Question 1

What are commercial solar panels?

Accepted Answer

Commercial solar panels, also known as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, are installations of solar panels designed to generate electricity for commercial and industrial properties. These systems harness sunlight to produce clean and renewable energy for businesses, reducing their reliance on traditional grid power.

Question 2

How long does it take to install commercial solar panels?

Accepted Answer

The installation timeline can vary depending on the size and complexity of the system, but on average, a commercial solar panel installation can take anywhere from a few weeks to a month. The permitting and approval process may also contribute to the timeline.

Question 3

Do solar panels require maintenance?

Accepted Answer

Commercial solar panels are relatively low-maintenance. Routine inspections, cleaning and occasional repairs may be necessary, but these requirements are minimal. Most systems come with warranties that cover maintenance and repairs for a specified period.

Question 4

Can I sell excess energy back to the grid?

Accepted Answer

Yes, many businesses can sell excess electricity generated by their commercial solar panels back to the grid through net metering or feed-in tariff programs. This allows businesses to receive credit for the surplus energy they produce and further reduce energy costs.

Question 5

How does battery storage benefit my business financially?

Accepted Answer

Battery storage can significantly reduce your energy costs by allowing you to store excess energy during low-demand periods and use it during high-demand times, thus avoiding peak energy prices.

Question 6

Is battery storage suitable for small businesses?

Accepted Answer

Yes, battery storage solutions can be tailored to suit the energy needs of small businesses, providing cost savings and sustainability benefits.

Question 7

What happens during a power outage?

Accepted Answer

Your battery storage system will automatically kick in during a power outage, providing your business with a reliable source of backup power to keep essential operations running.

Question 8

How long does a battery storage system last?

Accepted Answer

The lifespan of a battery storage system varies depending on the technology used and how often it is charged and discharged, but typically ranges from 15 to 20 years.

Question 9

Do you have COVID-safe measures in place?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we have in place procedures to make sales conversations, surveys, installation, service visits and paperwork exchanges as safe as possible, and are happy to work with you to ensure your own guidelines are equally met.
 
For more information on our COVID-safe policy, please see: carbonreductiontechnology.com/covid-19

Question 10

Do CRT products come with a warranty?

Accepted Answer

We offer a standard five year full replacement warranty. Extended warranties are also available on request.

Question 11

Which LEDs do you use and what is the life expectancy?

Accepted Answer

We only use the best LEDs in our luminaires, which are manufactured by Cree. Cree LEDs are market leaders, offering exceptionally reliable products which come with an operational lifetime expectancy of 109,000 hours.

Question 12

Is photometric data available to download?

Accepted Answer

We have a standard range of IES files available to download here. If you don't see the file you need, please contact us.

Question 13

What range of colour temperatures do you offer?

Accepted Answer

Carbon Reduction Technology offers some of the lowest colour temperatures on the market, starting at 2,200°K and going up to 5,000°K.
 
Our 2,200°K range is ideal for heritage and reproduction lanterns.

Question 14

How do you guarantee your lumens per watt?

Accepted Answer

All CRT products are independently tested to verify lumens per watt. We take in to account optical and electrical efficiencies and don't rely on theoretical lumens per watts data from the manufacturers. We always offer customers tracability for LED part and BIN numbers.

Question 15

Are CRT luminaires weatherproof?

Accepted Answer

All exterior lights are IP7, designed for low windage, all are either powder coated or, for extreme conditions, anodised to 15 microns.
 
Internal lights are waterproofed as required to meet intended conditions.

Question 16

What is the typical energy savings of LED over older technologies?

Accepted Answer

LED is well-proven to produce significant energy savings, in comparison to older technologies such as high pressure sodium or flourescent. Further large savings can be achieved with a correction designed lighting grid and smart controls.
 
You can expect the following savings when upgrading to LED:
Minimum 50% savings against flourescents
Up to 75% savings against high pressure sodium
Up to 93% savigns with the addition of intelligent controls

Question 17

Are you accredited members of the Carbon Trust?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Carbon Reduction Technology are proud to be accredited members of the Carbon Trust and our products and installation services qualify for interest free finance in Wales under their scheme.

Question 18

How much can I expect to save?

Accepted Answer

Depending on your installation, colour temperature and lux level requirements, you can expect to save between 60% and 78% when upgrading to LED.

Question 19

Are CRT products eligible for funding, such as Salix?"

