Dunn, P J; Oyegoke, A S; Ajayi, S; Palliyaguru, R and Devkar, G (2023) Challenges and benefits of led retrofit projects: A case of salix financed secondary school in the UK. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 21(6), pp. 1883-1900. ISSN 1726-0531
Abstract
Purpose: The recent surge in light emitting diode (LED) lighting retrofitted into schools in the UK is as a result of the UK Government’s 2050 zero carbon pledge. However, the benefits and consequences of LED retrofit projects for staff and enablers and stakeholder knowledge gaps about LED lighting retrofitting have not been fully explored. The aim of this research is to determine the amount of savings in cost, carbon reduction and kilowatt usage and to confirm if repayment from energy and cost savings derived from LED retrofit school projects funded through the SALIX funding option in the UK would be enough to service the loan. Thus, it examines monetary and non-monetary benefits, internal project stakeholder knowledge gaps and the consequences of LED retrofit for the staff and enablers of a large community college in the UK which is funded through the SALIX funding option. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology relied on a hybrid research approach of a case secondary school through the review of literature, analysis of secondary data, focus group and questionnaire survey. The focus group consists of six key project stakeholders. The secondary data was sourced from the Project IGP [Individual Grade Proposal] and the Positive Energy Report from Zenergi, and the closed online questionnaire survey was used to sample 150 teaching staff and school enablers. Findings: The findings show that stakeholders lack project knowledge, trust and expertise/project comprehension. This is in terms of baseline information, LED technology/management, payback modalities, management of risks and ethical issues around environmental impact. The forecasted SALIX savings were not achieved in real-time, partly because it does not take into consideration the increase in energy costs over the payback period. However, the LED retrofit creates efficiencies; drives down energy costs and energy usage; and drives carbon reduction, helping pupils' learning, improving productivity and performance, and finally leading to a better lighting environment for the school community. Originality/value: The study will help schools in the UK that intend to access SALIX finance for LED retrofits to understand the challenges and mitigate the risks. It will also help the government to understand the importance of adjusting the payback modalities to the base price when the retrofit was carried out for real-time savings to be made. The research would be useful in ensuring the proactive involvement of all the identified stakeholders in understanding the challenges and what the function entails.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | led retrofit; salix financed scheme; secondary school; stakeholder’s benefits; UK |
| Index terms: | project knowledge, funding, time saving, cost saving, option, efficiency, carbon reduction, pupil, productivity, secondary data, savings, methodology, environmental impact, questionnaire, project stakeholder, payback, retrofitting, proposal, focus group, energy cost, secondary school, survey |
| Subjects: | project planning, knowledge management, economic analysis, environmental impact, climate science, data collection methods, cost management, time analysis, sociology, decision analysis, educational institutions, management, renovation and retrofit, research methods, performance management, economics |
| Topics: | Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Sustainability, Business Strategy, Cost Management, Research Practice, Project Management, Information Management, Engineering Principles, Education, Time Control, Quality Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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