Upgrades to energy-efficient lighting should be top priorities for businesses across Glasgow.

Doing so can reduce both power bills and environmental impacts at an economical cost.

Studies have shown that good lighting not only creates an optimal working environment but can also increase productivity.

Lower Power Bills

LED lighting systems offer many facilities a viable energy efficiency upgrade solution that can save them money on electricity costs, reduce emissions and enhance staff and visitor comfort.

School campuses can also take steps to cut their energy costs with upgraded lighting systems. According to eLight, lighting accounts for roughly 50% of a school estate’s electricity costs.

Energy-efficient LED lighting can be an ideal way for schools to reduce their energy use without incurring major infrastructure projects or investments, helping the government meet their goal of making all schools net zero by 2050.

Environmental charity Hubbub and OVO Energy Solutions are seeking a street in Glasgow where residents can work collaboratively to reduce energy usage and save money, with Hubbub/OVO providing assistance to access local/government funding opportunities for this endeavour.

Reduced Carbon Emissions

Upgraded energy-efficient lighting is an easy and cost-effective way for governments, businesses, and households alike to reduce their carbon footprints and meet commitments made under the Paris Agreement. Furthermore, upgrading can support economic recovery plans as well as economic recovery commitments made under economic recovery agreements, such as The Energy Saving Trust’s Ecovision 2050 initiative.

Upgrades to LED lighting often accompany upgrades to other fixtures or systems that use electricity, helping a building achieve its energy efficiency goals without compromising occupant comfort or the quality of its environment.

Energy savings may offset the costs associated with installing new lighting. This benefit comes courtesy of Moore’s Law, an IT model that predicts that technological innovations will accelerate over time.

Glasgow Airport recently made a change that will reduce emissions by 50% and bring them closer to reaching their goal of becoming net zero by 2050. This upgrade forms part of their Climate Pledge initiative, which encourages companies and organisations to commit to net-zero targets.

Longer Lifespan

Lighting accounts for 15–17% of energy use in commercial buildings and 5-6% of greenhouse gas emissions; upgrading to LEDs can significantly lower these figures.

LED bulbs last 10 times longer than traditional sodium or metal halide lamps, providing significant environmental and cost-saving benefits while simultaneously increasing lifespan and reducing maintenance costs for business owners.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde commissioned an existing Building Energy Management System (BEMS) specialist to conduct surveys that would identify areas for potential cost-effective upgrades to Royal Aberdeen Infirmary’s current BEMS to upgrade it into a Class A system with maximum functionality that includes air and water heating as well as demand control ventilation, taking a comprehensive view of building energy usage.

Glasgow Airport has also undertaken a project to replace their legacy floodlights with more energy-efficient LED versions, enabling them to increase or decrease lighting levels based on footfall and weather conditions, as well as collect data such as speed and pollution measurements.

Reduced Maintenance

Facilities managers are always searching for ways to lower energy costs and meet sustainability objectives in their facilities, and one simple strategy for doing this is by upgrading to more energy-efficient lighting fixtures.

Energy-efficient lighting reduces power usage, helping reduce overall energy usage and maintenance costs. Furthermore, this approach minimises heat generation from lights, which improves HVAC system efficiency while mitigating any temperature-sensitive operations that might interfere with their proper function.

Reducing electricity use also lowers waste generation from its production, helping cut landfill waste and improving the environmental impact of facilities across different industries.

Signify believes that switching to energy-efficient connected LED lighting can result in significant carbon emission reductions and cost savings in buildings and infrastructure, supporting economic recovery plans as well as the digital ambitions of governments.