Problem
Lighting is universal to almost every building in the University's operational estate. It is estimated that 4.78MW of artificial lighting exists across the estate and, if used for 10 hours daily, would consume approximately the same amount of energy as around 5,200 households; roughly 10% of households in the city of Cambridge.
Solution
Under the Energy and Carbon Reduction Project older less efficient lighting is being replaced with new more efficient Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) over a wide variety of buildings and locations in the University estate. The new LED lighting is also fitted with integrated 'SMART' controls, which act as light and motion sensors. In the past, lighting across the University estate has been replaced on an ad hoc basis, as and when needed. Replacing lights, where viable to do so, on a building level allows for consistency; the benefits of which include consistent user behaviour, easier maintenance as well as improved aesthetics and comfort.
Impact
The lighting project is currently underway, and as an example the Department of Pathology has recently had all lights (apart from T5 fluorescents) replaced with LED lighting. The energy saving resulting from this is already being observed, with an average percentage reduction of 71%. This is predicted to save the department around £8,000 per year.