VIDEO: National Gallery goes green with lighting overhaul

The National Gallery has become one of the first public buildings in the world to achieve 85% energy savings on lighting by combining the use of LED lighting with a system that automatically adjusts external roof blinds.


Overall the Gallery expects to save 765,000kWh of electricity – equivalent to 417 tonnes of CO2 emissions – meaning financial savings of £53,600 on energy bills and a further £36,000 on maintenance.

Open Technology’s LiGO control system has been integrated into the Gallery’s building management system, which controls the amount of light allowed through the building’s skylight. LiGO augments the natural light by adjusting the output from the LEDs, protecting the paintings from an over-abundance of light which could damage them.

The National Gallery head of building and facilities Steve Van Dyke said: “With our previous system we could only switch on and off, whereas LiGO has enabled us to progressively dim and bring up the light in conjunction with daylight levels.”

Carbon management

Open Technology managing director Chris Bedford said: “The challenge for a lighting control system in any building is to deliver just about the right amount of light; in a gallery environment that’s of paramount importance because of the need to protect the artwork. We were able to automate and control the Gallery’s lighting to ensure the greatest possible use of natural daylight.”

The project supports the National Gallery’s carbon management plan to reduce CO2 emissions by 43% by 2015.

Bedford added: “Energy efficiency in the built environment is a key target for both business and government. More and more organisations are taking advantage of the fact that lighting control not only offers them significant energy savings and carbon reductions, but that it can respond to the complex and unique needs of their building to create a better environment for staff and visitors.”

VIDEO: LED lighting at the National Gallery

Lois Vallely

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