Lighting sensors from Steinel have been used within the Riverbank Park Plaza, a 4–star deluxe hotel situated on the south side of the River Thames in London, to save energy and significantly reduce lighting costs.The hotel did not have sensors installed when constructed approximately one year ago but, in an effort to save energy and reduce costs, the hotel management sought consultancy from lighting experts who advised that the installation of sensors and energy saving lamps would significantly reduce wastage and costs.
The Riverbank Park Plaza's maintenance and management team immediately looked at reducing the costs and after meeting with various lighting experts decided to call upon Steinel's expertise to help provide a solution. Steinel personnel worked under the leadership of the hotels' Chief Engineer, Dave Bell, to provide a solution that would meet the needs of the hotel.
Steinel's products come with state–of–the–art HF (High Frequency) or PIR sensor technology and has been used in many areas of the hotel, including all public areas, meeting rooms and back of house areas where staff may not switch off lights at the end of their shifts. Using the sensors in the staff areas mean than lights can be automatically switched on and off when needed or the twilight threshold can be used and adjusted to any setting required by the hotel.
The RS Pro 1000 sensor lights, which have concealed sensors and can offer greater precision and speed than infrared sensors, operate 2 x 18 watt low-energy lamps and 2 separate electronic ballasts. The main feature of the RS Pro is the option of bi–directional networking using wireless modules that plug into the luminaries. With up to 32 channels to choose from, buildings with complex network groups can be easily set up plus, in the event of a power failure, mains independent orientation lighting can be utilised.
To achieve even greater savings in running costs and energy, Steinel's sensors have been used in conjunction with Megaman's GU10 7–watt energy efficient lamps. The Megaman GU10 compact fluorescent reflector lamps provide a low energy direct alternative for 30-watt halogen lamps. As well as reducing energy consumption the GU10 also reduces the heat output of the lighting, potentially saving on air conditioning, whilst also extending lamp life by up to 15%, thus reducing maintenance costs and cost of ownership. Megaman–s lamps are installed throughout bedrooms and bedroom corridors of the Riverbank Park Plaza.
Dave Bell, Chief Engineer for Riverbank Park Plaza commented: "Installing the sensors has resulted in many savings other than electricity costs, it has also extended our lamp life which means they are not having to be replaced so frequently thus reducing maintenance costs and undue waste. The sensors have been so successful that they should be considered in the construction of new hotels within the Park Plaza Hotels Europe portfolio".
