St Mary's RC High School

St Mary's RC High School

Energy & Cost Savings Proposal

St Mary's RC High School

This proposal turns your energy data into a live, transparent financial plan for a full-site LED upgrade - built to reflect how your school actually operates.

Would You Leave The Taps Running All Night?

If you walked into the changing rooms and found every tap running, you wouldn't wait for the next budget cycle to turn them off. You would stop the waste on the spot.

Right now, your lighting is doing the same thing – quietly draining up to £0 per year in unnecessary energy spend. This dashboard shows, in real time, how much of that can be stopped with a full LED upgrade, and what that means for your budget.

You are already committing up to £0 every month to lighting energy. The question is not "can we afford this upgrade?" It is "how quickly do we want to stop giving that money away?"

This dashboard shows how a full LED upgrade:

  • Cuts your lighting spend by up to 0%
  • Reduces 0 tonnes CO₂ annually
  • Pays for itself in as little as 0 years
  • Remains cashflow-neutral or better from day one, using your existing energy budget

You are already paying for this upgrade. The only real question is whether that money continues to leave the school, or starts working for it.

Why This Dashboard Matters

Every LED upgrade proposal should come with complete transparency - and a clear explanation of what’s being offered, how it performs, and what it’s worth over time. This interactive dashboard gives you exactly that: real figures based on conservative assumptions, premium fixtures selected for compliance and long-term performance, and calculations you can explore and verify yourself.

Use the scenario planner to test different assumptions. Adjust your energy rates, usage schedules, or operational patterns and see the real-time impact on your financial outcomes. This is how a properly engineered LED upgrade should be presented - practical, flexible, and fully accountable.

If you'd like to walk through any aspect together, our team is here to explain the detail behind every calculation and support your decision-making process.

Key Assumptions & Methodology

This proposal demonstrates how your existing energy budget can fully fund a comprehensive LED upgrade, including both premium fittings and professional installation, while achieving immediate positive cash flow.

Conservative Projections

Our calculations use conservative estimates to ensure realistic outcomes. We've based operating hours on minimum school patterns without including potential additional savings from extended day periods and enhanced controls.

Premium LED Specification

We've specified higher-efficiency LED solutions that extend whole-life value. With 60,000+ hour lifespans and superior lumen-per-watt performance, these fixtures deliver a stronger return on investment over their operational lifetime when compared to standard fittings.

Flexible Financing

Our financing options allow you to spread the investment over time while maintaining positive cash flow. Adjust the funding term and deposit in the calculator to find the optimal structure for your budget.

🚀 Quick Start Guide

This dashboard calculates your potential savings from upgrading to LED lighting. Use the Scenario Planner (left sidebar) to adjust assumptions and see real-time updates across all metrics. All changes are instant - no need to refresh or save.

🎛️ Using the Scenario Planner

Top Panel Controls
  • 📋 View Settings Summary: Opens printable summary with all current settings - perfect for board papers
  • Reset Defaults: Returns to conservative baseline values instantly
Usage Profile Toggle
  • OFF (Default): Conservative estimates for budget planning
  • ON: School's actual usage patterns for realistic projections
Key Adjustments
  • Zone Days: Adjust operational days for each building zone
  • Electricity Rates: Day/Night rates with auto-calculated blended rate
  • PIR Toggle: Enable/disable all sensor calculations instantly
Expandable Sections (Click ▼)
  • Night Rate Hours: Specify which areas run during night-rate periods
  • Variable Hours Zones: Set weekday/Saturday/Sunday hours separately for zones that support it
Area Hours Controls
  • Without PIR: Single slider per area (hours apply to both current & LED)
  • With PIR: Dual sliders - Red (current hours) vs Green (reduced LED+PIR hours)

