Knightsbridge has taken the next step in its lighting evolution with the inclusion of SpektroLED® Tilt to the configurable, Knightsbridge SpektroLED® series. SpektroLED® offers so many combinations of wattage, colour temperature and bezel choice that the product provides a genuine 40-in-1 fire-rated downlighting solution, now in both fixed and tilt
In light of the current energy crisis, Signify calls on the leaders and businesses in the UK&I region to accelerate the transition to energy-efficient connected LED lighting to help households and businesses mitigate the energy crisis. The move will also ensure quick wins in the UK’s Race to Zero. Business
Lighting technology upgrade across eight van and truck retail showrooms, using a variety of the latest LED solutions. Operational costs reduced by more than £95,000 over 12 months Carbon reduction of 980 tonnes over the term of the contract Significant positive impact on employee wellbeing Eight commercial retail sites operated
Leading building controls manufacturer, Priva says the National Trust’s recent 125th Anniversary celebration is not only to be celebrated, it is a perfect opportunity for heritage professionals to give more time and thought to the protection of historic buildings through control-based technologies. Priva has long provided building management solutions to
A steel manufacturer is aiming to grow its turnover by £1million and create new jobs after securing a substantial grant. Fabweld Steel Products (FSP) was awarded £30,000 from the European Regional Development (ERDF)’s Business Growth Programme as part of an overall £94,500 investment to improve production process and systems at
Nixon Hire, one of the UK’s largest and leading site equipment providers, have invested in a large fleet of lighting towers supplied by the market leader in LED lighting, Trime UK Limited. After carefully evaluating the range of LED lighting sets available in the current market, the company opted to
Barthelme LED Solutions has developed a fully encapsulated plastic linear LED luminaire. As a result, the Nuremberg company offers a genuine alternative to conventional linear luminaire with metal housing. The leading edge LED technology in the AQUALUC S:OLID is protected by a closely meshed polyurethane-ceramic encapsulation which shields it from
Predicting the energy future Anyone who predicts the future risks winding up with egg on their face. This is as true in energy as anything else – just look at how the rapid roll-out of renewables caught everyone by surprise. As such, the best tactic is often to avoid predicting
Knightsbridge has taken the next step in its lighting evolution with the inclusion of SpektroLED® Tilt to the configurable, Knightsbridge SpektroLED® series. SpektroLED® offers so many combinations of wattage, colour temperature and bezel choice that the product provides a genuine 40-in-1 fire-rated downlighting solution, now in both fixed and tilt versions. With the introduction of SpektroLED®, Knightsbridge – one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of wiring accessories and lighting – has removed the limitations of traditional downlights, offering versatility, performance and style in one unique package, and allowing for customisation and personalisation of lighting design without resorting to multiple lamp types. The new SpektroLED® Tilt variant increases the options again. Like the fixed model, SpektroLED® Tilt offers a choice of two wattages – 5W and 8W – five colour temperatures (CCTs) and five bezel finishes, from white and matt black to chrome, polished chrome and brass; resulting in 40 different style and performance permutations. The wattages and CCTs are switch-selected on the rear of the downlight body. At 5W, SpektroLED® delivers up to 465 lumens and up to 795 lumens at 8W. The four CCTs available are 2700K, 3000K, 4000K and 6000K, representing warm white through to daylight. The choice of five bezels then allows further customisation to complement or contrast with any interior décor or colourway. Installation, as with all Knightsbridge products, is straightforward. Both units feature simple first fix power connectors with loop in/loop out terminals that can be terminated and hidden away while other works are finished. The downlight can then be plugged in to complete the installation after decoration and lend themselves easily for maintenance and access to the innovative CCT and power properties. The downlights are fire rated for solid timber, web joist and I-joist installation for up to 90 minutes depending on materials and, in addition, are IC rated for retention of efficiency of mineral wool insulation in the ceiling void. SpektroLED® Fixed has an IP65 rating from below, making it suitable for use in bathrooms and wet rooms, while SpektroLED® Tilt is rated at IP20. Once installed, SpektroLED® will give 50,000 hours of rated LED life and can be used with most leading and trailing-edge dimmers though compatibility should be verified beforehand. A five-year warranty guarantees peace of mind. For further details of the Knightsbridge innovative wiring accessories and lighting products, please visit www.mlaccessories.co.uk or call 01582 887760.
