Everglades to slash lighting costs by a huge 60 per cent

To assist other local businesses with making the switch to energy efficient LED (light-emitting diodes) lighting, NIE Energy has grants available to help cover the cost.

The Hastings Hotel group - owners of the Everglades - is the first customer to benefit from the NIE Energy grant and will use it to help with the cost of installing more LED lighting throughout its seven hotels in Northern Ireland.

Once the project is complete the hotel group is set to see its lighting expenditure reduced by approximately 60 per cent, with overall electricity bills already down by 20 per cent since work started earlier this year.

Claire Carson of NIE Energy said: “LEDs use a fraction of the energy of traditional light sources and will last for longer.

“We are delighted with the results that Hastings has achieved so far and look forward to seeing these savings grow with the help of our LED scheme.

“The savings that can be made by switching to this type of lighting are considerable, with quality LED bulbs now on the market providing a very high standard of performance.

“Making the switch to energy efficient lighting and taking advantage of the help available to do so represents an opportunity to make significant cuts to overheads that can be sustained for the future.

“I would encourage any local firm that is interested in the scheme to get in touch and apply for funding.”

Gerry Carty, of The Hastings Hotel Group, where a reduction of over 25 kilowatts has been achieved to date thanks to the installation of LED bulbs, commented:

“As a hotel, lighting accounts for approximately 70 per cent of our electricity usage, so we are keen to explore options that offer greater efficiency and reduce our impact on the environment, while at the same maintaining or improving the ambience of our 4 star surroundings. “The assistance we have received from NIE Energy has been instrumental in implementing our plans to switch to LED lighting, and the savings we have seen so far speak for themselves.

“This has a positive impact on the business as a whole, which will ultimately benefit our customers. I hope that many more business across Northern Ireland will take advantage of the grants available through NIE Energy’s scheme.”

Businesses wishing to apply for a grant from NIE Energy to help towards installing LED lighting should visit www.nieenergy.co.uk. The scheme is funded by the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme.