Lighting for Healthcare Part 1: How Remanufactured LED Systems Can Support More Sustainable Facilities
This article is part one of a three-part T-Word series on how lighting can support sustainable, cost-effective healthcare facilities – and contribute to national net zero commitments.
Why Sustainability in Healthcare Matters
Remanufactured LED lighting systems offer an innovative and impactful approach for healthcare facilities to enhance sustainability efforts and reduce costs.
The need for practical, low-carbon solutions in healthcare is critical. Research shows that the NHS contributes approximately 4-5% of the UK’s total carbon emissions with NHS England alone accounting for 40% of all public sector emissions.
Reflecting the size of this challenge, the NHS became the first health system to legislate net-zero targets through the Health and Care Act 2022. Its aim is to achieve net zero by 2040, with an interim target of reducing carbon emissions by 80% between 2028 and 2032.
Remanufactured lighting is a practical and cost-effective solution. These systems have a lower embodied carbon footprint than newly manufactured products. They also offer greater energy efficiency compared to older lighting systems, thereby helping to reduce carbon emissions. Moreover, remanufactured systems are often more economical than new alternatives.
Remanufactured Lighting: A Circular Approach to Lighting Solutions
Remanufactured lighting involves, refurbishing previously used fixtures with modern components to meet current standards. This process may include replacing worn-out parts, upgrading to energy-efficient LED technologies, and ensuring compliance with safety and performance requirements. By keeping existing components and materials in circulation, remanufactured lighting systems support a more circular economy.
The Role of Gear Trays in Lighting Remanufacturing
A key component of remanufactured lighting solutions is the use of gear trays. Gear trays, which house essential electrical components such as ballasts, drivers, and wiring, can be easily replaced or upgraded as part of the remanufacturing process.
In healthcare environments, where installation disruptions can impact patient care, gear tray upgrades offer a practical solution. Rather than replacing entire fixtures, which can be costly and time-consuming, swapping out the gear trays on-site can minimise downtime as well as enhancing energy efficiency. This modular approach often enables quick upgrades using existing infrastructure, reduces the environmental impact, and, in some cases, proves to be more cost-effective than new light fittings.
Five Key Benefits of Remanufactured Lighting for Healthcare Facilities
1. Reduced Waste and Carbon Footprint
Choosing remanufactured lighting allows hospitals to significantly cut the volume of waste sent to landfill. Refurbishing existing fixtures uses fewer raw materials and consumes less energy compared to manufacturing new products, lowering a facility’s overall embodied carbon footprint.
2. Energy Efficiency
Remanufactured lighting incorporates the latest energy-efficient LED technology, which can reduce electricity consumption by up to 80% compared to traditional lighting systems. For healthcare facilities operating 24/7, this translates to substantial energy savings, as lighting is one of the largest contributors to hospital’s energy use.
3. Cost-Effectiveness
While the healthcare sector focuses on patient outcomes, controlling operational costs is essential for sustainability. Remanufactured lighting can be more affordable than new installations, offering long-term savings on both energy bills and maintenance costs. With modern components, the lifespan of fixtures is extended, reducing the need for frequent maintenance.
4. Improved Indoor Environment Quality
Lighting quality directly impacts patient recovery and staff performance. Proper illumination can reduce fatigue, enhance focus, and support the healing process. Remanufactured lighting solutions can offer better light distribution and colour accuracy, which improves the indoor environment in healthcare facilities.
5. Compliance with Sustainability Goals
Under the Health and Care Act 2022, hospitals and healthcare facilities are legally required to work towards sustainability goals. Remanufactured lighting directly supports these goals by reducing energy consumption and waste while offering a lower carbon alternative to new lighting systems.
The Delivering a Net Zero National Health Service report highlights LED lighting as a critical intervention for delivering a more sustainable NHS estate. It estimates that completing a £50 million LED replacement programme across the NHS could improve patient comfort and save over £3 billion by 2050.
As healthcare facilities strive to balance quality care with sustainability, remanufactured lighting presents an accessible and cost-effective solution. Upgrading existing infrastructure with components like gear trays allows hospitals to enhance environmental performance while supporting patient wellbeing.
- Tamlite Lighting is a leading British lighting manufacturer which provides cost-effective solutions for upgrading existing lighting systems with advanced LED technology and integrated lighting controls.
- Please contact us for a consultation on implementing remanufactured lighting solutions in your healthcare facility. You can also find out more here: https://tamlite.co.uk/retrofit/
