Patchway Community College is predicted to enjoy a £63,091 reduction in energy bills over an 8-year period following the installation of Tamlite LED lighting.

The number of schools, colleges and universities exchanging inefficient conventional lighting technology for next-generation LEDs and fluorescents continues to increase as educational establishments look to reduce their operational expenses and carbon footprints. Based near Bristol, Patchway Community College is one of the latest recruits to the cause, enlisting UK Energy Partners to design and implement a comprehensive overhaul of its aging lighting infrastructure.

The desire to achieve long-lasting energy savings was the primary impetus for Patchway CC to begin contemplating the replacement of its existing fluorescent tubes. Future reliability was also a significant concern – some of the tubes were more than 35 years old. Decision made, the college enlisted the services of energy efficiency experts UK Energy Partners to design and propose a new system.
The company has a long history of delivering full Condition Improvement Fund applications for its clients, free of charge, and in this case all of the capital required for the project was sourced from Salix Finance. With the finance in place, UK Energy Partners was able to set about implementing a design that relies exclusively on products from long-established, Shropshire-based lighting manufacturer Tamlite.

In fact, Patchway CC was only the latest in a lengthy sequence of projects for which Tamlite equipment has been specified. “We have used Tamlite products on most of cost-efficient lighting installations,” confirms Adam May, Energy Efficiency Operations Manager, UK Energy Partners. “Operating in the education sector, it’s paramount that we are using the best on the market. Tamlite products have proven to us that they can perform as expected, and we have complete confidence installing their products on future projects.”

High efficiency, optimum performance
Specified throughout the college, the new lighting installation revolves around two key products from the current Tamlite range. Micro LED is a high-performance LED batten whose feature-set includes: wide beam (80°) or narrow beam (35°) coverage; LED modules designed for optimum performance (>100 lm/W); long life expectancy of 50,000 hours (L70/B50); a high CRI of >80Ra; and outstanding lumen efficacy of up to 103Lm/W.

Also selected for the project was the MODLED PRO professional recessed LED panel with remote driver. A very popular item in the Tamlite range, the MODLED PRO’s features include: a high performance LED module and driver; the latest SMD LED chips; a first-class opal diffuser for even light distribution; long life expectancy of 50,000 hours (L70/B50); a CRI of >80Ra for a high quality, cost-efficient lighting installation; and lumen efficacy of up to 88Lm/W. Designed and built for versatility, the MODLED PRO’s modular dimensions allow it to be installed quickly and easily in most exposed T-bar ceilings.

Reflecting on the choice of products for the Patchway CC project, Tamlite Head of Sales, Marketing and Product Development Colin Lawson comments: “The Micro LED and MODLED PRO products can now be found in schools and colleges throughout the UK. Not only can they help reduce energy expenditure and carbon consumption by a significant margin, they can also deliver improved lighting conditions that benefit both students and teachers.”

 

Long-term outlook
The long-term forecasts for the college certainly look very compelling. According to UK Energy Partners’ calculation, Patchway CC is bound for a saving of £63,091 in energy costs over an 8-year period. Project ROI is expected to be a mere 4.87 years, while the college is likely to benefit from a yearly carbon emission reduction of 65 tonnes – a saving of just over 37% on the current figure.

In the meantime, college personnel have already commented about a notable improvement in lux levels throughout the Patchway CC site. There is also a feeling that the new lighting systems help to lend the school a more attractive and contemporary ambience.

Outlining the positive reaction to the new installation, as well as the expertise contributed by UK Energy Partners, Patchway CC Business Manager Juliet Camilleri comments: “Our governors have asked me to pass on their thanks and congratulations regarding our lighting project. They were impressed with the professionalism that UK Energy Partners displayed, and are very pleased with the work carried out. We look forward to reducing our power consumption.”

Summing up, Colin Lawson says that he is “delighted by Patchway Community College’s response to the work of UK Energy Partners and the installation of such an extensive new Tamlite infrastructure. These robust, long-lasting LED systems will guarantee high quality lighting into the future for the college’s pupils and staff alike. It’s a pattern that we are now seeing repeated at educational establishments throughout the country as the transition to next generation lighting systems accelerates.”