That's illuminating

Work is beginning on upgrades to switch to low energy lighting as part of our Net Zero by 2040 commitment.

Lighting upgrades are to switch to low energy, light emitting diode technology (LED).

The basic principle is that to reduce carbon emissions the first action necessary is to reduce demand – and in the most cost-efficient way.

Under the estate de-carbonisation programme that translates to saving power on lighting through making the switch to LED.

Our new-builds are fitted with LEDs, and as we’ve refurbished in other areas we’ve upgraded, however this programme will be the first series of interventions carried out without it being part of other work.

First to benefit are Flowers and shortly after Electrical Engineering buildings on South Kensington Campus.

South Kensington is a priority in the programme because of its older buildings, and these two have been selected first for a variety of reasons.

Around 1,100 lights will be replaced in Flowers, which has few variations in the types of lighting currently used. Approximately 69 per cent of these are being retro-fitted into the existing chassis, making this a cost-efficient upgrade. Where the fittings themselves require upgrading, we are buying these ourselves from the manufacturer and issuing them to the fitting contractor directly to reduce costs.

Another major saving is the cost of maintenance, eliminated for the next 10 years.

The upgrade will reduce energy consumption by 137,680kWh per year, reducing Imperial’s carbon footprint by 68 tonnes per year!

Electrical Engineering has been selected because this is an area where we can upgrade controls relatively easily to maximise automated energy efficiency.

Lux (light) levels will be set, with sensors in offices that will also switch off an unoccupied space.

Work in Flowers is scheduled to begin this month (July 2024) and around August / September (2024) in Electrical Engineering.

Next in line

Further lighting surveys will commence shortly to identify what will be doing in eighteen more buildings:

Sir Alexander Fleming, Royal School of Mines, Huxley, Blackett, ACE, Skempton, Chemistry, Bessemer, Biet Quadrangle, Eastside, Southside, Roderic Hill, Sir Ernst Chain, Library, RCS1, Ethos Sports Centre, Bone, 14-15 Princess Gardens.

A survey of City and Guilds has just been completed as it is one of the most high-profile research energy use buildings it will become a showcase for the energy reduction that can be achieved in every building, This will include extensive metering systems, among other measures.

The estate net zero by 2040 programme has been drawn up with the help of consultant Arup. You can read more here.

The works programme is being led on behalf of the Property Division by Rod Coppard, Special Projects Programme Manager.