Don’t be in the dark when it comes to cutting your increasing energy bill.
HEATHER BARRON speaks to a North East company that is helping businesses to find the best way to save on long-term costs by switching to LED lighting.

It seems that every week brings more horrifying stories about the dramatic increase in energy prices – and with no end in immediate sight. For many companies that have not converted to LED lighting, illuminating their premises – inside and out – will be a major cost.

LED Supply & Fit, based at Newton Aycliffe, has been instrumental in helping businesses of all sizes to convert, cutting their lighting bills by tens of thousands of pounds, as well as reducing carbon emissions.

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Now, more than ever before, is the time to be investing in better, cheaper lighting for the future.

Factories, warehouses, schools, offices, sports facilities, and domestic properties can all benefit from upgrading now to see savings immediately, and going forward.

Whether you run a large company, manage a warehouse, or operate as a tradesperson, you will quickly see the benefits of converting, or upgrading, to LED lighting.

It may seem a simple job – changing one type of bulb for another – but expertise is required to ensure the correct illumination, optimum coverage, and quantifiable savings.

Experienced electrician of 26 years, Gary Rudd, saw the huge potential of the latest lighting technology – LED (light emitting diodes) that offered the most energy-efficiency, durability, and improved light quality.

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He established LED Supply and Fit, and has fitted out hundreds of buildings, of all variations, in the past seven years. He has helped many warehouses and factories to plan and install safer lighting, while also providing a savings projection and maintenance contract.

There are many advantages to converting to LED lighting, including:

• At least 50% saving.

• Low voltage operation.

• Improved environmental performance.

• Saving the planet.

• Less heat and UV emissions.

• Long lifespan.

• Ability to operate in cold conditions.

• Instant lighting that can withstand frequent switching.

• Dimming capabilities and smarter technology.

Lighting your specific area correctly is vital – some areas may need a bit more consideration. Every area and usage is different – height of lights; number of lights; colour; light level (lux or lx, in the case of LED) required.

Warehouses, for example, require very specific lighting, usually being very large buildings with hard-to-reach light fixtures. They will also typically be housing hundreds of operatives and thousands of pieces of equipment and goods. This level of foot traffic, not to mention operation of dangerous machinery and logistical equipment, requires optimal lighting for the prevention of injuries, mistakes, and accidents. As there are different lux levels, the use of the warehouse is taken into consideration when selecting the correct level.

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Configuring warehouse lighting

When designing warehouse lighting, it’s necessary to carry out a prior study to decide on the ideal location for the light fixtures. Lights are usually placed in the center of the aisles to prevent the racks from creating shadows. Sensors may also be used for areas that only need to be illuminated occasionally.

Before choosing the warehouse light fixtures, we take into account factors such as the light level, which must be adequate to ensure operators’ visual comfort and wellbeing. Another value to consider is the Unified Glare Rating (UGR), which denotes the level of glare generated by a light source. This factor is contingent on the placement of the lighting (height, angle, location, etc.) as well as the number of lights.

With all these variables in mind, LED lighting is the most appropriate for a logistics facility because it lasts up to ten times longer than traditional lights and saves more energy.

While installing LED lights is already a good decision, for additional energy conservation and to reduce costs, the use of dimmable LED fittings with Plug & Play motion sensor are ideal for larger areas such as warehouses, sports halls, gymnasiums, shopping centres, factories, and conference spaces.

Apart from the obvious cost-savings, there are many advantages to installing dimmable LEDs and using motion sensors, including:

• extending the life of the LEDs.

• minimising the frequency of changing the old lighting.

• reduced eye-strain and improved lighting conditions to improve productivity and worker comfort.

• reducing power consumption and the strain on the environment.

It’s not just warehouses or factories that benefit from changing to LED lighting – any space will be improved by efficient and appropriate lighting.

LED Supply & Fit can advise on the right lighting for every area, e.g retail requires brighter illumination to allow customers to clearly see the products on offer.

Schools are seeing huge savings from converting to LED lighting, both in energy consumption and in maintenance. Fewer lights are required and they create no glare. There is also an argument that it encourages improved productivity, participation, and learning.

Sports facilities will vary, and, often, the lighting requirements are set by the sport’s governing body. Lighting requirements can be as high as 750 lux.

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Tri-proof lighting/non-corrosive IP65

These are specialist lights that are specifically built to withstand conditions susceptible to water, dust and corrosion, so are ideal for warehouses, supermarkets, indoor parking garages, car washes, swimming pools, dusty factories, and pedestrian bridges.

Traditionally, they use fluorescent lighting which consume more electricity, and require more maintenance, than LED lighting.

Switching to LED tri-proof lights will cut your energy consumption, while offering durability and longevity.

As an additional point, the UK began phasing out the sale of higher-energy halogen lights in 2018, with high-energy T5 and T8 fluorescent lamps being banned in the UK from 2023.

Trade association, LightingEurope – known as the voice of the lighting industry – is urging facilities managers to hurry their buildings’ transition to LED lighting systems, ahead of the August 2023 deadline.

ThisWeekinFM publication says: “LED lighting has long been favoured for its energy-efficient properties and is a great alternative to fluorescent lights. Although more costly initially, their longer lifespan means they are cost-effective, and they can be dimmed to fit in with the season.

“Switching to LED lighting in offices can help you save up 80 per cent on energy bills. Intelligent LEDs also provide the closest alternative to natural light.”

Back-lit panels

For some working areas, such as those with a suspended ceiling, back-lit panel LED lighting is best. A number of LEDs are arranged on a horizontal plate and shine vertically down through the panel onto the area needing to be lit. Although edge-lit panels were used first, and offer indirect lighting, technical advances have proved back-lit panels to be more efficient, with the LEDs shining directly down, better illuminating the work area.

In addition, they provide a minimalist, durable, and lightweight design, as well as requiring fewer LED bulbs, thus reducing the cost without compromising quality.

Following a free survey and no-obligation quote, many companies in the region have found that they are making substantial savings after changing over to LED lighting with LED
Supply & Fit.

LED Supply & Fit can also help with accessing grants and funding, when a business makes the commitment to upgrade the company’s lighting.  They also offer bulk discounts and trade accounts.

LED Supply & Fit are based at Unit 6 Northfield Way, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, DL5 6EJ; telephone: (01388) 814089; website: www.ledsupplyandfit.co.uk