In June 2009 we replaced traditional high bay lights at our bus and rail depots and multi storey car parks with new intelligent energy saving lights.

The traditional lights accounted for a significant proportion of the carbon dioxide emissions caused by our site energy use and were very expensive to run.The new lights have sensors so that they turn on and off according to movement and if it is a sunny day they can adjust themselves to be less bright.This means that the system only provides light when it is needed. Initial results have been very encouraging and at some depots electricity usage has reduced by around 50%.

• Capital expenditure: £2.4 million (average life of technology: up to 10 years)
• Aim: to reduce Group site electricity consumption by around 10%
• Estimated annual savings:
  • £1 million cost saving
  • 4,300 CO₂ tonnes. Equivalent to annual emissions from 780 households.

Electricity consumption (kwh)

The above chart shows the effect of the energy saving lights at our Victoria Sidings train depot, near Victoria Station London.