Lighting retrofits : an eco-friendly approach that combines environmental benefits with cost savings
A strategic initiative for which AEW has commissioned Elcimaï Environnement to modernize eight of its warehouses.
Relamping involves modernizing a lighting system by replacing obsolete, inappropriate, and energy-inefficient lamps and light sources. It minimizes energy consumption and reduces operating costs for the lighting fixtures, while helping to improve working conditions for employees. As part of its overall CSR strategy, AEW, one of the world’s leading real estate investment advisory and asset management firms, has initiated the relamping of eight of its warehouses, a project it has entrusted to Elcimaï Environnement.
Relamping : A First Step Toward the Energy Transition with Numerous Benefits
Depending on the sector and activities, lighting can account for up to 50 % of a company’s electricity bill, making it essential to analyze. As an immediate way to reduce energy consumption and costs, relamping is simple and quick. As a first step toward the energy transition, it offers numerous benefits :
- Reduced electricity consumption : regardless of the fixture, it will consume significantly less energy if equipped with an LED board, while also transforming into a higher-quality lighting system.
- Reduced operating and maintenance costs : an LED driver has a lifespan of up to 100,000 hours and offers the advantage of turning on and off without degrading over time. The company’s maintenance budget is therefore significantly reduced.
- Compliance with current standards and commitment to an eco-responsible approach : LED retrofitting meets the strictest standards and enables a commitment to eco-responsibility (by reducing the ecological impact of lighting fixtures) and sustainable development
- Adapting lighting to times of day and operational needs : when paired with sensors (presence and/or natural light), LED modules optimize lighting, extend its lifespan, and thereby reduce electricity bills. Smart lighting is a powerful tool for improving energy efficiency.
- Improved lighting quality : thanks to the optics integrated with the light source, LED panels enhance visual comfort for users and employee productivity, thereby creating optimal working conditions—a feature particularly valued in production facilities.
AEW commissions Elcimaï Environnement to retrofit 8 of its warehouses
AEW, one of the world’s leading real estate investment advisory and asset management firms, owns a portfolio of 70 warehouses in France, representing over 2 million square meters, and 56 buildings across Europe.
AEW is committed to a sustainable approach focused on reducing consumption, operating expenses, and risks. It is within this framework that, following the renovation of the Saint-Vulbas, Thionville, and Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône sites, AEW’s Head of Environment and Sustainable Development has just entrusted Elcimaï Environnement with a new project management assignment regarding the lighting retrofit of two warehouses (33,000 m²) in Bonneuil (95). The project involves replacing all existing lighting (high-pressure sodium) with energy-efficient models (LED).
“This is a major project to be carried out in an occupied facility that has been entrusted to us,” explains Claude Poupeau, site supervisor for Elcimaï Environnement. “Our goal is to achieve less than 2W per square meter once fully installed, while ensuring visual comfort for users. EIFFAGE will be the installer, and PHILIPS and THORN will be the suppliers.
In total, AEW has tasked Elcimaï Environnement with retrofitting nearly 120,000 m² of warehouse space, spread across six sites, to bring them into compliance with the NF EN 12464-1 standard for workplace lighting. More than 1,500 energy-intensive light fixtures will have been replaced with low-energy (LED) fixtures, with the following objectives :
Integration of lighting quality for the comfort and health of the end user :
- Glare control
- Uniformity
- Color rendering
Energy optimization and environmental constraints :
- Reduction of 440 kW in installed power
- Electricity consumption reduced by two-thirds over 5 years
- No need for lamp replacement (installation at a height of 10m, which poses a significant challenge)
- Stock locations in Europe
- Return on investment in less than 36 months
Validation of quality products :
- Traceability of the origin of the electronics
- High-performance and comfortable lighting
- Effective heat dissipation from LEDs to optimize lifespan
- Lifespan of 60,000 to 100,000 hours depending on the model, including installation under the roof
- 5-year product warranty
For 10,000 m² of warehouse space, 62 kg of lamps and 6 tons of luminaires (including a large amount of aluminum) will be collected by the Récylum recycling organization for recycling.