Light-saver system slashes energy costs

Photo / NZ Herald

New Zealand lighting technology has saved the Countdown supermarket chain's owner almost $500,000 a year in energy costs in two of its buildings.

Digital Light Solutions, a business involving several local companies, has developed an LED lighting system that can be controlled wirelessly.

This means, for instance, that if a forklift fitted with a sensor gets close to a light, it will turn on, then turn off again when the vehicle moves away.

Digital Light Solutions installed the system at two distribution centres owned by Countdown's owner Progressive Enterprises, in Christchurch and Auckland.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority provided some funding for the project.

In the two distribution centres, Progressive is saving around $494,000 a year on lighting costs.

It also reduced the carbon dioxide emissions from the sites by 375 tonnes a year.

Digital Light Solutions director David Reid said the technology had been installed at 12 other businesses in New Zealand and was also being trialled by a large client in Australia.

The wireless system used to control the lighting could also measure and control temperature, Reid said.

And because it worked through a wireless network, it could also be used to track equipment in institutions such as hospitals.

Entries open

• Entries have opened for the 2014 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority awards; they close in February.

• Organisations which have focused on improving energy use are encouraged to enter.

• Last year's supreme winner was Air New Zealand, which cut carbon emissions by 142,000 tonnes a year.

For more information, or to download an entry form, go to: www.eecabusiness.govt.nz/awards-2014