Do London’s workplaces need lights blazing throughout the night? There are real environmental and financial consequences of lighting up workplaces all night long, so why do so many of London’s offices and shops leave the lights on all night?
The London Assembly’s Environment Committee today launches a new investigation into the reasons lights are left on in London’s workplaces and what can be done about it. It is estimated that lighting up the capital’s workplaces accounts for eight per cent of all London’s carbon emissions – some 3.52 million tons a year. [1] The Carbon Trust also estimates that lighting bills could be cut by 15 percent by only using lights when and where they are genuinely required.[2]
The Committee’s investigation will discuss with the capital’s business and public sectors the reasons why lights are left on and what can be done to promote energy-saving policies. It will also look at the potential advantages and disadvantages for different businesses of turning off their lights overnight.
Green Party Assembly Member, Darren Johnson, Chair of the Environment Committee, said: "When you are out in London at night, you will see buildings all across the capital with their lights blazing. Is this necessary?
"Turning off lights saves energy and money. So we want to understand why so many workplaces leave lights on overnight.
"We also want to see if there is more that the GLA and the Mayor could be doing to enable and encourage workplace lights to be switched off when they aren’t needed."
For its investigation, the Committee is seeking views and information from businesses, relevant organisations and the public. It will hold a public meeting in December and publish a report in early 2011.
Notes for Editors:
1. Figures given in Mayor’s draft Climate Change Mitigation and Energy Strategy (February 2010), p116, citing Energy Consumption in the UK 2009 update (DECC) and LEGGI 2006. The 8% figure is calculated from the stated 43% of London emissions from workplaces and 19% of workplace emissions from lighting.
2. See data on The Carbon Trust website, which is available here.
3. Find out more about the investigation here.