BUILDINGS, MAINTENANCE & REFURBISHMENT
suggest that human-centric lighting can reduce fatigue, improve mood, and lower the risk of burnout. In a profession where staff retention is a growing concern, small improvements like this can have real impact. At, B.E.G. we have pushed ourselves as being at the forefront of this movement. We’ve worked with hundreds of educational institutions all over Europe in the last few decades - from early years settings to large university campuses - installing sensor-based systems that deliver HCL benefits without the complexity or cost many assume is involved.
Our technology is built to be smart, responsive and easy to integrate - meaning schools don’t necessarily need to rebuild their infrastructure to benefit from it. Sensors placed strategically around a building can automatically monitor occupancy, daylight levels, and even time of day to adjust the lighting accordingly. And with wireless options available, retrofitting older buildings becomes much more achievable.
But beyond the physiological and pedagogical benefits of HCL, there’s a very practical advantage too in investing in HCL and controls generally – energy savings. Educational institutions are under constant pressure to reduce costs. Budgets are stretched, utility prices fluctuate, and every kilowatt counts. Lighting - especially in older buildings - often accounts for a large portion of energy use. In many cases, lights are left on in unoccupied rooms, corridors, storage areas, and even entire wings of buildings simply out of habit or lack of control. That’s where lighting controls make a huge difference.
Occupancy sensors ensure that lights are
only on when a space is in use - whether it’s a classroom, toilet block, staffroom or lecture theatre. Daylight sensors, meanwhile, automatically dim or switch off lights when there is sufficient natural light - a particularly valuable feature on bright winter mornings when classrooms can still feel artificially over-lit.
Time scheduling and astronomical clocks allow schools to set lighting patterns that follow real sunrise and sunset times - ensuring outdoor areas, car parks and entranceways are only lit when needed. It’s a deceptively simple shift - but the savings can be substantial. We regularly see schools reduce their lighting-related energy consumption after installing smart controls. That translates directly into financial savings - often thousands of pounds a year - which can then be reinvested in teaching resources, support staff, or even further infrastructure improvements. Even more importantly, these systems reduce wear and tear on lighting equipment. Lights that are dimmed or used less frequently last longer. Maintenance costs go down. Disruption caused by bulb failures or emergency call-outs is reduced. For facilities teams already stretched thin, this is a real and welcome benefit. As schools and trusts work toward net-zero targets and environmental commitments, reducing energy use from lighting is one of the most straightforward - and measurable - steps they can take. The carbon savings are immediate, and often count towards grant and funding criteria under local and national schemes. Winter is, in many ways, the moment where these systems prove their value most clearly. When lighting is needed from the
moment students arrive until long after clubs and meetings end, intelligent controls work hardest. But that also means this season is the ideal time to act.
Upgrades made now deliver savings right when energy use spikes. Comfort improves precisely when the environment feels most challenging. Safety - in corridors, stairwells and outdoor spaces - is enhanced at the very time it’s most needed.
We often advise schools to begin with a simple audit: walk the site at different times of day. Where is light being wasted? Which spaces are empty but illuminated? Where could natural light be used more effectively? From there, the path forward becomes clearer - whether that’s a targeted retrofit of sensors in key areas, or a larger upgrade to integrated HCL and control systems throughout a building.
The technology is here. The benefits are proven. And the return on investment is quicker than many realise - not just in pounds and pence, but in improved concentration, better attendance, and happier staff.
At B.E.G., we’re proud to support the education sector not just with products, but with partnerships. We work closely with schools, contractors, and consultants to design systems that work for each unique site. Our focus isn’t just on saving energy - it’s on making education spaces healthier, smarter, and more human.
As the mornings grow darker, let’s not let our classrooms dim with them. HCL, powered by intelligent control, is a simple, powerful way to keep the light of learning bright - for students, for staff, and for the future.
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www.education-today.co.uk
October 2025
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