East Renfrewshire countryside sun

Bright savings, big impact: smart solutions cut costs and carbon for East Renfrewshire

By harnessing the latest in smart technology, E.ON Control Solutions is helping East Renfrewshire Council not only cut energy use but also save thousands of pounds — and tonnes of carbon — each year.

What if the lights in a building could think for themselves? Not in a sci-fi way, but in a practical, energy saving way. Thanks to E.ON Control Solutions, that’s exactly what’s happening at East Renfrewshire Council. We’re helping the Council – just south of Glasgow – to reduce energy consumption and save money, all while working toward their goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2045.

Through innovative technology, we’re proving that small changes — such as smart lighting — can lead to big results. But it’s not just about turning lights on and off, it’s about reimagining how we use and conserve energy.

Innovating energy

Our partnership with East Renfrewshire Council has been years in the making. Over three phases of energy efficiency upgrades, we’ve implemented a suite of renewable solutions across a variety of public buildings including offices, schools and leisure centres. Whether it’s heat pumps, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems, or smart lighting controls, we’ve made sure energy-saving technology is making a real impact.

And here’s the real innovation: under the Scottish Government’s Non-Domestic Energy Efficiency Framework (NDEEF), we don’t just talk about saving energy, we ensure it. Every project we complete is backed by independently verified results, giving the council full confidence in the impact and value of the energy solutions we deliver.

Smart lighting in action: Thornliebank Depot

One standout project from this programme is the smart lighting system at Thornliebank Depot. We didn’t just replace outdated bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs, we went a step further with our ‘Lite IP’ smart lighting controls. Think of these controls as the brains behind the lights – they automatically dim or switch off lights depending on how much natural daylight is available or whether anyone is in the room.

Thanks to this system, the depot is now saving more than 93,000kWh of energy every year. To put that into perspective, that’s the equivalent of 34 homes’ worth of electricity, or powering your average fridge-freezer for 276 years! This single site alone is saving the council more than £12,000 a year. On top of that, the system is cutting carbon emissions by three tonnes a year, making a tangible difference to the environment.

Powered by data (and a bit of clever engineering)

Behind the scenes, there’s another piece of the puzzle making this project truly innovative: data. Even before we activated our smart lighting controls, we installed sub-metering to monitor energy use across 100 light fittings. This allowed us to establish a solid baseline of energy consumption so we could accurately measure the impact. And the results speak for themselves: energy savings that are not only significant but also expected to continue for years to come.

This approach means we don’t just rely on projections or assumptions, we use real data, verified by an independent third-party to prove the success. This is where our project stands apart — smart technology, backed by rigorous and reliable verification.

Shaping a greener future

As East Renfrewshire Council pushes forward with its net zero plan, projects like this are proving that energy efficiency is a practical, achievable goal.

From heat pumps to smart lighting, and from schools to depots, we’re delivering solutions that don’t just cut costs — they cut carbon too. One day, smart lighting like this could be the norm across cities, offices, and homes everywhere.