy Efficiency Officer, who advised the school on the potential savings and technologies, and ensured business cases and loan agreements were satisfied by the school and Governing body. The funding for the project was


provided through Torfaen County Borough Council’s recycling fund; a 50/50 Salix matched ring-fenced pot dedicated to investing in energy efficiency projects within estates and schools across the county borough. The school will repay the cost of the


project over the course of 5.5 years from the savings recouped from the reduced energy bills.


Salix Finance www.salixfinance.co.uk T: 020 3102 6900


/ ENERGYMANAGEMENT


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