University of Plymouth

Responding to a call to arms from the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC), the University of Plymouth declared a climate emergency in the summer of 2019. It marked the latest step in its efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its campuses and, as of 2025, it has been awarded PAS 2060 verification – an independent and internationally recognised standard for carbon neutrality – for three years in succession.

While areas of the university campus were already using LED luminaires, the absence of a reactive, intelligent control system meant that the university was not achieving the full energy-saving potential of modern lighting technology.

The University began to work with Thorlux Lighting, a lighting manufacturer with a track record of innovation in efficiency and its own ambitious net-zero goals, on a vision to overhaul its lighting systems and achieve optimum energy efficiency.

Thorlux began by updating the essential emergency lighting in buildings across the University, introducing the groundbreaking wireless SmartScan lighting management system to the campus management team.
The next stage was to prove the SmartScan system could oversee and manage lighting effectively in a complete building. Appropriately, the space selected was the Sustainability Hub, a refurbished building at the heart of the University’s main campus, which provides a place for sustainability and business experts to connect.

The Hub was already equipped with LED luminaires but had no lighting controls, meaning it used considerably more power than desirable. Following a complete SmartScan LED lighting upgrade, using Thorlux Light Line luminaires with Lexi escape signs and Firefly emergency luminaires, the Hub’s lighting energy usage was reduced by an impressive 77% against the previous, uncontrolled lighting system.

Having shown the efficiency benefits and carbon reductions of switching to a controlled lighting system, the University and Thorlux have subsequently developed and deployed initiatives expanding the use of SmartScan across the campus.

Specific applications have included re-lighting the exterior of the Roland Levinsky Building with iconic Realta and Realta Micro luminaires, installing Colour Active luminaires in a futuristic gaming lab, and creating bespoke acoustic panels for the Fitzroy Building as part of its transformation into the new home for the Plymouth Business School. New lighting has also been installed in labs and study spaces within the Davy Building, and within the new MPharm study spaces in the Nancy Astor Building. Furthermore, pole-mounted Juno-C luminaires with green ‘halos’ have been used to create safe routes for students and staff through the campus after dark as part of the Safer Streets initiative.

In total, over 3,000 SmartScan luminaires have been installed across the campus, with commissioning from Thorlux engineers to achieve optimum performance. The SmartScan system provides the campus management team with unparalleled control and maintenance oversight of their lighting; additionally, SmartScan's 'heat mapping' usage information is being used to plan for better space utilisation across the site.