📈 Understanding the Results

Key Metrics to Watch
  • Annual Savings: Your yearly energy cost reduction
  • Simple Payback: Years to recover investment (self-funded)
  • Funded Payback: Payback including interest (financed)
  • Net Monthly Cash: Savings minus funding payment
  • Energy Reduction %: Efficiency improvement
Visual Indicators
  • Gauge Charts: Show % reduction in energy/cost/CO₂
  • Bar Chart: Savings breakdown by area - identifies biggest wins
  • Green Values: Positive savings/cashflow
  • Yellow Values: Costs/payments
Report Sections
  • Executive Summary: Board-level overview with all key metrics
  • Financial Impact: 10-year & lifetime projections
  • Technical Details: Fixture specifications
  • Environmental Impact: Sustainability metrics
Financing Options
  • Funding Term: 12-87 months available
  • Interest Rate: Adjust based on your quote
  • Deposit: Optional (0-100% of project cost)
💡 What Gets Updated

Every adjustment instantly recalculates: all consumption values, costs, payback periods, cashflow, CO₂ emissions, and the Executive Summary. No save button needed!

📄 Comparing LED Options

Option Buttons (A, B, C)
  • Three LED specifications: Different fixture lifespans (e.g., 60k/80k/40k hours) and capital costs
  • Click any option: The Financial Case box updates to show that option's costs and payback
  • All three visible: 3-Way LED Options Comparison chart always shows all options side-by-side
3-Way LED Options Comparison Chart

Visual comparison showing capital cost, funded payback, 10-year value, and fixture lifespan for all three options simultaneously.

  • Updates live: As you adjust funding terms, rates, or deposit in the sidebar, watch all three options recalculate
  • Identifies trade-offs: Lower capital cost vs longer lifespan, or shorter payback vs total value
  • Scenario testing: See how interest rate or term length affects the comparison between options
What Updates vs What Stays Constant
  • Changes when switching options: Capital cost, funded payback in Financial Case box
  • Stays constant: Energy savings, reduction %, Executive Summary (shows recommended option)
  • Sidebar changes affect all options: Adjusting funding term or interest rate recalculates all three simultaneously

💡 Common Use Cases

For Governors

Focus on Executive Summary and Financial Impact sections. Check monthly cashflow position. Export Settings Summary for board papers.

For Finance Teams

Adjust funding terms and rates. Compare funded vs self-funded options. Test different deposit amounts. Export settings.

For Facilities

Review area hours to match reality. Validate PIR sensor placement. Check fixture specifications for maintenance planning.

⚡ Pro Tips
  • Click "View Settings Summary" to see all current assumptions at a glance - perfect for documenting scenarios
  • Use "Reset Defaults" to quickly return to baseline calculations when testing multiple scenarios
  • Toggle between conservative and actual usage to show governors the range of possible outcomes
  • The Executive Summary auto-updates with every change - always ready for board presentations
  • Expand ▼ sections for granular control over complex schedules (Night Rate, Variable Hours)

Estimated Energy & Cost Analysis

Estimated Consumption, Expenditure & Emissions

Current Installation

Post LED Upgrade

Estimated Annual Savings

The Financial Case

The Financial Impact

Cash Flow Neutral or Better from Day One

Your projected energy savings are designed to match or exceed funding costs. By adjusting deposit levels and funding terms, you can tailor the financial profile to suit your strategy - ensuring the upgrade delivers immediate value while modernising your estate.

Visual Analysis

Visual Comparison: Current vs. Estimated

3-Way LED Options Comparison Click to hide

Compare all three lighting options side-by-side

Annual Savings Comparison

Whole-of-Life Analysis

Total impact over fixture lifetime based on your current settings and weighted average operating hours across all zones

Total Cost of Ownership Over Time

Cumulative costs including installation, energy, and fixture replacements. Chart shows whole-life value based on actual fixture lifespans and your current settings.

Understanding UGR Compliance Educational Standards Click to hide

Why light quality matters in education - critical for Option C consideration

What is UGR<19 and Why Does It Matter?