In light of the current energy crisis, Signify calls on the leaders and businesses in the UK&I region to accelerate the transition to energy-efficient connected LED lighting to help households and businesses mitigate the energy crisis. The move will also ensure quick wins in the UK’s Race to Zero. Business leaders in the United Kingdom and Ireland (UK&I) region should focus on making changes that deliver results quickly and impact both the professional and consumer lighting markets The switch to LED lighting can help the average British household save upto £250 per year, helping millions of households pushed into fuel poverty due to the change price cap in April’ 2022 In the UK’s Race to Zero, a green switch to LED lighting in the professional market could mean eliminating 3.9 million tonnes of CO2 emissions and saving a total of EUR 3.8 billion per year London – With the recent change in price cap introduced in April 2022, millions of households have been pushed into fuel poverty and several businesses are now facing added volatility due to its impact. In light of this, Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, advocates an accelerated transition to energy-efficient connected LED lighting to help households and businesses while positively impacting the UK’s Race to Zero. With energy prices around the globe reaching all-time highs and global emissions rising at unprecedented levels, it is now more urgent than ever that businesses in UK&I lead by example and take quick action to tackle climate change. More than a decade after Signify’s call to phase out the incandescent light bulb worldwide, it now calls for the transition to energy-efficient connected LED lighting as the new standard of ‘general lighting’1. The move will help meet the goals the UK’s ten point plan and other commitments that nations have made around the world in line with the Paris Agreement. Impact for Businesses According to Signify’s findings, switching to LED lighting in the professional lighting market could reduce CO2 emissions by 3.9 million tonnes in the UK&I region, the same amount of CO2 that 175 million trees could sequester in a year. Making the switch would also save 16.1 TWh of electricity, which is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of more than 4.3 million households. This would result in a saving of EUR 3.8 billion on electricity costs2. Upgrading to connected LED lighting3 can offer enhanced controls for better energy consumption management. Impact for households Research from the Energy Saving Trust4 indicates that lighting takes up about 11% of the average UK household electricity consumption. Our data5 suggests that after the change in the energy price cap introduced in April, switching to energy-efficient LED lighting can help the average British household save £15-£18 per light bulb, which equates to a saving of £2506 per year. Given that there are likely more lamps to replace in homes hit by fuel poverty, the positive impact would be more significant there. The switch to smart LED lighting will also pay a huge role in reducing CO2 emissions, furthering the UK&I’s progress to a greener future. The International Energy Agency (IEA) echoes Signify’s call to action. Nicholas Howarth, Senior Analyst at the International Energy Agency said “The world is facing the most significant energy crisis in recent history and energy efficiency is a solution to many of its most urgent challenges. Highlighting its importance, in June at the IEA Global Conference on Energy Efficiency, 27 governments from around the world issued the Sønderburg Action Plan calling for energy efficiency and demand side action to play a much greater role protecting households, businesses and the economy from high energy prices. This is vital for addressing the energy crisis, rising inflation and greenhouse gas emissions.” Stronger policy packages covering regulations, information and incentives will play a key role accelerating energy efficiency and related measures. This includes the deployment of smart, efficient lighting, upgrading homes with better insulation, improving the fuel efficiency of cars, as well fostering investment in new industrial machinery. Efficient lighting is a proven technology to reduce electricity demand, fast. This will also help create extra electricity capacity needed for electric heat pumps and vehicles which put upwards pressure on power demand’’ Climate Group, an international non-profit working with businesses and governments around the world to drive climate action, also aligns with Signify’s ambition.Morgan, Senior Manager, Built Environment, Climate Group, said“Climate Group is proud to work in partnership with Signify to raise awareness of the multiple benefits of energy efficient LED lighting for businesses and cities. LEDs play a key role in decarbonisation as we strive to halve emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero carbon buildings by 2050.” “The unprecedented energy savings from LEDs compared to traditional lighting presents compelling urgency to raise the priority of global LED adoption. The drive towards smart, connected LEDs can also serve as a digital platform for smart building and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, opening up a myriad of options for businesses.” Stephen Rouatt, CEO, Signify UK&I said: “Households in the UK are now in one of the most difficult situations as they see their energy bills rise by 54%, while businesses continue to struggle as well. We understand the urgency created by the energy crisis to help families and businesses under pressure. Switching to energy-efficient LED lighting guarantees quick wins in saving money on energy bills and responding to the urgent action needed to tackle the climate crisis. After the change in the energy price cap introduced in April, switching to energy-efficient LED lighting can help the average British household save upto £250 per year (£15-£18 per light bulb). Accelerating the transition to LED lighting is one of the quickest renovations that can dramatically cut CO2 – it does not require large capital investments, has a short payback time, and can positively impact the challenge posed by the UK’s built environment and its carbon footprint.” “As leaders in the lighting sector, we have a firm commitment to transformative action and there is no better opportunity than London Climate
