Municipality saves 80% on its energy bill

Bornem athletics track gets LED lighting

The athletics track in the municipality of Bornem had not been lit properly for some time because the gas lamps were bursting one by one. At the request of the various clubs that use the track and football pitch, Bornem had the gas lighting replaced with new LED lighting. VNS Benelux installed twelve LED luminaires with a total of 102 separately directional LED modules.

4/5^the less consumption

Managing director Olivier Proot of VNS Benelux: “The athletics track and football pitch were lit with 24 2400-watt gas fixtures. That is equivalent to a consumption of 57.6 kilowatts. 

With 102 LED modules spread across 12 LED luminaires, we reduced that consumption to 11.72 kilowatts. A saving of just under 80%. We achieved an average luminance of 125 lux and a uniformity of
at least 78%.”

Lowest possible investment

“To guarantee the required luminosity and uniformity, we first conduct a lighting study. In it, we use specialised software to calculate how to achieve the best results while retaining the existing lighting columns. We do this deliberately, because we always try to preserve the existing infrastructure and thus keep the investment for the site owners as low as possible.”

Beyond the norm

For sports grounds, VNS even goes beyond the minimum requirements. Olivier Proot: “We offer standard LED lighting with an average brightness of 120 to 130 lux. This way, clubs still have reserves when the LED lamps drop to a strength of 90% after 102,000 burning hours. We therefore give a five-year warranty on our installations.”

Including all associated works

Clubs can also have all associated works carried out by VNS. “For example, we replace the light poles when necessary. In Bornem, the municipality asked us to renew the electricity boxes in the pylons and connect the cabling to the existing switches in the pylons. Our installers carried that out as well.”