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. A number of our customers have taken advantage of Salix funding for CRT installations. We are also accredited members of the Carbon Trust.

Question 20

Are larger volume orders eligible for a bulk discount?

Accepted Answer

We offer prices based on puchase volume as we are committed to passing on bulk manufacturing savings. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Question 21

Does installing a retrofit unit have any advantage over installing LED tubes?

Accepted Answer

Installing a retrofit unit carries several distinct advantages:
CRT Retrofit installations benefit from an expected operational lifetime of 109,000 hours, which is significantly longer than an LED tube, particularly for fixtures which are in use 24 hours a day. Although the initial purchase cost can be higher, installing a custom retrofit greatly reduces maintenance and replacement costs in the long term.​
Installing a retrofit designed specifically for use with your fixture can be a more secure option for discouraging theft, as the unit cannot be removed and used with any generic fixture elsewhere.

Question 22

How many lumens per watt can I expect?

Accepted Answer

All CRT streetlights will achieve 129 lumens per watts at 30 watts or less. Higher wattage products may vary. Please contact us for more information.

Question 23

What sort of payback period should I expect?

Accepted Answer

CRT Local Authority installations, including SLX and retrofits, typically come with a 2 to 5 year payback. All installations come with an individual payback calculation.

Question 24

How complex is installation?

Accepted Answer

An essential part of our product design is simple and straight forward installation, and easy access for servicing and inspection. All Local Authority luminaires are designed and manufactured to minimise the installation time, with your lighting engineers in mind. Retrofits are supplied with a correctly sized plate to situate directly into your pre-existing luminaire.

Question 25

What are the benefits of retrofitting over replacing?

Accepted Answer

There are numerous benefits to retrofitting rather than buying new. These are some of the main reasons you might choose this route:
For certain installations, retrofitting can provide a cheaper alternative to fully replacing the entire unit and housing
Retrofitting can provide a faster installation for luminaires such as illuminated bollards and subway lighting, decreasing costs and public disruption, and increasing the safety of the lighting engineer doing the work
Retrofitting can provide a greener option to full replacement, as you are minimising waste by keeping your old housings and decreasing the carbon expenditure required to produce and transport your upgrade​
Retrofitting is an ideal option in areas of cultural heritage, where a new installation is undesirable. We can put an upgraded tray straight into your original housing, allowing you to reduce carbon and energy expenditure whilst maintaining the look of the area
Carbon Reduction Technology carries a range of popular housings, so a partial replacement (where individual housings are not suitable for a second lease of life) can be carried out inside of a retrofit project.
We are also able to re-certify the CE Mark for your newly retrofitted lanterns

Question 26

What are the minimum and maximum wattages available for streetlights?

Accepted Answer

Our product range is very flexible and we can supply luminaires from 10 watts up to 200 watts, in 5 watt intervals.

Question 27

What sort of photocells do you use on streetlights

Accepted Answer

We use both minicells and NEMA sockets, depending on the luminaire. We can also work with the customer to use alternative brands in line with pre-existing requirements.

Question 28

Do your streetlights support CMS?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we have used Telensa, Mayflower, Lucy Zodion and others. We can configure our lanterns to suit any type of CMS.

Question 29

Do CRT streetlights support easy maintenance and inspection access?

Accepted Answer

Although our products are designed to be highly reliable and made with the highest quality parts, access will be inevitably required during the luminaire's lifetime for inspection or service. Easy access is a key consideration in our design process.

Question 30

Do you recertify the CE mark on retrofitted lanterns?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Retrofitting can be the ideal answer to reducing the cost, carbon footprint and waste associated with a lighting upgrade project; however, installing a new gear tray into an original housing without the appropriate certification in place can result in an end product which does not carry a valid CE mark.
 
Carbon Reduction Technology have independently certified procedures in place which allow recertification of your housings upon installation of the new gear tray. Installation can still be carried out by your own engineers. Where required, we also offer on the job training for your engineers. Recertification comes at no additional cost and is fully included within the scope of your project.

Question 31

Can I claim tax relief on my lighting upgrade?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our technology and installation qualifies for tax relief via the Annual Investment Allowance.

Question 32

Is a two year payback realistic?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Where operational hours are 16 hours per day or more, a maximum* 2 year payback is typically available. Your payback is based on just the savings you make on your reduced lighting energy bill and doesn't factor in further savings, such as significantly  reduced maintenance and replacement costs.

