West Borough Primary School has significantly reduced its annual energy consumption following an LED lighting upgrade

LED UPGRADE SET TO DELIVER £6.3K SAVINGS FOR KENT PRIMARY SCHOOL

West Borough Primary School has significantly reduced its annual energy consumption following an LED lighting upgrade financed by the Salix SEELS Fund for Maintained Schools. The estimated carbon reduction is 17.76 tonnes of CO2/pa, with a lifetime carbon savings 444.01 tonnes (calculated over 20 years).

West Borough England and provides an interest-free Primary School loan to schools and colleges that are has 500 pupils funded by a local education authority. aged between It covers 100 different technologies, three and 11 including LED lighting, which are focused years of age on energy efficiency upgrades. The and operates two main criteria for the fund are that from three the loan must be paid back within an buildings of different ages on its site in eight-year period and the project must Maidstone, Kent. The main building dates not exceed a maximum cost of £222 per from 1913 and nursery and infant school tonne of carbon dioxide saved. buildings were added in the early years of SEELS funding can be accessed at any this century. point in the year and the whole process

It was the commitment to the welfare is designed to make it easy for time-poor of both pupils and staff that drove facility managers to make the business Headteacher, Mrs Crittenden, and her case for investment. team to look at alternatives to their existing West Borough, with support from lighting. Although much of the lighting has Kent Council, sought three quotes from been upgraded, this had taken place some potential LED upgrade providers and years ago and prior to LED being available. selected Energys Group on the basis of A year down the line and the school is The company Indeed, there was still some strip lighting its competitive quote. They were also now seeing the promised energy savings demonstrated the in the infant particularly school and corridors were poorly lit. They had also noticed impressed by Energys Group’s commitment to complete the work outside of the school coming through, the terms of the so all is on track SEELS loan. to meet impact that LED can make by installing it in a couple of that maintenance costs were creeping up, working day. Raj Gunasekaran, Business Development classrooms on a so momentum was gathering to make the Manager at Energys Group says; “We know trial basis change to LED. In at how they might 2018, they began achieve this. to look LED upgrade that our LED good lighting lighting is transformative; has a such a positive impact This solution offered by Energys Group on wellbeing and learning outcomes, it SEELS funding mechanism proposed the LED Lighting installation of a upgrade across standard the entire reduces eyestrain and The energy savings of improves installing alertness. LED lighting The SEELS programme is one of a school, including outdoor lights and are hugely significant too, and will continue number of Salix Finance programmes upgrades to LED of all existing emergency to benefit the school for many years beyond that provide government funding to lights and standalone units. The company the initial payback period.” improve energy efficiency and reduce demonstrated the impact that LED The project cost £43K and is estimated to carbon emissions within the public can make by installing it in a couple of achieve annual savings in the region of £6.3k, sector. The SEELS programme is funded classrooms on a trial basis, and this with a return on investment of 6.7 years. by the Department for Education in convinced the team at West Borough that this was a step well worth taking. Energys group, energysgroup.com The list of installed lighting types includes: IP rated LED batten fixtures, LED panels, LED wall lights, LED downlight, outdoor IP65 LED wall light, flood lights and emergency lighting. Energys Group advised that this work would be undertaken over a two to three week period. To minimise disruption to teaching schedules, the work was undertaken during the 2019 summer holidays and was completed within two weeks.

Energys Group proposed the installation of a standard LED Lighting upgrade across the entire school Transformational results Mrs Crittenden was delighted with the impact of this project. “I couldn’t quite believe the transformation this project made to lighting quality throughout our school. We have the original parquet flooring in the old building and that used to just absorb the light; now it’s bright enough to dance on!”

The project is estimated to achieve annual savings in the region of £6.3k