Minimise LEDs light up the circus

Hotel, Sport & Leisure Wed, Mar 23, 2016 9:16 AM

Minimise Energy has replaced the outdated fluorescent lights at the National Centre for Circus Arts with energy efficient LEDs, saving 20,093 kWh of lighting energy a year.

Throughout the upgrade programme, 58W fluorescent tubes have been replaced with 28W LED tubes.

The upgrade not only reduces the National Centre's annual lighting bill by £2,029 a year - it also cuts their carbon emissions by 13.42 tonnes a year. Over five years, the carbon emissions saved will be equivalent to the impact made by 11.4 acres of forests.

In addition, the National Centre will make maintenance savings as LEDs have significantly longer lifespans and require far less ongoing maintenance. The maintenance saving over five years will be in excess of £14,000.

The National Centre for Circus Arts is a registered charity and one of Europe's leading providers of circus education. Based in Hoxton, thousands of people attend the centre each year to learn and perform circus arts, juggling, aerial circus, acrobatics and more.

More than half of the annual income needed to run the National Centre comes from grants and donations - making operational efficiencies and savings, such as that provided by the LED upgrade, critically important.

The centre offers a BA Hons degree in Circus Arts, a structured progressive training programme for under 18s, and professional development opportunities for aspiring and established performers. Adults and young people can take part in a range of recreational classes and the businesses can use the Centre to provide workshops, away days and team building.

Interestingly, the National Centre is housed in an imposing industrial space - which began life as an electricity generating station in 1896. It is fitting that this building is now in the vanguard of London's drive to a more sustainable energy future.

Commenting on the project, Sam Stageman, Director of Sales at Minimise Energy, said: "It's not every day that you illuminate a circus school.

"This project highlights the significant financial benefits that can be achieved by upgrading to LED, even within a single building. With little or no disruption to the learning space, we've quickly replaced the lights - delivering efficiencies and improving the light quality."

Terry O'Dwyer, the National Centre's Building and Leasing Manager, said: "It is very exciting to have LED lights installed in our studio spaces and offices by Minimise. The lights will reduce both energy consumption and maintenance costs, saving us money which can be invested in circus arts. They also look great and improve overall lighting.

"I am especially looking forward to monitoring our energy consumption over the next few months as I have already noticed a reduction in the weeks since they were installed.

"Minimise were incredibly flexible and professional and installed the lights bang on time."