Why Lighting Leads the Way
Lighting typically accounts for 20-40% of a building’s energy consumption across the UK and Ireland, especially in warehouses, retail estates and manufacturing plants. Yet thousands of businesses across the UK still rely on outdated fluorescent or halogen systems that waste energy, raise maintenance costs, and fail to meet modern safety standards.
An LED lighting upgrade can cut energy usage by up to 70%, while simultaneously improving light quality, workplace safety and staff wellbeing. This represents a unique opportunity to achieve both environmental impact and commercial benefit.
Unlike larger renewable projects, a sustainable lighting upgrade requires no complex planning permission, no operational downtime and no CapEx spend. It’s fast, measurable and starts saving you costs from day one.
That’s why so many businesses are starting somewhere simpler, faster and more effective: with their lighting. It’s a practical change that starts delivering results almost immediately, which is why we believe in a ‘Lighting First’ sustainability strategy.
Affordable Sustainability Without Disruption
For many CFOs and finance leaders, the challenge isn’t whether a commercial LED upgrade makes sense; it’s how to fund it without disrupting cash flow.
This is where LumenStream’s Lighting as a Service model changes the game. We deliver a full end-to-end lighting solution with no upfront costs. Instead, businesses pay a monthly service fee, tied directly to the savings their new LED system generates. In other words, the upgrade pays for itself.
This zero CapEx energy upgrade means businesses can protect their budgets for core operations, while still reaping the rewards of a modern, efficient infrastructure. For finance teams, it’s a way to boost performance without compromising predictability. You can protect budgets while still unlocking long-term savings and measurable carbon reductions. It’s an approach already trusted by organisations from Oxfam to Siemens.
But cost isn’t the only barrier.
Whether you are a Facilities Manager in Lisburn or Leeds, you know the risk of downtime all too well: any disruption can compromise safety and productivity. The advantage of a Lighting First approach lies in how easy it is to implement and not having to compromise on operational efficiency.
At LumenStream, we manage the process end-to-end. From initial assessment to installation and ongoing maintenance, everything is handled with minimal disruption. The result is brighter, safer and more efficient spaces which are all achieved without slowing the business down.
Real Impact, by the Numbers
The results of upgrading infrastructure go beyond efficiency - they show the tangible difference sustainable choices can make. On average, energy efficiency has increased by 63% across our clients, saving 24,703 MWh of energy and avoiding 6,347 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
More than 24,000 LED light fittings have been installed across 113 facilities, helping workplaces operate more efficiently while reducing their environmental footprint. Feedback has been consistently positive, with 100% customer satisfaction reported.
These numbers illustrate how practical improvements, when applied widely, can deliver measurable environmental and operational benefits and highlight the potential for businesses to make choices that are both responsible and effective.
Lighting First: Progress Without Compromise
So, when it comes to deciding where to start your sustainability journey, don’t overcomplicate it. Solar PV panels and EV fleets may follow, but lighting is the obvious first step: fast, affordable and transformative.
For UK businesses striving to cut costs, reduce emissions and future-proof operations, adopting a Lighting First strategy is the simplest and best way forward.