Lighting technology upgrade across eight van and truck retail showrooms, using a variety of the latest LED solutions. Operational costs reduced by more than £95,000 over 12 months Carbon reduction of 980 tonnes over the term of the contract Significant positive impact on employee wellbeing Eight commercial retail sites operated by UK Mercedes-Benz dealership Rygor have been equipped with the latest LED lighting systems courtesy of a comprehensive upgrade initiative implemented by Journey Energy Solutions (Journey). Established to help organisations get closer to Net Zero emissions without the burden of up-front capital outlay, Journey designs, installs and maintains carefully tailored, energy-efficient LED lighting systems. The starting point for the recent project was the realisation by the auto dealership that the existing lighting needed to be upgraded in order to reduce operational costs and carbon emissions. The lighting at three sites in particular – Heathrow, Swindon and Westbury – was also increasingly unfit for purpose and subject to frequent costly replacements. But during the course of conversations with the specialist energy solutions company that provided the upgrade, the scope of the scheme was expanded to include eight van and truck retail showrooms: the three aforementioned sites as well as Chilcompton, Kidderminster, Newbury, Nuneaton and Oxford. In terms of choosing a partner to implement the lighting upgrade and provide support post-installation, there were multiple key factors that worked in the favour of Journey. These included the ability to start work immediately, maintain a seamless transition between each site, and work in such a way that any operational disruption was kept to a minimum. For example, to avoid negative impact during installation in the active workshop service areas, advanced notice was given to each service manager so they could schedule work on particular days – ensuring that any possible conflicts were avoided. The outcomes The upgrade programme took three months with each of Rygor’s sites now featuring a complementary blend of the latest LED lighting products. As well as carrying out all the design and installation work, Journey has also been contracted for six years to provide ongoing service and maintenance support – giving further reassurance to the Rygor team and allowing the dealer’s internal technical resources to be directed elsewhere. Whilst the figure could rise further due to a greatly reduced need for replacements and associated maintenance, it is already predicted that Rygor will benefit from an impressive reduction in its carbon emissions of 980 tonnes and an energy cost saving of £648,514 over the term of the contract. This would be a huge step forward for any business at any time, but in the midst of an unpredictable economic cycle and with climate change concerns escalating, it has a truly transformative potential. In addition to the energy savings, the improved quality of the lighting – especially in the most badly affected areas at the sites deemed most urgently in need of an upgrade – has been widely commented upon by employees and visitors. In particular, feedback from personnel who have been employed in the company’s workshops for many years has been very strong, with many pinpointing the much more sympathetic and consistent nature of the lighting. The testimonials In reflecting on the project, Rygor praises the “excellent” nature of the Journey installation teams and the entire experience of collaborating with the company before, during and after the upgrade. Stuart Gemmell, Rygor Group Facilities and Health & Safety Manager, commented: “Our ageing lighting systems didn’t provide the quality of lighting that we required, in particular our workshops were quite gloomy,” he says. “The upgrades have transformed our working environments, making it easier for staff to operate efficiently. The staff are certainly benefiting and the feedback they have provided us with has been extremely positive.” The operational and carbon savings being achieved by the project have impressed the Rygor team on their journey to Net Zero. He added: “It almost goes without saying that we are also delighted with the massive contribution that the new lighting will make to our carbon emissions reduction strategy. In fact, it’s going to be a major milestone on our way to becoming a Net Zero business.” The on-going support offered by Journey will also be beneficial to the business. He finished: “The other really positive aspect is that the partnership is very much ongoing because Journey will be providing long-term support and maintenance. And of course, that means valuable extra peace of mind as we move forward.” To help motor dealers on the path to energy savings and carbon reduction, Journey has launched a free, downloadable guide – ‘The Journey to Net Zero – How to cut costs, save energy and deliver decarbonisation: a guide for motor dealers’. To download the free guide, click here.
