New lighting for a new energy restraint
Due to supply problems and the rise in electricity and gas prices, arrangements have been made to Sully Castle by the Department of Loiret to reduce energy costs. For the sake of the environment and energy restraint, the exterior lighting on the building was fully reviewed in 2022. A new night-time development of the monument which respects the environment!
Day/Night... the replacement of the castle’s exterior lighting has been a major change this year. A construction site which has mobilised an entire team from the Engie Cofely company as well as several machines including a reverse geometry aerial lift to access the lights situated on the walls of the castle’s moats.
Not only do the lights consume less energy now but the lighting time has also been amended to bring a definite response regarding the energy restraint which we must adhere to the castle. In fact, the lights only come on at twilight and switch off at 23:00 regardless of what happens. This also avoids light pollution, thus no longer causing the disorientation of the wild fauna that come out at night in the park (partly ENS (Sensitive Natural Space) classified)
The solutions that have been made are the following:
Replacement of our old light bulbs with LED lighting which consumes less energy
Brightness of the outdoor lighting adjusted: an automatic timer enables the castle to be lit up from twilight to 23:00.
The objectives of this procedure are mainly to lift the danger and risks linked to the proven disrepair of the lighting, increase lighting performance, reduce operation costs, homogenise the equipment, optimise and control the castle’s exterior lighting to value its structure and ensure the durability of the devices.
Specifically, it is a matter of completely renewing the exterior lighting equipment:
- On the façades of the castle from the moats,
- On the arches of the side bridge,
- On the Tour de la Loge,
- The spotlights in the inner courtyard,
- The lighting at the path leading to the entry of the castle and at the rampart walk.
Also, this operation is part of the continuity of the interior lighting renewal works carried out in 2021 (in collaboration with Eiffage) and which prioritised the lighting of the structures and the safety equipment. - The works have cut the power consumed in half (from 5931 kW to 3169 kW) and, therefore, have also halved the castle’s electricity bill with regards to the exterior lighting. A beautiful economy is also a beautiful environmentally friendly progression.
