The Queen has done her bit for the environment this winter by authorising staff at the Royal household to replace her lighting fixtures with energy-efficient LEDs.

Almost every light in Buckingham Palace is now powered by the green technology, including the centre room chandelier which now runs off a low-voltage system comprising a number of 2.8 watt LED lamps.

That replaces the 32 separate 25-watt tungsten lamp system that had previously been used, contributing to the overall 80 per cent cut in energy bills now enjoyed by the palace.

Commenting on his client's high expectations for the project, Pervaiz Lodhie of lighting specialist LEDtronics said: "The aesthetics of the respective rooms is a major consideration and consequently we needed an option on the colour of the lamps."

Overall, however, he insisted his company had "succeeded in providing the perfect solution for the Royal household," adding that its energy saving strategy had been "greatly enhanced".

A report assessing the energy efficiency of London's public buildings placed Buckingham Palace bottom of the list in 2005, noting in particular its absence of double glazing and other types of insulation.

© Adfero Ltd

Author:  Joanne McCabe

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