Liverpool John Lennon Airport reaps the benefits of LED not long after the upgrade was completed, with total energy savings of 12% despite a significant 14% rise in passenger numbers. Customers and staff alike have commented on the improved quality of light and modern aesthetic of the new system.

about the client

The profitability and environmental impact of the aviation industry are closely linked. Although a major contributor to the UK’s overall GVP and a key enabler in reigniting national economic growth, the industry has seen passenger volumes constantly rising, putting more pressure on airports, and related businesses, to keep carbon emissions low. Liverpool John Lennon Airport finds itself in this precise predicament, with a 14% increase in passengers.

The airport is strongly committed to constantly monitoring and improving its environmental performance, going one step beyond compliance and thinking about a sustainable future.

With its latest ESOS audit reporting that lighting amounted to 22% of its total electricity usage, the airport decided to invest in the latest LED technology to substantially reduce its emissions and improve its facilities for a better customer experience.

Leading the energy saving project were the airport’s Head of Environment, Andrew Dutton, Head of Asset Management, Dave Batt with DC Emergency Systems Ltd

Joint Managing Director, Keith Hollings, who chose Dextra Lighting due to its sector-specific expertise and portfolio, fast delivery times, proven track-record for quality and industry-leading energy reduction focus.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport Head of Environment, Andrew Dutton, comments:

“Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s ESOS audit indicated that approximately 22% of all electricity was used for lighting the terminal, car park and apron; the target for this year was to reduce this by half. The Dextra LED luminaires and associated controls installed by DC Emergency Lighting have helped reduced our overall electricity use by 9 to 12% during a period while passenger numbers have increased by 14%.

The installation has gone well with minimal disturbance to our on-going 24/7 operation. The Airport is now starting to enjoy the predicted savings. Additional benefits that have been commented on by colleagues and passengers have been the improved light quality and aesthetic of the luminaires.”

The Brief

The diverse project would require the full use of Dextra Lighting’s range of precision-engineered and ECA compliant LED products, flexible bespoke service and dedicated transport fleet, to meet the airport’s exact lighting requirements within a tight schedule. Areas selected for the upgrade included:

• Check in and Arrivals concourse
• Departure lounges
• Central search area
• Baggage reclaim
• Immigration
• Baggage sortation
• Back of house corridors and stairs

Fast delivery and installation times were essential to avoid prolonged interruptions to the airport’s 24/7 service.

Luminaries and controls needed to be easy to install and adapted to the existing infrastructure to minimise additional structural work to the building.

For the final phase of the project, full disposal and recycling of the old lighting fittings was to be provided in accordance with WEEE regulations and the airport’s programme of works.

“…reduced our overall electricity use by 9 to 12% during a period while passenger numbers have increased by 14%”

the solution

Arrivals concourse, Check in, Departure lounges – MODLED Slim & OPUS 2 LED

To create comfortable and inviting lighting conditions in the shopping and dining area, a combination of high level and lower level recessed lighting was required, tailored specifically to airport’s architecture and the requirements of resident retailers.

For the high ceiling areas, Dextra Group’s design team took a novel approach by adapting the Opus 2 LED floodlight to suit an indoor application. The modified floodlight was supplied in a 28,800 lumen output, and surface mounted at heights of 10m, with a bespoke baffle manufactured to match the existing luminaire style and provide a more controlled diffusion for visual clarity and comfort.

To add to the energy saving capabilities of LED, the Opus 2 LED will keep maintenance costs to a minimum in such hard to reach locations, as frequent lamp changes will be no longer be required. This is thanks to the rugged durability of its high-quality Lumileds paired with its constant lumen output function, which gradually increases power over the luminaire’s lifetime – ensuring that there is no lumen depreciation from the moment of installation, maintaining the required light levels with minimal maintenance.

The MODLED Slim recessed luminaire, was installed in the lower level suspended ceilings to create a brightly-lit, yet comfortable retail and dining environment. From a range of 3 body sizes and lumen outputs between 1750 and 15,200lm, the MODLED Slim was specified in a 4,500 lumen output, which is designed for retrofit applications where closer luminaire spacings exist. Its high transmission diffuser delivers both efficiency and maximum visual comfort, offering 93% transmission and BSEN 12464 compliant glare reduction. The MODLED Slim was also used for the baggage reclaim area, in a variety of lumen outputs and sizes to achieve the desired light levels, uniformity, and maximum visibility throughout.

In terms of overall efficiency, the luminaire performs at between 95 and 128 luminaire lumens per watt depending on lumen output, offering the same or improved light output as fluorescent or HID equivalents but with reductions in energy consumption of up to 60%.