*We can usually bring payback right down to 1 year if your facility operates 24 hours per day.

Question 33

Are your facility surveys really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes! One of our engineers will come out to survey your facility and talk to you in order to fully understand your requirements. If our prodcuts are a viable option for you, you'll receive a fully tailored lighting report plus a projected financial breakdown including cost estimate, payback estimate, savings estimate and carbon reduction estimate.

NB. If you have a large number of facilities to be surveyed across the UK we may charge a nominal survey fee per facility which would be refundable upon purchase.

Question 34

How much can I expect to save?

Accepted Answer

Following installation you will see the following immediate energy bill and carbon emission savings:
​Up to 78% saving with a HBX only installation
Up to 97% saving with HBX plus the Smart Lighting System
You will further save by reducing your lighting maintenance costs, as the HBX is significantly more robust and offers a substantially longer operational lifetime than traditional lamps.

Question 35

Does a smart lighting system monitor my energy consumption?

Accepted Answer

HBX Smart Lighting allows the user to monitor overall energy consumption and instant energy levels in line with the government ESOS policy. Further features of Smart Lighting include:
Automatic lighting adjustment
Pro-actively manage lighting levels and performance
Fully programmmable by the end user
Access and monitor the system from on site or remotely
Full functionality including:
Turn the lights on and off
Adjust light levels
Turn off systems such as PIR monitoring for certain kinds of shifts, low workforce or partial facility operation

Question 36

Why is HBX so much more efficient than more traditional lighting technologies?

Accepted Answer

There are several factors which make HBX so much more efficient than older sodium or halogen lamps:
The HBX has been designed to be ultra efficient and requires significantly less power in order to produce considerably more light output.
HBX has a powerful light output and we use lens technology to direct the the light from each lamp in the manner which best suits your facility. We can often reduce the amount of lighting units you actually need and with less than half the lighting units, we have achieved improvements in overall lighting levels of over 150%.
HBX utilises sensor technology to further reduce excess energy spend. We can automatically turn the lights off or dim the lights when an area is not in use. HBX can also assess the ambient light coming in through the windows and reduce artificial light output to just enough to reach required lux levels.
HBX is instant on / off, so you don't waste half an hour of time and power at the start of each day waiting for the lights to warm up.

Question 37

What are the minimum and maximum high bay wattages available?

Accepted Answer

HBX starts from 50 watts and is available up to 300 watts.

Question 38

Who will dispose of replaced light fittings?

Accepted Answer

CRT are WEEE certified and will ensure old light fittings are disposed of responsibly, adhering to environmental legislation, specified under WEEE. All appropriate paperwork will be provided. This service is included as standard.

Question 39

How is installation handled?

Accepted Answer

We have a qualified team of engineers who will handle your installation. Our policy is to work with you to ensure the installation of your new lighting causes the minimum possible disruption to your staff and business.

Frequently asked questions

What are commercial solar panels?

How long does it take to install commercial solar panels?

Do solar panels require maintenance?

Can I sell excess energy back to the grid?

How does battery storage benefit my business financially?

Is battery storage suitable for small businesses?

What happens during a power outage?

How long does a battery storage system last?

Do you have COVID-safe measures in place?

Do CRT products come with a warranty?

Which LEDs do you use and what is the life expectancy?

Is photometric data available to download?

What range of colour temperatures do you offer?

How do you guarantee your lumens per watt?

Are CRT luminaires weatherproof?

What is the typical energy savings of LED over older technologies?

Are you accredited members of the Carbon Trust?

How much can I expect to save?

Are CRT products eligible for funding, such as Salix?"

Are larger volume orders eligible for a bulk discount?

Does installing a retrofit unit have any advantage over installing LED tubes?

How many lumens per watt can I expect?

What sort of payback period should I expect?

How complex is installation?

What are the benefits of retrofitting over replacing?

What are the minimum and maximum wattages available for streetlights?

What sort of photocells do you use on streetlights

Do your streetlights support CMS?

Do CRT streetlights support easy maintenance and inspection access?

Do you recertify the CE mark on retrofitted lanterns?

Can I claim tax relief on my lighting upgrade?

Is a two year payback realistic?

Are your facility surveys really free?

How much can I expect to save?

Does a smart lighting system monitor my energy consumption?

Why is HBX so much more efficient than more traditional lighting technologies?

What are the minimum and maximum high bay wattages available?

Who will dispose of replaced light fittings?

How is installation handled?