Green Gown Awards 2015 – Carbon Reduction - Heriot-Watt University - Finalist

Leading Lights! A cost-effective approach to LED street lighting in a campus setting

The street lighting infrastructure at Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh Campus included several hundred high pressure sodium (SON) lamps with ageing control gear.

The installation of LED street lighting was identified by the University’s Electrical Engineer as an ideal opportunity to modernise infrastructure while providing a significant energy saving. Sourcing LED street light heads compatible with the University’s existing column brackets was a key challenge but this was resolved through successful engagement with suppliers, allowing the project to go ahead and the University to reduce street lighting electricity demand by around 60kW or 75%.

The project has yielded an annual reduction in emissions of over 130 tCO2 while providing clean, clear lighting on roads and footpaths around the Campus. Light is directed where it is needed much more efficiently by the LED luminaires than by the old street lighting system, substantially reducing light pollution: good news for local wildlife and star-gazers alike!

Top 3 learnings

1 Keep your eye on emerging trends / technologies and consider their relevance and viability within your own institution

2 Engage early with suppliers for a full understanding of technical options and potential project constraints

3 Minimise risks by trialling several options wherever it is practical to do so – seeing alternative options in use is always helpful towards making an informed decision.

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