The highly versatile luminaire is suitable for both lay in and pull up installation, and is available in a wide range of dimming and sensor options to enhance both the functionality and energy efficiency of each installation.

Arrivals & Departures airside corridors – Sequent LED & MODLED Surface

A continuous run of the versatile and efficient Sequent LED luminaires was fitted across the wide open area of the departure and arrival corridors. As this was an area of high passenger traffic, the Sequent LED was chosen for its innovative design for rapid installation. Once its robust extruded anodised aluminium trunking system had been suspended (surface mounted version also available), the gear trays were fixed into the trunking with a simple twist lock motion. A practical 7 pole wiring loom and plug and socket system also allowed for a quick and easy electrical connection, with the flexibility to set up dual switching, dimming and emergency control as needed.

The luminaire’s high transmission polycarbonate optic offers excellent diffusion of its high-quality Lumileds LEDs and is available in 3 different beam angles to adapt to a variety of interiors.

LED technology has also allowed this luminaire to be offered in a wide range of lumen outputs of between 3500 and 9600lm – satisfying different lighting requirements, whilst performing at an impressive average of 126 Llm/w.

The MODLED Surface also provided an energy-efficient and low maintenance replacement for the existing panel lighting in the lounges’ lower ceiling areas. Like the Sequent LED, the MODLED range’s attractive minimalist design brought a modern aesthetic to the airport.

As with most luminaires featured in this project, the Sequent LED and MODLED Recessed were linked to a DALI building management system, combining sensor and daylight dimming control to offer additional energy savings of up to 30%.

Central Search area – CAPO & CAPO XL Pendant Luminaires

By echoing the classic style of traditional highbay luminaires and combining it with modern functionality, performance and aesthetic appeal, the CAPO LED has enjoyed great success across different sectors.

To offer the airport faster returns on investment, the pendant luminaire was retrofitted across the entire outbound control area using the existing suspension points, replacing a total of 200 existing 170w fixtures with 76w alternatives. The CAPO LED, which is available in 3500 and 4500 lumen packages, was used as accent lighting where required, whereas the CAPO XL, in its higher outputs of up to

24,000lm, was used as primary lighting to achieve the task appropriate light levels for staff.

The versatile luminaire appearance can also be customised to suit a variety of branding schemes, using either a matt grey or white aluminium rear housing, or a selection of translucent collars in different colours.

The installation was also linked to the centralised DALI BMS system to provide full dimming, sensor and self test emergency lighting system control.

Baggage sortation – EcoPack & Hydra LED

The EcoPack offered a quick, simple and cost-effective one-to-one replacement of the existing batten luminaires in the baggage sortation area – combining the reliability, energy-efficiency and low maintenance of the latest Lumileds LED sources with advanced sensor control.

To improve ROIs for the airport, the EPK simplified installation via a combination of features including:

• Matching footprint to typical fluorescent battens
• No additional wiring or BUS installation required to connecting sensors
• Two-part construction gear tray and diffuser with rear spine and one piece clip for easy mounting and electrical connection

For additional energy savings, the EPK can also be supplied with a range of

sensors for presence detection and daylight regulation to offer customised control functions and remote control programming suitable for high level applications between 4 and 18m.

For the back of house areas where access is often difficult and the cost of maintaining traditional fluorescent sources is high, the IP65-rated Hydra LED’s robust steel gear tray and glass reinforced polyester construction, offered protection from dirt and dust ingress and light impact combined with the long-life reliability of its LED source, for a hassle-free, low-maintenance alternative.

The Hydra LED also offered excellent performance with its efficient polycarbonate diffuser and high-quality Lumileds LED providing light-output-ratios in excess of 90%, whilst operating at up to 140 Llm/w.

Circulation Areas – Protec LED and Comtec LED

To minimise interruptions to airport services, the ultra-versatile and efficient Protec LED and Comtec LED were supplied with bespoke adapter rings custom bezels as the new luminaires were smaller than the fittings being replaced. This ensured faster installation by avoiding additional decorating and repairs.

In all areas, luminaire’s were supplied with integral three-hour emergency function self test systems in accordance to building safety regulations, avoiding the time and costs of installing separate emergency lighting system.

All luminaire use the latest LM80-verified Philips Lumileds offering 90% LED lumen maintenance at 60,000 operating hours.

Finally, Dextra Group’s waste disposal and recycling specialists – Dexreco, promptly and safely recycled all obsolete light fittings according to WEEE regulations, giving the airport one less thing to worry about at the end of the project.