The first phase of LED's GO was completed this summer. Between April 2023 and August, nearly 12,000 luminaires were retrofitted. In four major campus buildings: Huygens, Grotius, Elinor Ostrom/ Gymnasion and the University Library, and on the sports fields, in the car parks, lecture halls and in the greenhouse complex. This results in annual savings of as much as 1.85 million kWh. A saving equivalent to the average annual consumption of 750 households.
Start of second phase
The second phase will start in autumn 2024, when the remaining, smaller buildings on campus will be fitted with LED lighting. That means retrofitting another 4,000 luminaires and saving 476,000 kWh, comparable to the consumption of almost 200 households.
Investing in saving
Energy consumption for lighting drops significantly, saving Radboud University around 1 million euros in annual energy costs. In addition to these energy savings, the new LED lamps also reduce maintenance costs due to their long lifespan. LED lighting lasts up to eight times longer than conventional lighting.
In total, Radboud University is investing about 10 million euros in this sustainability effort. To this end, it is making use of the subsidy scheme ‘Sustainable Social Real Estate’ (DUMAVA), part of the Dutch Recovery and Resilience Plan.
Implementation and recycling
About 30% of the existing luminaires can be made suitable for LED lamps with a modification. The luminaires that are not suitable are replaced and disposed of and recycled in an environmentally friendly way by contractor Lumeco. The work will take place during normal operating hours as much as possible, always in consultation with users. To limit inconvenience to users, the work is clustered per building section. Lighting in educational areas will be adjusted during off-school hours.
The total implementation of LED's GO will take more than two and a half years, to be completed in early 2026.