LED lighting is the top priority for energy managers in the UK according to a new poll

LED lighting is the top priority for energy managers in the UK, according to a new poll.

Energy professionals in the public and private sectors reported that LEDs were the most popular choice to save energy in the past year and would also top the energy saving hit list over the next 12 months.

The survey by Energy Live News asked 100 energy managers to advise which energy saving and cost cutting measures they had implemented in the past 12 months as well as those they were planning.

Over four-fifths (83%) of respondents said they had invested in LED lighting in the past year, and 80% advised that they would be moving to LED lighting in the next 12 months.

Variable speed drives, energy management systems, insulation, AMT or smart meters were also key elements for energy saving strategies, being deployed by around two-fifths of energy professionals.

While the poll did not specifically question respondents about some other energy saving measures such as new boilers, solar panel installations or building management systems these were flagged as popular by respondents.

Energy managers also reported that “changing culture and behaviour” was very important, and engaging with company staff ensured energy was not wasted.

Interestingly, the issue of longevity and quality was raised by some respondents, despite the clear popularity of LED lamps. One queried how the long life span of new LEDs could be assessed given the many years of expected life. The answer was simple – accelerated testing. But it is true that not all LED lamps are the same.

Buying reputable brand products from a trusted and approved supplier is very important. We’ve heard more than a few horror stories about the problems caused by choosing budget price LEDS, not least failing lamps and bad light quality.

Safety controls are also an issue, as we’ve advised – some very cheap LED bulbs are simply dangerous, being badly wired. It does not make sense to take a risk on what should be a “fit and forget” purchase.

Energy savings

Queries over price points were also raised by some respondents but the initial investment is repaid very quickly through energy savings of up to 90% and then the LED lights just go on saving money year after year.

But it’s clear that LED lighting has caught the imagination of energy managers and this chimes with our experience in the past year in particular as every sector, both public and private seeks to reduce costs, stretch tight budgets and cut carbon emissions by saving energy.

We can also understand why measures such as installing variable speed drives (VSDs) and energy management systems are also very popular. The VSDs and high efficiency motors can cut energy consumption by up to 50 per cent, so giving a return on investment in 6-12 months.

Intelligent energy management systems are crucial in 24/7 operations like hotels, hospitals and residential homes. Heating, ventilation & air conditioning (HVAC) use a huge amount of energy – typically 60 – 80% of the total building’s energy consumption. Our GEM smart control solution intelligently manages guest room HVAC to deliver energy savings of 35-40%.

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