Case Study: Thorlux & University of Plymouth

Although it achieved university status in 1992, the University of Plymouth’s history goes back to 1862, when it was founded as the Plymouth School of Navigation. Now, it is one of the largest universities on England’s south coast, with over 18,000 students. The university is preeminent in the study of marine and maritime environments and societies and is a hub for healthcare training in the Southwest.

The Challenge

Responding to a call to arms from the Environmental Association of Colleges and Universities (EACU), the University of Plymouth declared a climate emergency in the summer of 2019. Since then, the University has already achieved net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from scope 1 and 2 and selected scope 3 elements, with a target of full scope 3 neutrality by 2030–2050.

While areas of the university campus were already using LED luminaires, the absence of a reactive, intelligent control system meant that the university was not achieving the full energy-saving potential of modern lighting technology.

As a lighting manufacturer with a track record of innovation in efficiency and its own ambitious net-zero goals, Thorlux Lighting has proven to be a strong partner in helping UoP achieve optimum energy efficiency.

The Solution

Thorlux began by updating the essential emergency lighting in buildings across the University, introducing the groundbreaking wireless SmartScan lighting management system to the campus management team.

The next stage was to prove the SmartScan system could oversee and manage lighting effectively in a complete building.  Appropriately, the space selected was the Sustainability Hub in the Kirkby Lodge building. The Hub was already equipped with LED luminaires but had no lighting control system so used considerably more power than desirable. Following a complete SmartScan LED lighting upgrade, using Thorlux Light Line luminaires with Lexi escape signs and Firefly emergency luminaires, the Sustainability Hub’s lighting energy usage was reduced by an impressive 77% against the old, uncontrolled lighting system.

Having seen the efficiency benefits and carbon reductions of switching to a controlled lighting system, plans were made to expand the use of SmartScan across the campus. Specific applications included re-lighting the exterior of the flagship Roland Levinsky building with iconic Realta and Realta Micro luminaires, Colour Active luminaires in a futuristic gaming lab, bespoke acoustic panels for the Fitzroy building, and custom-made acoustic raft panels for the Fitzroy building. Furthermore, pole-mounted luminaires with green ‘halos’ have been used to create safe routes for students through the campus after dark as part of the Safer Streets initiative.

Over 3,000 SmartScan luminaires have been installed across the campus and commissioned by Thorlux engineers for optimum performance. The SmartScan system provides site management with unparalleled control and maintenance oversight of their lighting; additionally, SmartScan’s ‘heat mapping’ usage information is being used to plan for better space utilisation across the site.

Application

Education, External

Services

SmartScan, Commissioning

Products

Passway, Starbeam, Starbeam Black, Realta, Realta Micro, Prunus C – Green, Juno C, Cleanline, Kanby Evo, Light Line, G3, Ovix – Black, Thoroproof, HiBar, Flexbar, Cornisa, Cobalt, HiStyle, Starflood, Duo spot, Firefly, Lexi, Firefly surface, Lexi 65