Let there be light! Birchwood Community Centre swaps to LEDs

It means our tax money is being better spent, and in the case of Birchwood Youth and Community Centre, these changes are good for the environment, too.

Thanks to a grant from Warrington Borough Council, the committee at Birchwood Community Centre have been able to replace the entire lighting system for the centre with brand-new LEDs.

The lighting was fitted with the help of Birchwood Park (Image: Birchwood Youth and Community Centre)

Taking out the old fluorescent lighting system and replacing it with the new LEDs is set to save the committee money, as well as kicking out far less carbon dioxide.

The committee thanked Birchwood Park for providing the labour needed to install the new lighting system.

Speaking to the Warrington Guardian, the trustees of the community centre said: "The centre was looking a little tired, in spite of a full redecoration because of the poor quality of light.

"The increasing cost of electricity was also having a very negative impact on the centre’s costs.

"Every light fitting was replaced in each room of the centre."

Cllr David Ellis, the Chair of Trustees said: "The lights have made an enormous difference to the way the centre looks. Many users thought that we had redecorated the building because it looked so much brighter.

"What’s more, since we installed the lights, our electricity usage has halved, reducing our annual costs by over £400 which has helped us put more money back into providing community activities. Birchwood Youth and Community Centre is a registered charity whose purpose is to provide community activities at the lowest possible cost.

"Keeping our operating costs to an absolute minimum is critical to our success. One of the new sessions is our low-cost art and craft group where the lighting has made it so much easier for users to see their work properly."

The new lighting has helped to halve the electricity bill for the centre (Image: Newsquest)

 Jackie Whitby, who is organising activities in the centre, added: “We are hoping to add some further new sessions in the centre soon including a parent and tots group, and a men’s group – we hope to have more news very soon!” 

Cllr Ellis, who is also chair of Warrington’s Climate Emergency Commission concluded: “The changes we have made are ones that can be made by any resident at home and can both save money and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

"We are determined to make our facility as sustainable as possible."

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