Leading building controls manufacturer, Priva says the National Trust’s recent 125th Anniversary celebration is not only to be celebrated, it is a perfect opportunity for heritage professionals to give more time and thought to the protection of historic buildings through control-based technologies. Priva has long provided building management solutions to the heritage sector -including the National Trust, the Historic Royal Palaces and high-profile sites such as St Paul’s Cathedral. The company has seen first-hand the benefits of future-proofing special and listed buildings with leading-edge building control technology. Protecting the fabric of the historic or listed buildings is undoubtedly the ultimate priority for anyone associated with building conservation. However, Priva believes that many in the conservation sector may be unaware that it is possible to future-proof heritage buildings with the same control-based technologies found in modern structures. Priva’s UK & Ireland Sales Manager Gavin Holvey explains: “Organisations such as the National Trust take incredible care of special buildings – and we are delighted that Priva technology is playing an active part in this process. Our message is simple – we want to make sure more UK buildings are future-proofed, and in turn help owners and conservators improve building efficiency and reduce emissions through greater control of heating, ventilating and air-conditioning services. All of this is achieved whilst maintaining a pleasant and welcoming environment for staff, conservators and visitors.” To support heritage building consultants and professionals in the sector, Priva has published a guide which includes case studies covering the integration of building and energy management systems at some of the world’s most famous buildings. Entitled ‘Future-proofing Britain’s Historic Buildings’, this 20-page book offers a non-technical overview of the outcomes and benefits of control technology. The document explains in clear language how Priva’s technology – which is in use at sites such as St Paul’s Cathedral; Westminster Abbey; and Rosslyn Chapel – is delivering significant energy savings; improved indoor climate conditions and greater visibility of energy use. Copies available To request a copy of Priva’s Future-proofing Britain’s Historic Buildings book, please contact the UK Sales office on: T +44 (0)1923 813 480 or contact.priva@priva.co.uk
A steel manufacturer is aiming to grow its turnover by £1million and create new jobs after securing a substantial grant. Fabweld Steel Products (FSP) was awarded £30,000 from the European Regional Development (ERDF)’s Business Growth Programme as part of an overall £94,500 investment to improve production process and systems at its factory in Telford, Shropshire. FSP, which designs and manufactures fabricated steel access covers and associated drainage products, says the programme of work will result in greater efficiency and manufacturing capacity and should help it win new contracts within the construction industry. That will lead to the creation of five new roles including a sales administrator, laser operator and welder/fabricators. The Enterprise Telford team at the Marches Growth Hub Telford & Wrekin supported FSP in its grant application. The Business Growth Programme is available to businesses across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin and offers grants to small and medium-sized businesses through a range of funding schemes designed to help them grow and target new markets. Managing Director Richard Hilton said the investment was paying for new equipment and the reorganisation of the shop floor. “The previous layout created bottlenecks in production so the restructure will simplify and speed up processes. We will be introducing new handling equipment and increasing our internal storage capacity. “Carrying out this programme of enhancements will give us more capacity to win new contracts and allow us to respond more quickly to customer demands. We are hopeful it will add £1m to our existing turnover within 24 months. “Without the grant funding, we would have had to carry out the work in stages. This wouldn’t have been as effective and would have reduced the opportunities that a quicker production time will bring.” “An increased turnover and market share will ultimately lead to a more sustainable future for the business, our staff and our supply chain,” he added. Mark Shaw, Account Manager for Enterprise Telford, said: “FSP is one of our long standing businesses and we were delighted to be able to help them as they forge ahead with their plans for growth. We look forward to providing continued support for Richard and the team as they realise the benefits from this investment which, importantly, includes the creation of jobs.” FSP has also received a £7,000 grant from the Business Energy Efficiency Programme, which is part-funded by the ERDF. The programme aims to help businesses reduce CO2 emissions through lowering energy consumption, which in turn reduces running costs and improves profitability while increasing environmental awareness. FSP has put the grant towards a £17,000 package of measures which included installing air heat pump systems for office heating, adding demand controls to its welding extract system, upgrading to LED lighting and raising awareness among staff of energy management. Richard said: “We recognise the benefits that improvements in energy efficiency can bring in operational efficiency, working conditions, and profit.”
Nixon Hire, one of the UK’s largest and leading site equipment providers, have invested in a large fleet of lighting towers supplied by the market leader in LED lighting, Trime UK Limited. After carefully evaluating the range of LED lighting sets available in the current market, the company opted to purchase the Trime X-ECO LED sets. The Trime X-ECO LED is a compact, energy saving site lighting tower already popular with many rental firms and contractors. With sustainability at the core of its development, Trime have calculated that the X-ECO uses approximately £336.00 less in fuel each month, when compared to many traditionally illuminated lighting sets available. Nixon Hire’s managing director, Graham Nixon commented, “We looked at several different makes and models of lighting towers, but we decided that the Trime X-ECO LED had all the features and benefits that would help to ensure that our hire fleet is kept in line with present day demands for green products. The lights are a great addition to our existing eco product range.” The Trime X-ECO LED sets have already been delivered and distributed around the Nixon Hire depots from the Highlands of Scotland to Nottingham in the East Midlands. The X-ECO lights will be hired to a range of customers including site contractors, highway projects and on outside events. Founded in 1967, Nixon Hire is a family-run business employing nearly 500 people across an ever-expanding depot network. With over 50 years of experience they supply plant equipment, tools, site accommodation, welfare facilities and portable toilet products alongside associated services. Nixon Hire currently has 13 depots in the north of England and throughout Scotland. Likewise, the Trime Group can also boast over 50 years of experience in the development and marketing of environmentally sustainable lighting sets for the construction and rental markets. Trime UK is headquartered in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire; their manufacturing plant is based near Milan, Italy.
