Sensors play key role in reducing lighting costs
Wolseley UK has achieved an 80% reduction in lighting energy consumption at its Cumbrian distribution centre following the installation of LED lamps controlled by Steinel high-bay motion detectors. The savings amount to £116 000 a year, much of it resulting from lighting now being on for only 2.5 h a day rather than continuously.
The distribution centre has high ceilings, 15 m in some areas. Wolseley had installed sensors in previous projects and found them not fit for purpose.
Rather than abandon the idea of sensor controls, Wolseley brought in QE Global, a supplier of LED lighting solutions, to trial a new type of sensor in a small pilot scheme in a loading area at the Melmerby site.
‘We used Steinel’s highly sensitive IS345 MX infra-red motion detectors,’ explains Sandy Smythe, sales manager with QE Global. ‘The plot not only established that the sensors were fit for purpose, it also made it possible to make accurate payback projections. This meant that Wolseley was able to mobilise capital expenditure for a full installation of sensors.’
Following the successful trial, QE Global overhauled the lighting at the site. All the fluorescent fittings and high- and low-bay floodlights were replaced with LEDs and 349 Steinel sensors to provide intelligent controls. These sensors have a radial detection zone of 30 x 4 m.
Andy Smythe comments, ‘The massive reduction in the number of hours that the lights are in use shows how important it is to use intelligent lighting controls. This project has been a huge success.
‘Wolseley was so pleased with the result that the company gave us the go-ahead to install Steinel sensors at another distribution centre, with more sites to follow.’
