Information about lighting in Hounslow House, addressing environmental concerns you may have about them.
Types of lighting
The lighting in Hounslow House is powered by a mixture of LED (Light Emitting Diodes) lights, including:
- down lights
- surface lights
- recessed lights
LED lights produce light when an electrical current passes through a small electronic chip inside the bulb. Unlike traditional light bulbs (like incandescent or halogen), which work by heating a wire to create light, LEDs emit light through the movement of electrons in the material. This means they’re much more energy efficient, as they turn most of the energy into light rather than heat.
How they operate
The lighting is on a pre-programmed schedule with set on and off times. In addition, they are activated by motion sensors (known as PIR or Passive Infrared), meaning they turn on automatically when movement is detected. There are also PDs (Present Detection) installed for when there is no detection of movement, causing the lights to turn off automatically.
The only manually controlled lights in the building are in meeting rooms. All other lighting is operated by a computer-controlled system. Making any changes to system or individual lights would require reprogramming, which is complex due to the quantity and variety of lights throughout the building. Using motion sensors makes the system much more efficient and manageable.
Nighttime lighting
Lights turn off for several hours overnight as part of the pre-programmed schedule.
Due to the motion sensor system, the lights will often be on in the evenings to provide adequate lighting for security patrols and other staff using the building, such as cleaners and councillors.
Improvements
We frequently review the programming of the system. Our aim is to identify alternative control measures that may improve efficiency while retaining operational need.
Environmental impact
LED lights are more energy efficient than traditional or halogen bulbs, typically using 80 to 90% less energy.
They also have a longer lifespan than other options, which reduces the requirement for regular replacement and maintenance of the bulbs, tubes, and fittings.
PIR sensors also use very little power and do not emit heat or energy, helping to conserve electricity.
By using LED lights and PIR sensors in Hounslow House, we can reduce our energy consumption and have more positive environmental impacts, while also ensuring lighting specifications are met.
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