Barthelme LED Solutions has developed a fully encapsulated plastic linear LED luminaire. As a result, the Nuremberg company offers a genuine alternative to conventional linear luminaire with metal housing. The leading edge LED technology in the AQUALUC S:OLID is protected by a closely meshed polyurethane-ceramic encapsulation which shields it from its surroundings. The luminaire has a rating of IP 68 and can be operated permanently underwater. Ceramic content in the polyurethane ensures efficient heat dissipation and a long lifetime of more than 60,000 hours. In addition, the linear luminaire has an impact test rating of IK 10 and is therefore highly robust. The AQUALUC S:OLID has an evenly distributed light-emitting surface and is operated with 24 V. At 4,000 K the AQUALUC S:OLID achieves an extraordinarily high brightness of 1,343 lm/m at a typical power of only 34 Watt. With dimensions of 17.5 x 17.5 mm the luminaire is available in individual lengths of up to 2.90 m. Two luminaires can be installed head to head without loss of light so that a continuous light line of almost 6 m can be realized. Equipped for range of applications AQUALUC S:OLID is a genuine all-rounder thanks to its excellent technical characteristics and is ideally suited for a wide range of applications. Permanent deployment of the rigid light line underwater is possible as are numerous other applications such as use in handrails. The protective encapsulation provides resistance against salt water, chlorine, UV-radiation, abrasions and chemicals. Due to the high lumen package and beam angle of 120° it is possible to realize stylish accent illumination as well as classical functional lighting tasks. As with all products from Barthelme, the AQUALUC S:OLID is available in a range of standard colour temperatures: 2,800 K, 3,100 K, 4,000 K, 5,700 K and RGB. In addition, single colours are available on request. Further information about AQUALUC S:OLID and suitable accessories can be found at www.barthelme.de
Predicting the energy future Anyone who predicts the future risks winding up with egg on their face. This is as true in energy as anything else – just look at how the rapid roll-out of renewables caught everyone by surprise. As such, the best tactic is often to avoid predicting at all, or take a conservatively pessimist line. For medium sized UK businesses, that’s often grim resignation to ever-increasing energy prices eating away at the bottom line. I’ll stick my neck out though and say this: the energy future for UK business could actually be very bright indeed. Medium sized UK business – vital to the economy but more exposed than the big multinationals – can vastly reduce the impact of energy costs and insulate themselves against the risks inherent in energy price shocks. All it takes is to take three words to heart: reduce, generate, store. Reduce Reducing energy use should be the first priority for any business. No Kw is greener or cheaper than the one unused. Investments such as LED lighting, efficient boilers and variable speed drives can save huge amounts of money and energy. Back when it was known as DECC, the department estimated 18-25% energy savings were possible for SMEs with an average payback period of less than 1.5 years. Generate But efficiency only takes you so far. Companies can take matters into their own hands by using on-site generation to partially cover their energy needs, reducing the amount needed to be purchased. This could be diesel generators, but is increasingly including clean power sources such as solar, wind or combined heat and power biomass systems. For now, this is the domain of the most forward-thinking companies, but solar PV costs have declined so rapidly in recent years that it will be a feasible and attractive option for many businesses. Some might protest that the roll-back of subsidies such as the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) scheme undermine this. But that’s a setback that should quickly be overcome as panels get cheaper and finance gets smarter. Store The real game changer though, has been the advent of storage. In 2016, we’ve seen commercial and domestic storage make huge strides. Look at Tesla’s Powerwall or AES Storage’s commercial-scale project in Kilroot. As with solar, battery prices are falling and companies are scrambling to develop and commercialise different business models. Storage is the missing piece of the puzzle for UK businesses. You can reduce energy usage and create your own but there will be excess energy because of the intermittency of renewables. Storage can hold that otherwise wasted energy and discharge it when required. The energy future for medium sized UK businesses is one that includes energy reduction, generation and storage. By diligently taking advantage of available tax incentives such as Enhanced Capital Allowances and Annual Investment Allowances, combined with intelligent financing designed to deliver savings greater than repayments, it’s possible for UK businesses to begin that transition now. Doing so means lower costs, greater resiliency and a future-proofed business. That’s my prediction.
