Taverham Junior School

The Client

Taverham VC CE Junior School in Norfolk had recognised the need for a lighting upgrade for some years but funding was not available.

The aged and inefficient lighting was further identified as a major issue in a full buildings survey conducted in April (2016).

The larger than average junior school, with 442 pupils, was built in 1959 and many of the lighting fittings dated back to that time, with building additions in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2002.

Light quality was poor and there were ongoing maintenance costs as tubes and other lights failed regularly.

Headteacher Paul Stanley was introduced to energy efficiency experts SaveMoneyCutCarbon through the Norwich Diocese and Anglian Water Business account manager Neil King.

Discussions identified the urgent need for an LED lighting upgrade and the main issue of capital cost. SaveMoneyCutCarbon provided the solution – 100% interest-free funding via Salix Finance, and a fully-managed LED lighting retrofit project with loan repayments covered by the savings on energy costs.

SaveMoneyCutCarbon used its expertise within the education sector to swiftly survey and specify replacement LED lighting, managing the entire process of installation and testing. Equally important, SMCC completed the complex Salix funding application on behalf of the school and at no cost to them.

SaveMoneyCutCarbon’s technical team specified quality LED lighting because of its low energy use, high reliability and exceptional working life of at least 50,000 hours. In contrast, incandescent light bulbs typically last around 1,000 hours and fluorescents are good for roughly 5,000 hours before light degradation occurs.

LEDs are also low maintenance, an additional benefit to the school as the lights should not need replacing for a decade or more while finally resolving the issue of failed tubes and other fittings. All of the lighting is fully supported with a no quibble manufacturers’ warranty.

There are also benefits for staff and for children’s learning through better lighting quality.

There was a need for swift action to:

• improve lighting quality as many areas of the school were inadequate
• make substantial ongoing savings on lighting bills
• improve the school’s sustainability framework by reducing carbon emissions.

The SaveMoneyCutCarbon Field Services team replaced 425 lights, including panels, tubes, 2D fittings and floodlights across the whole school.

The installation team – all fully DBS checked – worked closely with the school to minimise disruption, working nights and finishing over the bank holiday. The team would typically commence work each day at 4pm and work through the night.

Summary

• The LED retrofit will reduce lighting bills by £3,830 a year
• Carbon footprint will be cut by 63%
• Full Salix financing at zero interest means the project should be self-financing over an eight-year period