ENERGY IN RETAIL, HOTELS & LEISURE Smart lighting is transforming retail


As retail estates become smarter and more connected, Anthony Barrow explores how intelligent lighting is playing an increasingly important role in performance, flexibility and ESG.


Whole asset lifecycle Shopping centre owners increasingly take a whole-life view of their assets. Lighting decisions are no longer based solely on initial capital cost. Maintenance requirements, operational disruption, adaptability and future resilience are becoming equally important. This was particularly evident during


a recent intelligent lighting upgrade at The Oracle in Reading. Trojan Lighting supplied intelligent luminaires across the Riverside and Holy Brook car parks together with back-of-house areas. The scheme incorporated wireless


controls, integrated emergency lighting and occupancy sensing throughout the estate. The result was:


● 87% reduction in lighting energy consumption


● annual carbon savings of more than 155 tonnes


Anthony Barrow


MD at Trojan Lighting


trojan-lighting.co.uk


systems often result in unnecessary energy consumption, increased maintenance and limited operational visibility.


Connected lighting controls offer W


alk through any major shopping centre today and you’ll see far more than retail. Modern


destinations provide hospitality, leisure, entertainment, healthcare services and flexible workspaces, all within spaces that are well-lit and energy-efficient throughout extended operating hours. For owners and facilities teams,


that creates a significant challenge as lighting is one of the largest electrical loads across a retail estate, yet it is also fundamental to customer experience, operational safety and building performance. Increasingly, the solution isn’t simply replacing fluorescent luminaires with LEDs, but rethinking lighting as part of the wider digital infrastructure of the building.


Retail never stands still Unlike many commercial buildings, shopping centres rarely operate in a steady state. Footfall varies dramatically throughout the day and across the seasons. Individual units change occupants, public spaces are regularly reconfigured for events, and back-of-house areas operate to entirely different schedules than customer- facing spaces. Traditional lighting systems struggle


to adapt to this level of operational change. Fixed switching arrangements and standalone emergency lighting


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Trojan Lighting has recently partnered with Bluewater Shopping Centre to upgrade 57 ‘lighthouses’ – 8ft pillars made of wood, metal and luminaires – that have been central to the centre’s design since its opening in 1999


a different approach, introducing occupancy sensing, daylight harvesting, wireless commissioning and automated emergency testing. This allows lighting to respond dynamically to how the building is actually being used.


Beyond energy savings Energy reduction is often the headline figure, but it is rarely the only benefit. Modern intelligent lighting systems


can: ● automate emergency lighting testing ● reduce planned maintenance ● provide fault notifications simplify compliance reporting


● improve operational flexibility ● generate valuable building performance data This shifts lighting from being


purely a utility to becoming part of the building’s wider information network. For estates teams managing multiple assets, that visibility is becoming increasingly valuable.


Practical challenges At West Quay Shopping Centre in Southampton, Trojan Lighting supplied lighting for a major modernisation programme across back-of-house areas. More than 4,500 luminaires were upgraded using intelligent wireless controls incorporating occupancy sensing, daylight response and automated emergency lighting monitoring. The project significantly reduced


energy consumption while allowing lighting performance and emergency systems to be managed centrally across the estate. The ability to reconfigure lighting without extensive rewiring also provides greater flexibility as operational requirements evolve.


● return on investment of less than five years While these figures are significant, perhaps more importantly the building now benefits from a lighting system capable of adapting as operational requirements change.


ESG objectives Shopping centre owners face increasing pressure to reduce operational carbon while extending the useful life of existing assets, with lighting contributing directly to several of these objectives. High-efficiency LED systems reduce operational energy demand, while intelligent controls ensure lighting operates only where and when required. Increasingly, retrofit solutions are


also extending the life of existing luminaires by replacing internal components rather than entire fittings, reducing embodied carbon and material waste. This supports a growing industry focus on circular economy principles rather than wholesale replacement.


Lighting as infrastructure One of the strongest themes emerging across the property sector is that buildings are becoming increasingly connected. Lighting now sits alongside HVAC,


security, access control and energy management as part of an integrated smart building ecosystem. Wireless lighting networks are capable of supporting occupancy analytics, environmental sensors, asset monitoring and future IoT devices without requiring significant additional infrastructure. This transforms lighting into a


platform that helps buildings operate more intelligently. ■


EIBI | SEPTEMBER 2026


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