Case Study: Park Cameras

Based in Burgess Hill, Park Cameras sells photography equipment, as well as offering printing services and photography courses. Park Cameras received a Utilise Plus grant from the Sustainable Business Partnership CIC to install energy-saving LED lights. This followed a fully-funded Utilise Plus energy audit.

Funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Sustainable Business Partnership CIC’s Utilise Plus programme provides grants and business support to small and medium sized enterprises to help them to reduce their costs and environmental impact by saving energy.

Knowing where energy can be reduced in any organisation can be difficult, which is why Park Cameras began their energy-saving journey with a Utilise Plus energy audit. After analysing their energy bills and building plans, an Energy Assessor visited Park Cameras to see how they were using energy in their day-to-day operations. Soon after this site visit, Park Cameras received their bespoke ‘audit report’ which clearly outlined where they could be saving energy – and money!

With the help of a Utilise Plus grant, Park Cameras subsequently replaced their dated halogen and fluorescent lights with more efficient LEDs in their retail showroom, offices, warehouse, and basement car park. The new LEDs were fitted with motion sensors so that they will turn off automatically when not in use to maximise their energy and cost savings.

This installation will save Park Cameras over £5,000 each year on their energy bills. Thanks to the Utilise Plus grant, the new LEDs will have paid for themselves in less than 2 years. What’s more, they’ll be saving 13 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2e) – that’s the equivalent of driving almost 32,000 miles in an average passenger vehicle!

Marc Rickard, Park Cameras’ Finance Director, said “I would encourage businesses to take advantage of the free energy audit provided by the Sustainable Business Partnership CIC and explore what options are available – the results might be surprising!”

The Utilise Plus programme is now complete.