International Centre for Life
The International Centre for Life is a dynamic science hub in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, where scientists, clinicians, technologists, and educationalists work side by side on one site.
They received an energy audit/decarbonisation plan to help identify energy-saving opportunities. BEST also provided technical support as part of the grant application process, helping to review the lighting proposed. They successfully applied for a grant to fund LED lighting improvements in one of their larger meeting spaces.
We spoke to Claire Adams, Chief Operating Officer at Life, to hear about their experience.
Claire said: “As a business, working towards decarbonisation is a priority
We contacted BEST to obtain independent advice and explore potential funding to support our plans.
We were successful in getting 11k funding towards replacing the lighting with LED lights in one of our larger meeting rooms. We hope to replace the lighting throughout the entire building in due time.
Speaking about the positive impact this has had on the business, Claire said: “The works were completed relatively recently, and although it’s too soon to measure the energy-saving impact fully, we are confident that the change will reduce costs significantly as lights don’t need to be replaced as often, and of course, they are more carbon efficient.
The change has certainly made a positive difference to the aesthetics of the space. The room is significantly brighter and lighter, with a more modern feel. Initial feedback from the team and visitors is a testament to that.
Claire’s feedback on their experience was: “We can’t speak highly enough of the team we worked with; they were very helpful, and the support they gave was excellent. From working with us on how to maximise funding to advising on the admin side of the process, the whole experience was excellent. It is a laudable programme, especially at a time when businesses want to reduce their impact on the environment but often don’t have the resources to do the work needed. We hope the scheme continues and look forward to applying for additional funding to support our decarbonisation goals. We would welcome any future support or training that is available.”
