Many frozen food distributors face significant hurdles when it comes to lighting low temperature environments efficiently. Below zero degrees centigrade fluorescent luminaires suffer from significantly reduced lumen output and HID prohibit the use of dimming and sensor technology.
When lighting freezers below -20 degrees centigrade more serious problems are encountered such as unreliable striking. As a result luminaires in these environments are often left on continuously and are more closely spaced than would be the case in ambient applications.
Brakes and Dexeco worked together to find a solution to these problems across their estate. LEDs were the obvious choice as they operate at temperatures as low as -40 degrees without reduced lumen output. The ability of LEDs to strike instantly and be dimmed at low temperatures makes sensor control and additional energy savings possible.
Brakes initially installed a trial site to demonstrate the environmental savings that could be achieved. Dexeco’s Coldbay LED with integral presence detection sensors were installed in the freezer areas and the Verteco T5 fluorescent with integral presence and daylight regulation sensors were used in the chilled and ambient areas. Energy savings of over 80% were achieved before taking into account the additional costs and energy reductions realised from being able to reduce power to the chiller units.
Following this success Dexeco have now refurbished seven further sites, are working together with Brakes on the specification of their latest new build project and have started trials to reduce the energy consumption of their external lighting consumption.
“The Dexeco product range provided a combination of excellent energy savings and ease of use that stood out far above the competition. With our emphasis on environmental policies and carbon and energy reduction Dexeco were the natural choice for our lighting refurbishment covering ambient, chilled and frozen areas.” Ian Hunt, Group Engineering Manager
