The Conference Centre converts its lights to LED technology to drive energy saving

Switching the Conference Centre’s lights to LED technology coupled with sustainable initiatives will enable savings of 1 million kWh in 2020 argued the Conference Centre’s Chairman Emiliano García. He explained that “with a view to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the City Council has committed to a strategy based on innovation and sustainability by investing in upgrading the building’s technology to lessen its environmental impact and make it more competitive.”

He announced that the building has completed the conversion of the lighting in its outdoor canopy, exhibition area, multipurpose room 2 and north and south staircases to LED lights. “Switching the lights over to LED technology had already begun in the first phase with the replacement of the stage lighting in the auditoriums,” he noted. “This fresh investment means 70% of the Centre’s lights are now fitted with this technology and the plan is to make that 100% in the immediate future.”

The commitment to “an efficient and sustainable Conference Centre helps move Valencia’s smart city strategy forward,” said García. He argued that the City Council’s “investment drive” will make it possible to “offer cutting-edge technology infrastructures anchored in innovation and environmental stewardship which will set the standard for other destinations.”

García commented that this new smart system means the lights can be controlled point by point using an app and handled from any device whether a mobile, tablet or PC. The Centre’s Managing Director, Sylvia Andrés, added that “the lighting has an enormous impact on our delegates’comfort. This new LED lighting system will enhance the customer experience since it means spaces can be divided up and customised with low power usage and seamless integration into the facilities’ environment.”

Besides significant energy savings, LED technology has an extended operating life at 4-5 times longer than conventional lights. As they are more durable they significantly cut the cost of bulb replacement upkeep, especially in high-up areas where complex equipment has to be leased. Moreover, the lights’ control and automation devices detect the entry of natural light so as to maintain the same general level of lighting in the area by automatically adjusting their brightness. This brings even greater energy savings as the lights are not constantly operating at full capacity. It is estimated that the savings resulting from the switchover will come to 38,000 kWh a year.

This initiative runs alongside the others in the Centre’s ECO Project which is founded on a commitment to excellence, quality and environmental stewardship. It is estimated that 40% of the building’s total investment is sustainable and overall these measures are expected to save approximately 1 million kWh of energy in 2020. The Plan drawn up as part of this approach has been carefully designed around implementing sustainable solutions including an electronic control system for facilities, water flow sensors and purifiers, state-of-the-art HVAC equipment, a green recycling centre and digital signage. One of the most significant of these initiatives was the installation of rooftop photovoltaic panels in 2008 which have already generated over 3 million kWh of clean energy.