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Bracknell Forest Council, Bracknell

  • Time Square Office Building, Bracknell, UK
  • Time Square Office Building, Bracknell, UK
  • Time Square Office Building, Bracknell, UK
  • Time Square Office Building, Bracknell, UK
  • Time Square Office Building, Bracknell, UK
  • Lamp efficacy

    Lamp efficacy

    Ensuring the lamp efficiently converts electricity into light (lm/W).

  • Ballast classification

    Ballast classification

    Controlling the electricity supply to the lamp (Energy Efficiency Index).

  • Luminaire distribution

    Luminaire distribution

    Controlling light emission using optics which bend and shape the light to the correct location.

  • System efficacy

    System efficacy

    Improved luminaire efficacy of 76 lm/W delivers the correct amount of light while reducing energy consumption.

  • Presence/absence detection

    Presence/absence detection

    Remote lighting control sensors ensure lighting is only used when the space is occupied.

  • Daylight detection

    Daylight detection

    Dimmable ballasts within the luminaire are controlled by the combined presence/daylight detectors to ensure only the required amount of light is delivered onto the task.

  • Constant illuminance

    Constant illuminance

    A function designed to produce correct light levels for the duration of the maintenance period.

  • Task-scene setting

    Task-scene setting

    Allowing the user to set scenes and adapt the lighting to different tasks.

  • Timed off

    Timed off

    Automatic cut-off can be installed to turn all lights off during unoccupied hours.

  • Task lighting

    Task lighting

    Lighting task areas with the correct amount of light.

  • Zoning of lighting

    Zoning of lighting

    Lighting is zoned according to area use.

  • Maintenance schedule

    Maintenance schedule

    Maintenance must be performed in response to product age, performance and environment.

  • Waste light

    Waste light

    Eliminating waste light which does not hit the intended target.

  • Reflectance

    Reflectance

    A complete redecoration of the office space has improved the wall reflectance within the space meaning the lighting can be dimmed to achieve the required maintained lighting level.

  • Visible smart metering

    Visible smart metering

    A complete redecoration of the office space has improved the wall reflectance within the space meaning the lighting can be dimmed to achieve the required maintained lighting level.

Council offices refurbished with LED lighting to improve comfort and reduce energy by 37%

The Time Square office building in Bracknell is home to Bracknell Forest Council. The building is typical of many UK office blocks and required a complete refurbishment, including a lighting upgrade.

The old lighting comprised 1x58W switchstart luminaires with cat 2 louvres arranged in rows within a metal plank ceiling across the office space. The luminaire design combined with old technology meant the ceiling and walls appeared very dark, creating a gloomy effect below the optimum lighting specification for offices.

Two schemes were put forward for consideration: 1x55W TC-L with high frequency dimmable control gear and 1x42W LED with dimmable gear. The latter scheme was chosen with the contemporary recessed Quattro LED luminaire because it offered maximum energy savings. In comparison to the existing 1x58W switchstart luminaire, Quattro LED offered a 37% energy saving on connected load. Significantly, over a 12-year period, Quattro LED also offered an energy and maintenance saving of £45,543 compared to the fluorescent alternative.

Lighting controls further increase energy savings

Part of the upgrade also included the installation of daylight and presence lighting controls using Sensa Link to ensure the lighting uses the minimum amount of energy required to meet the new design specification. The new lighting levels have been designed to achieve 450 lux on the working plane with sensors programmed to dim the lights in groups according to daylight and occupancy. With the inclusion of lighting controls, lighting is only used when required, increasing the energy savings over and above the 37% achieved by upgrading to LED.

Comfortable lighting fit for the environment

The office lighting has been brought up to the latest lighting standards to support the wide variety of office-based tasks. With excellent colour rendition and superb light quality, the Quattro LED luminaires have transformed the working environment into a bright, vibrant space. The office is now a comfortable place to work, facilitating everyday tasks such as reading, writing and working with a computer screen, as well as clear communication between people As well as the lighting technology upgrade, the office has also been redecorated. This has increased the reflected light within the space and in turn creates further energy savings.

As part of the refurbishment, the emergency lighting has also been upgraded to LED using the Thorn Voyager LED series range. The addition of Explorer emergency lighting controls give a central emergency testing facility across the building.

Controls used

  • Sensa Link controls
  • Explorer emergency controls

Key Facts

  • Energy consumption reduced by 37%
  • 450 lux
  • Colour rendition: Ra80