GFSL are working to reduce the carbon footprint in English prisons
Gov Facility Services Ltd (GFSL), is leading the drive to reduce carbon emissions in Southern England prisons where the company provides facilities management services.
Following a trial initiated by GFSL Energy Services Manager Stewart Grew, the company has identified potential energy savings by replacing inefficient old cell lighting with high efficiency LED fittings.
Stewart explains:
We installed electricity loggers on the lighting circuits of two cell blocks at HMP Coldingley. One wing was left in its existing condition while a second was refitted with modern LED cell light fittings. The test was carried out over a month with the loggers taking readings every 30 minutes. The results were extremely promising and identified that we could potentially achieve an overall annualised verifiable energy savings of over 50%.
As a result GFSL have begun a project on behalf of the Ministry of Justice to install nearly 9000 new cell light fittings by March 2021.
GFSL CEO Paul Ryder adds:
Once this work is complete, it could support substantial savings at HMP Coldingley and reduce the carbon footprint of the site. The new fittings will require less maintenance and should have a much longer lifespan. It is initiatives like these that are helping HMPPS improve conditions for prisoners, and the wider Department in its drive to improve the value for money standing of its budgets, and its drive to support the UK in its net zero carbon emissions commitments.