CP’s energy saving solution for historic building

A major refurbishment of an historic building on North Shields fish quay has seen CP Electronics presence detectors playing a crucial role – saving installation time for the contractor and reducing energy consumption for the client.

The 16th Century, the Old Low Light is a Grade II listed building, the oldest of its kind on the North Shields fish quay. For centuries, the Old Low light was a major part of the North Shields fishing community, where its lighthouse helped guide generations of mariners to safety across the turbulent waters of the Tyne.

Having fallen into disrepair, local enthusiasts set about bringing the building back to life and with the support of North Tyneside Council, and funds from the Townscape Heritage Initiative and the Coastal Community Fund (CCF), the building was renovated before re-opening in March 2015. This project saw a complete re-vamp of the interior with a café, shop and top floor venue for hire to the public.

In particular, the specification of MW3SA microwave presence detectors helped control lighting levels, as lighting is only in use when the room is occupied. This helps reduce energy consumption when the room is vacant.

The MWS3A has a unique presence detection capability with an adjustable head. The innovative locking mechanism allows the MW3SA to be fixed in position to ensure optimal detection patterns depending on the application. Featuring a plug-in connection design, the MW3SA makes installers’ lives easier by simplifying installation and reducing installation time. Functionality is fully programmable using the UHS5 or UNLCDHS programming handsets from CP Electronics.

Working with the MW3SA, the EBDSPIR range of passive infrared (PIR) presence detector provides automatic control of lighting loads with optional manual control. The PIR can turn lights on when a room is occupied, and off when the room is empty.

Drawing on decades of experience in energysaving lighting controls, the solutions delivered by CP Electronics were extraordinarily well received.

Guy Moody, Manager at Old Low Light, commented: “As a charity, we need to be extremely cost-conscious at all times. The solutions provided by CP Electronics will help minimise energy wastage and, therefore, cost.”

Simon Fletcher of Fletcher Electrical, the contractor involved on the project, explained: “The simple, intuitive design of CP’s range of presence detection products helped save a huge amount of time on the project. This allowed us to deliver, on time and within budget. On top of that, the customer was over the moon and the end result looked great.”

www.cpelectronics.co.uk