lighting transition

  Transition to Energy-Efficient LED Lighting

Project Overview

The lighting system currently in use at our Hub requires significant improvements to enhance energy efficiency security and user experience. The existing setup is a mix of old fluorescent and halogen lights that contribute to high energy consumption and inadequate lighting control. This project aims to replace outdated lighting with modern LED solutions, and install motion sensors and photocells,resulting in substantial energy savings and improved functionality.

 Objectives

1. Reduce Energy Consumption

Achieve at least a 60% reduction in energy usage by upgrading to LED lighting.

2. Enhance User Comfort:

Provide adjustable lighting options to ensure comfort for all users throughout the facility.

3. Increase Security:

Install motion sensors and floodlights for enhanced security & safety in outdoor and poorly lit areas.

4. Leverage Volunteer Support: Utilize volunteers to assist with the transition process, thereby reducing overall costs.

Scope of Work

- Improvements to  original Assessments of our Current System: Review existing lighting conditions in all areas to determine specific needs for upgrades. In some cases assess if for example one lamp would be enough

- Procurement of Materials: potentially buy second hand or upcycled equipment, or we buy LED lights from the building supplier our charity is registered with, offering discounts to our charity.

- Installation: Implement the new lighting, utilizing volunteers for tasks where feasible, while hiring a registered electrician for warranty purposes.

- Installation of Security Lighting: Include motion sensors and floodlights as recommended by community police for enhanced security.

Project Description and Recommended Solution  

The majority of the lighting in the older building has already been upgraded with modern LED luminaires equipped with occupancy detectors. However, we still need to replace the remaining older fluorescent and halogen lighting throughout the site with modern LED fixtures and appropriate controls. This upgrade could save over 60% in energy consumption.

Benefits, Costs, and Financing  

LED lights consume less electricity and have a much longer lifespan compared to conventional lighting. It was estimated that installing modern LED lighting and controls could save us up to £3,199 annually. The total cost for replacing the luminaires with LEDs was estimated at £8,550 (this varied massively between our quotes lowest and highest proving the estimate about right), This investment was estimated as a simple payback period of 2.7 years, which could be reduced to 0.7 years with a 75% cashback. Additionally, this upgrade has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 3.2 tonnes of CO2e.

This evaluation was presented to the management team before we took over from the Council. We have already reduced the time that these lights are on by manually switching them on and off, and we have removed several unnecessary, energy-hungry lights from the system. 

We recommend making further upgrades, especially for our security floodlighting. Installing motion sensors for these lights would be invaluable, as they were highly recommended by the police. They noted that a building that lights up upon approach is a significant deterrent to opportunist thieves. This upgrade would also enhance safety for individuals who arrive in the morning or leave at night, providing better visibility while they lock up or approach the hub. The management team believes that installing motion sensors and energy-efficient floodlights at both of the main access doors would be an easy and effective start to our energy transition.

We also recommend we install some more CCTV cameras with these floodlights as flytipping and vandalism has occurred in areas we do not currently cover with cameras,

Budget Estimates on a like for like basis, suppled and installed by a contractor

 Funding Considerations

- Charity Discounts: Explore purchasing options through suppliers where our charity receives a 10% discount.

- Grants and Bids: Review external funding opportunities to supplement the project costs.

- Clarification on Funding: Confirm guidelines from potential funders regarding funding for projects already in progress.

Previous hoped for enablement funding from the council on lighting - no longer an option

 Responsibilities

- Project Lead: Designate a dedicated individual to oversee the project, coordinating between volunteers and contractors.

- Volunteer Coordination: Recruit and manage volunteers for installation and setup.

- Contractor Oversight: Select and liaise with a registered electrical contractor for final installation and certification.

Conclusion

The transition to an energy-efficient LED lighting system represents a crucial step toward enhancing our facility's sustainability, comfort, and security. By proceeding with careful planning and execution, we can significantly reduce energy costs and improve the overall user experience in our hub. Immediate action is necessary to secure funds and approve plans for efficient project completion. we can also incorporate the lighting into our smart building technologies

Therefore, redesigning this lighting system is urgent and should be completed before winter. Our sustainability champion has conducted a risk assessment, as well as carbon accounting and energy performance ratings. He suggests installing two new floodlights at the East end entrance, each equipped with its own motion sensor switch. These new lights will be hardwired into the electrical circuit that currently serves the eight outdated floodlights, which need to be replaced with more energy-efficient lighting and individual PIR motion sensors. Furthermore, the sixteen soffit lights at that end should also be upgraded to energy-efficient models and retain a photovoltaic light sensor, along with an off switch that can be used when the building is not in use.so the lights dont stay on all night The experience we have gained from managing the Hubs’ energy efficiency, by essentially acting as the human smart meters for nearly two years, has led us to upgrade various heat and power systems throughout both the east and west wings of the hubs. This has made us experienced in working with contractors, volunteers, company salespeople, and self-employed tradespeople. We have handled contracts across a wide spectrum, from cleaners to architects and engineers, while designing projects of all sizes. Our responsibilities have included procuring new equipment and overseeing repairs and maintenance of older equipment, all while ensuring compliance with government regulations. Additionally, we must sometimes navigate strict controls over spending, as what can and cannot be expended often depends on the project’s funding source. Most of the workers we have collaborated with have been outstanding; however, our biggest challenges have arisen when dealing with companies. Issues with energy tariffs and the water board financial department being the two worst examples, as well as difficulties when companies attempt to have us sign unsuitable contracts, have been frequent. For instance, linking a small lighting project such as this to a larger, comprehensive retrofit with one contractor can be problematic. We need to clearly define our project requirements and then determine the best contractor for the job. A notable example of this was the issues we encountered with the company that retrofitted the changing rooms into a foot clinic. The problems caused by that contractor forced us to hire an electrical company we trusted to rectify their mistakes and complete the upgrade of the foot clinic.,There are different methods of payment for projects of varying sizes. To stay within budget and maximise the benefits of our decarbonization and energy efficiency goals, while also managing the paperwork and bookkeeping involved in each project fund, we found that simply choosing a contractor based on the cheapest quote is not always the best approach. Often, this can lead to the installation of equipment that is unsuitable for our needs or, in some cases, not even necessary. We have even encountered instances where a contractor installed the wrong type of equipment in the wrong room. Being project managers is a lot of work for our unpaid volunteers, who have dedicated significant time and effort to these transitions. Some contractors forget that we are the clients; we prefer not to be told what we need to do or what we should purchase. This reluctance is primarily due to the rapid changes in weather patterns, which outpace the education system. We can no longer plan for "business as usual." Therefore, for this lighting project, we need to conduct thorough research to determine the best solutions that will work across the four seasons, considering current and future weather patterns while factoring in resource management costs for both people and the planet. For these reasons, the management team sometimes decides to purchase equipment directly and then hire a trusted installer for the installation, such as with the lighting upgrades. We now have the funds needed for our LED lighting upgrades, and this will be our approach on this project, energy efficiency project for low-energy lighting and its management,