Conder goes green

The iconic blue Conder tower has gone green.

The NewQuay tower is believed to be the first apartment building in Docklands to install environmentally-friendly LED downlights.

The tower has installed LED lights in all common areas, including the foyer, lifts, corridors and gym.

Leading the LED installation project was Ray Mascaro, a member of the Conder Owners Corporation (OC), who has lived in the building for the past five years.

Mr Mascaro said the decision to install LED downlights was an easy one for the OC, when it considered the economic and environmental advantages.  

Most lights in the common areas of the building are on 24 hours a day, seven days a week.   And because LED lights use substantially less energy than halogen globes, this results in a considerable energy saving.

LED downlights use only eight watts compared with halogen globes, which use 50.

Mr Mascaro said while LED lights cost more than a standard halogen globe, they were more cost-effective in the long run and were more environmentally friendly.

He said for lights that were on all the time, the cost of installation would be recouped in savings within seven and a half months.

“When you do the calculations and how much you pay for the energy, the electricity and for the cost price of the unit, you get the cost of having it installed back in seven and a half months,” Mr Mascaro said.

The lights also have a longer lifespan than halogen globes, meaning less maintenance and less waste in landfill.

Mr Mascaro said he was sure many other Docklands apartment towers would follow suit and join the Docklands energy saving revolution.