A NEW lighting system at Poole’s Lighthouse arts centre is expected to pay for itself in little more than a year, with savings forecast of almost £10,000 and nearly eight tonnes of CO2e*.

The Lighthouse management has recently completed essential improvement works to enhance energy efficiency, reduce environmental impact and ensure the long-term sustainability of its operations. The result is what chief executive Elspeth McBain describes as “a major green win.”

The project centred around the installation of LED lighting in front of house and backstage areas, complemented by the strategic placement of movement sensors. The works cost nearly £12,450, of which £5,000 was paid for by a decarbonisation grant from BCP Council with funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Lighthouse making up the difference.

“We’re on course to save 7.9 tonnes of CO2e with initial figures suggesting a financial saving of just over £9,700 a year as a result – so the cost of the entire investment will be made back in just over a year,” says Elspeth.

The global environmental situation is of great significance to the artistic community and Lighthouse is conscious of its responsibility to play a part in addressing this.

“There’s much more to be done,” adds Elspeth. “By far our biggest user of energy is our stage lighting/sound and in order to replace that with low energy we are continuing to actively seek funding support.”

* Calculation based on the four main greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and F-gas.