Philips and Unite Students in a £21m LED partnership to reduce carbon footprint of student housing

Leading developer of student accommodation, Unite Students has announced a £21 million energy efficiency partnership with technology company Philips. The deal will help reduce the carbon footprint of Unite Students and reduce energy consumption in student properties.

Philips and Unite Students will together install energy efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lighting in all of Unite’s properties over the next two years.

Unite Students manage homes for 41,000 students in university towns and cities across the UK and the move aims to increase energy efficiency with the introduction of over 300,000 new light fittings in over 120 houses. The company expects to see energy consumption reduced by 10-15%.

This is in line with recently announced EU energy saving targets to increase member states efficiency by 30% by 2030.

Richard Smith, managing director for Unite Students, said, “We are pleased to announce this partnership with Philips and our investment in LED lighting, which supports Unite Students’ commitment to providing a home for success for the students that live with us. 

“The new lighting will create a more inviting space for students which they can personalise for socialising or study. At the same time it will reduce Unite’s carbon footprint and the longer lifecycle of LED lights will significantly reduce maintenance workloads for our city teams.”

Unite Students co-investment partners will fund the majority of the £21 million investment and £9.6 million will be from Unite Students themselves.

The plan will see a carbon saving of 2,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, equivalent to 400 UK households, and the company expects to regain costs in five years through the savings made.

Philips will manage the installation as well as providing sales support.

“Philips is working closely with Unite Students to drive down energy consumption and maintenance costs through the use of efficient lighting,” said Dan Scott, commercial director of office and industry at Philips. 

“The new lighting is also helping Unite Students to achieve its primary goal of creating the best possible environment for student learning, reinforcing the power of light to uplift and transform our surroundings.”

Photo: Unite Students

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