UK lighting manufacturer Whitecroft Lighting has delivered a smart lighting upgrade for the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), reducing energy consumption across its UK-wide estate.
The project has delivered efficiencies for the government department, the largest of its kind in the country, reducing lighting energy consumption by around 80% across 129 modernised sites.
In partnership with facilities management provider, Mitie, Whitecroft Lighting replaced outdated lighting systems with modern LED luminaires and smart building technology.
Whitecroft’s sensor-driven lighting system, Organic Response, was central to the project. Its daylight harvesting system automatically adjusts lighting levels based on natural light availability. By monitoring lighting levels, Organic Response aims to maximise the value of natural light and drive up carbon and cost efficiency.
Whitecroft’s systems play a role in the DWP’s 45% carbon reduction target, aligning with the UK government’s wider Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, aimed at helping the public sector drive efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. With over 54,300 individual lighting products installed, such as luminaires, seniors, and nodes, the DWP upgrade is one of the biggest projects in its 80-year history.
All 129 sites were completed within a two-year time frame and, to minimise disruption to DWP staff and visitors, Whitecroft was assigned specific timeslots for out-of-hours installation.
Mark Brunt, Regional Sales Manager at Whitecroft Lighting, says, “When Mitie approached us, we knew we had to deliver a solution that made a real impact on the DWP’s carbon reduction targets. Swapping thousands of outdated lights for LEDs instantly cut energy use by 50% and, with Organic Response, we pushed efficiency even further, achieving up to 80% savings.
“We also future-proofed the DWP estate lighting, ensuring it’s ready for the next generation of smart building upgrades and can quickly integrate cloud-based technology, heat mapping, and other smart asset management controls.
“This project has been a great opportunity to show how cutting-edge lighting technology can drive real efficiency in the public sector and support the government’s push for smarter, more sustainable buildings.”
Based in Greater Manchester, Whitecroft Lighting designs and manufactures all its commercial lighting solutions in the UK.
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