By replacing outdated lighting, Gateway Property Management have just saved residents a staggering £19,850 as part of the refurbishment at this historic development. Here’s how they did it.

Merton Abbey Mills is one of London’s oldest heritage sites, boasting a fully working Grade II listed Victorian waterwheel and a 400 year old Grade II listed medieval building. Located along the banks of the River Wandle on the borders of South Wimbledon and Colliers Wood it was once home to the famous Arthur Liberty printing works, which dates back to the late 1900s. Residents living in the 280 apartments on site are able to enjoy a range of award winning independent restaurants, cafes, bars and boutique shops, together with a unique bandstand performance area which hosts live music, shows and events. With a Virgin Active Health Club on site and a Farmers and Craft market held at weekends, Merton Abbey Mills offers a vibrant lifestyle in an historic location.

The Brief

Despite the very high standard of the apartments at Abbey Mills, flat owners and property managers Gateway were increasingly unhappy with their outdated communal lighting. Maintenance costs were exorbitant and a quote for thousands of pounds had been received for the urgent emergency lighting repairs that were required to meet the building regulations.

Priding themselves on taking a forward-thinking approach to property management and recognising that the constantly failing light fittings were to blame for increasing costs, Gateway concluded that replacement with LEDs could offer savings. Having met at an industry event, they commissioned a lighting audit from LED specialists Future Lighting.  

After a Section 20 consultation with residents and in agreement with freeholder Ground Rents (Regisport) Limited (part of the Regis Group PLC) – a company which is leading the leasehold sector in its commitment to future proofing its blocks – Gateway put the lighting replacement project out to tender. Future Lighting put in the successful bid and was appointed to assist with the design and build of a new, energy efficient lighting scheme. 

The aim was to keep maintenance costs low with a bespoke installation that would complement the existing design of the building.

Landlords such as the Regis Group Plc are market leading when it comes to using innovative methods to not only future proof their assets but also to make the homes of their leaseholders more desirable and cost effective places to live.

Problem areas identified

• High wattage lighting with associated high running costs
• No means of control
• Lights “ON” in bright naturally lit areas
• Failed emergency lighting
• Ongoing lighting failures resulting in a poorly maintained feel
• Mix of lamp types and poor colour matching
• Vast heat created from the existing fittings making the lobbies unbearable during summer months

Challenges

• Utilisation of the existing wiring to prevent major cosmetic damage.
• Designing a lighting scheme that would complement rather than detract from the original design of the building.
• Avoiding disruption to residents and their visitors.

The Future Lighting Solution

Apartment lobbies

• Removing high wattage lighting technology.
• Providing a simple fitting replacement roll-out utilising the existing wiring.
  • The low energy LED lights also incorporated integral occupancy detectors that constantly monitors Light Levels and occupancy.
• New low energy LED lights incorporate integral occupancy detectors that constantly monitor light levels and traffic
• As residents were used to lights being “ON” 24/7 fittings were built with a dimmable facility, so that during unoccupied periods, the lights dropped to 10% (1.4 Watts) output, providing an ambient level of light.
• New emergency packs were also combined within the necessary fittings so providing full compliant emergency cover.

Car park, plant and refuse rooms

• Removal of all existing 140watt fittings
• Direct replacement with 28W LED fittings complete with integral occupancy detectors and emergency facility
• Removal of all existing outdated control methods

External estate lighting

• All building feature façade lights were replaced with LED alternatives
• All bollard lighting lamps were replaced with LED alternatives
• All controls were tested, serviced and re-commissioned

New LED lights pay for themselves

Internal lighting throughout the entire estate (comprising three blocks and a 200+ space car park) as well as all external lighting was retrofitted in less than 14 days without disruption to the building, its internal or external decor or any interruption to residents.

The savings made at Abbey Mills are hefty. The lighting upgrade totalled £72,000 and will reduce energy costs from £20,495 to approximately £800 per annum. The ongoing vast maintenance costs have been eradicated and the system is now covered by Future Lighting’s five-year Full P&L Warranty. Ultimately the best news for Gateway and the residents at Abbey Mills has been to discover that the return on investment (ROI) from this major refurbishment project will only be 32 months.

Investing in the future

There has never been a better time to invest in energy efficiency. Businesses are looking to combat rising energy prices, reduce their carbon footprint and their maintenance costs. It’s good for the economy and good for the planet.

Many businesses are being forced to make these changes through the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. Installing LED lighting is the obvious choice for drastic energy savings. It’s a quick and easy win on CO2 reduction too.

If you have a project that Future Lighting can help you with, or for a free site survey, please contact them for further information on 0203 826 9999, email [email protected] or visit www.future-lighting.co.uk