In recent years, LED lighting is becoming increasingly popular in large commercial operations for new build and retrofit markets. Cork-based Verde LED, a manufacturer and supplier of LED lighting, has recently secured large domestic and international contracts. Operating since 2009, Verde LED was one of the first specialised entrants into this space and the company has built a successful entity from a relatively small start-up to an operation with a significant international market share. Lighting is, more often than not, one of the most inefficient costs in businesses today, according to the director of Verde LED, Paul Martin. “An energy-efficient lighting solution saves 60-75 per cent on energy costs by using a product that lasts on average five times longer, so it’s a ‘no brainer’ for operators – especially those with longer operating hours, which ensures a short payback time. “In a tough economic climate, reducing costs can be easier than increasing sales, so the right lighting solution can maximise profitability with average annual returns on investments between 50 per cent and 80 per cent for clients,” according to Martin. [login type="readmore"] Verde LED's growth is a result of a quality product with accompanying warranties. The company is constantly working to design new products that meet client demands, now that significant market share and high volume sales are being achieved. “We want to make working with and specifying Verde LED pretty straightforward, so we ensure that our product range comes with lighting design files, which are available on our website,” said Martin. The company has been secured a number of large domestic and international contracts since the start of this year. In mid July, a large international contract was signed with PCH, a global international technology manufacturer headed by Liam Casey, who is also a Cork native. The first phase of this contract is to retrofit large manufacturing facilities in San Francisco, USA and Shenzhen, China. This LED lighting programme aims to deliver improvements in energy efficiency, light quality and durability. It will also reduce energy consumption by 60 per cent, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 270 tons per year in Shenzhen, and will have an economic payback of two years. Martin said that collaborating with PCH International on its energy reduction programme globally was a great coup for the company. “It’s great for an Irish company to win this level of contract in China, given the scale of LED manufacture in that region,” he added. REDUCING POWER CONSUMPTION [caption id="attachment_7356" align="alignright" width="543"] Global Switch Data Centre, London[/caption] Over the past 18 months, the company has also achieved a foothold in the UK market after setting up base in Canary Wharf in London last year. Large UK awarded contracts include Eden Shopping Centre, one of the largest in London and Global Switch, one of Europe’s largest data centres located in London. Power consumption to date in Eden Shopping Centre has been reduced by 920,000 kW hrs and CO₂ savings per annum of 530 tons. With regard to Global Switch, annual power consumption has reduced by 1,024,000 kW hrs, with CO₂ savings of 540 tons annually. “In a lot of cases, the paybacks achieved are much shorter than expected,” said Martin. “Clients with high cooling requirements such as air-conditioning save with reduced operating costs on heating, ventilation and air conditioning due to the lower level temperatures at which LED lighting operates, compared to the conventional existing lighting. This, coupled with no lamp replacement or maintenance costs for years going forward, mean that the LED solution can be a very attractive option.” Verde LED has also recently secured a contract to retrofit lighting in the largest bakery chain in Cyprus, A Zorbis. This is a company with annual revenues of over €80 million and the contract with the Irish lighting company extended to 62 outlets. “The LED lighting solution in the Zorbis project was won based on not only saving energy costs, but enhancing the food and mood within the chain of stores while also seriously reducing maintenance costs.” The company is focusing on becoming a larger player and having brand recognition, according to Martin. “The client needs to trust your brand and your product range. We have an extended service in that we design products, design lighting layouts and also offer a turnkey fitting service, if clients require it. The product range is listed with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s ‘Triple E’ because we want to ensure that clients get to claim accelerated capital allowances against their bottom line.” DESIGN AND TECHNICAL BACK-UP [caption id="attachment_7358" align="alignright" width="738"] A Zorbas bakery chain, Cyprus[/caption] Verde LED plans to double its workforce specifically in design and technical back-up divisions over the next two years and the company is working with Enterprise Ireland and University College Dublin on a new LED wireless lighting-control system, which Martin hopes will change the way that facilities and building managers will manage lighting in the future. Asked where the LED lighting industry is going, Martin said he believes that LED lighting is a high growth market with "exponential potential" over the coming 10 years. "I believe that LED is now the standard way forward for commercial operators who are serious about eliminating time and money costs on lighting in the future, which enables them to focus more on their core business activity. “Public bodies are also targeted with the task of reducing energy consumption by 30 per cent before 2020 and lighting is clearly a simple and cost-effective way of achieving this," Martin concluded. "The ‘fly by nights’ and the poor quality operators will have nowhere to hide in the future, while the larger branded operators will flourish and compound their position in the market.” VERDE LED specialises in the design and supply of commercial LED energy efficient lighting and currently export to 14 countries. Visit www.verdeleld.com for more information. VERDE LED is a fully Irish-owned company headquartered in Cork with offices in London and USA and distributors across Europe with international design and technical support also based in Cork.