The Assembly Rooms, a beautiful Georgian building in Edinburgh, has replaced all 888 lights in its iconic glittering chandeliers with LED bulbs in a bid to cut carbon emissions.
Lighting throughout the impressive multi-purpose events venue has been switched to save 90% of the previous energy consumption as part of an energy efficiency project which has also seen upgrades made to the heating and water systems. This has saved an estimated 75,000 kWh in electricity, and 50,000 kWh in gas each year, equivalent to over 5,000 days of energy usage.
The project led by the City of Edinburgh Council and supported by the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficient Scotland Programme aims to identify and implement energy saving measures, enabling cultural venues buildings to operate more efficiently and sustainably. Ongoing work to improve the energy consumption of the Usher Hall and Church Hill Theatre is also taking place to support the reduction in Edinburgh’s carbon emissions.
Council Leader, Councillor Adam McVey, said: “Reducing carbon emissions across the city is a key priority for the Council – we have now cut emissions by nearly 35% as part of our Sustainable Energy Action Plan. Projects like this being carried out by the Assembly Rooms not only show the benefits of reducing carbon in terms of using less energy, but also demonstrate the financial savings that can be made for the venue itself. Building on these projects will be really important as we move to a net zero carbon target by 2030.”
Shona Clelland, cultural venues development manager for Assembly Rooms, said: “It’s important for us to maintain the Assembly Rooms’ period features and Georgian charm while ensuring that keeping history alive doesn’t have a negative impact on our future.
“We pride ourselves on being a responsible venue, and this lightbulb moment reflects our continued commitment to the sustainability agenda. Making the switch has not only reduced costs but has improved the lighting quality and added ambience to our stunning Ballroom and Music Hall, proving that great events don’t have to cost the earth.”
