Salisbury Cathedral has wrapped up a significant lighting upgrade, aiming to cut its carbon footprint while enhancing visitor experience
Salisbury: The cathedral just finished a big lighting project that took about six months. Managed by Spectrum Electrical Group from Yeovil, they installed new fittings from ERCO, a lighting manufacturer.
This new lighting system is not just about looks; it’s designed to be sustainable and will help cut down the cathedral’s carbon footprint significantly.
They completed the project on time and within budget, thanks to a grant from the Friends of Salisbury Cathedral. It’s great to see community support for such initiatives!
The new lights were first used during Advent last year. They’re meant to create a nice atmosphere during services, especially for folks who might have trouble seeing or moving around.
Tour guides can now show off parts of the cathedral that were hard to see before, like some medieval paint in the arches and an old blocked doorway.
Besides making things safer and more enjoyable for visitors, the new lighting will also cut down on fire risks. It’s a win-win!
They expect to save over 80% on energy costs with this new system, which will also lower carbon emissions by about 25 tonnes each year. That’s pretty impressive!
Reverend Kenneth Padley, the canon treasurer, mentioned that tackling climate change is crucial for protecting our planet. With the old halogen lamps fading out, they aimed to reduce the carbon footprint while highlighting the cathedral’s beauty.
The cathedral is committed to going net zero carbon. They’ve already replaced the exterior lighting this year and added hidden solar panels on the roof a couple of years back.
They’re also looking to install similar LED lights in other areas and are considering a ground source heat pump to further cut down on heating emissions. Exciting times ahead!
For more details, check out their website.
