Replacement works to install a new energy efficient LED lighting system are now complete at Kendal’s Westmorland Shopping Centre’s multi storey car park.

The project, funded as part of Westmorland and Furness Council’s drive towards becoming net zero by 2037, started in September and was completed in phases to allow the majority of the car park to remain in use, with sectional closures for each stage.

The existing lighting levels were below modern standards; the new lighting has been designed to reduce glare and shadows, improving the lighting throughout the car park.

By using sensors to detect when different areas of the car park are in use, the new lighting is set to make significant reductions in energy costs, consumption and CO2.

To achieve optimum savings three lighting levels are utilised; instant full output when a moving vehicle or person is detected, which then drops to 10% of full output after three minutes when no movement is detected, and finally after another two minutes of no movement the lights will turn off completely.

Sectional lighting is also grouped into batches through Bluetooth programming and neighbour functioning. In simple terms, this means a batch of lights will illuminate in a connected sequence as you walk (or drive) through the space.

Also, in the perimeter areas of the car park, the light fittings are programmed to save even more energy by ‘daylight harvesting’; this means they utilise natural light from the open sides of the car park. When natural light exceeds a programmed threshold that meets the required safety standards, the lighting in those locations will not illuminate.

The lighting programme ensures the right level of safety and energy savings are being achieved, so lights come on as and when required.

The lighting only operates when the area is in use. An annual saving of 42 tonnes of CO2 equivalent has been estimated, as compared with the baseline year of 2019/20. This is the equivalent of planting 3,384 trees and is based on a 63% saving in lighting output.

Cllr Giles Archibald, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate, Biodiversity and Environmental Services said:

“The predicted levels of savings for both CO2 and energy through this lighting replacement scheme is fantastic and forms just one of several projects that make up our detailed five year Climate Action Plan. This takes us one step further on our journey to net zero and establishing ourselves as an ecologically aware, climate positive council.”

Cllr Andrew Jarvis, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Finance, said:

"The capital spend for this new lighting project will be offset by the positive reduction in future energy costs. We are continuously looking at how our capital programme of projects can achieve the most benefits for Westmorland and Furness. This project is a good example of one change that brings positive environmental, financial and safety benefits.”

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