✓ UGR Compliant (Options A & B)

  • Unified Glare Rating ≤ 19 for classrooms
  • Reduces eye strain and headaches
  • Improves concentration and sustained focus
  • Supports better reading fluency
  • Complies with EN 12464-1 standards
  • Protects student and teacher wellbeing
  • Creates effective learning environment

⚠️ Non-UGR Compliant (Option C)

  • No glare control measures in place
  • Causes visual discomfort and eye strain
  • Increases fatigue and distraction
  • May trigger headaches or migraines
  • Impairs reading comprehension
  • Can exacerbate vision strain
  • Undermines learning quality

Educational Research Findings

Studies consistently show that lighting quality affects how students learn and feel in class. International standards (EN 12464-1, SLL Lighting Guide 5) recommend a Unified Glare Rating (UGR) ≤ 19 for classrooms to avoid discomfort glare. When classrooms meet this benchmark, students experience less eye strain, fewer headaches, and improved ability to concentrate for extended periods.

Research has linked low-glare, well-designed lighting to measurable academic benefits: faster and more accurate reading, better comprehension, and calmer behaviour. Teachers also report less visual fatigue and more effective classroom management when lighting conditions are comfortable and consistent.

By contrast, non-UGR-compliant lighting — such as bare LED fittings — has been associated with headaches, visual discomfort, reduced clarity on boards and screens, and heightened distraction. Poor glare control can undermine both attendance and attainment.

Our Commitment: Unifi.id exclusively specifies UGR-compliant lighting fixtures for educational environments. While budget alternatives (Option C) may appear attractive on initial cost, they compromise the learning environment and can have long-term negative impacts on student wellbeing and academic performance.

Savings Contribution by Area

Lighting Transformation Details Click to reveal

Hardware specifications & performance analysis
🔄
Performance metrics update automatically with your Scenario Planner
Values below reflect your current settings and will change as you adjust the controls.
Loading current settings...

Hardware Transformation Overview Fixed Specifications

601
Optimised LED Fixtures
46.8kW → 14.4kW
Total Load
15 → 12
Fixture Types
73%
Load Reduction
Performance Metrics Below Update with Scenario Changes

▼ Performance by Area Live Updates

Updates with scenario changes

▼ Fixture Lifespan by Area Live Updates

Understanding the 29-year average (range: 21-60 years)

How we calculate the 29-year average: Each area has different operational hours. High-use areas (like main halls) will need replacement sooner, while low-use areas (like storage) last much longer. We weight by fixture count to give you a realistic whole-school projection. Values update automatically when you adjust operational settings.

💡 Note: Lifespans shown capped at 60 years (the rated fixture life). Some low-use areas may mathematically exceed this, but practical fixture life is limited by component degradation (capacitors, drivers) rather than LED hours alone. All financial projections use the weighted average shown above.

▼ Detailed Fixture Specifications Fixed Data

View complete fixture list

Current Fixtures (To Be Removed)

Fixture Type Qty Unit Power Total Load

LED Replacements (To Be Installed)

Fixture Type Qty Unit Power Total Load

Technical Performance Advantages

⚡ Superior Quality

Professional-grade LED drivers ensure consistent, flicker-free light output and protect your investment with built-in surge protection.

🔧 Reduced Maintenance

High-quality drivers mean fewer failures, longer fixture life, and less disruption - crucial for maintaining a productive learning environment.

📊 Smart Controls

PIR sensors in 5 areas deliver automatic 33-75% additional savings.

Here's What Most Schools Don't Realise...

You're already paying for this LED upgrade – you're just not getting one. Every month, St Mary's RC High School spends approximately £800 on lighting energy. But what if that £73 monthly saving could be redirected into educational resources from day one?

Why "Whole of Life" Beats "Lowest Upfront Cost"

Most LED upgrade projects fall into the same trap: choosing the cheapest possible fittings to tick the "sustainability" box. But in doing so, many schools end up locking in higher long-term costs — paying more in energy bills, maintenance, and replacements for years to come.

That's why we've taken a total cost of ownership approach to your lighting upgrade. Our specified fixtures deliver 60,000 operational hours — with individual areas lasting between 38-60 years based on usage patterns. This isn't just about energy savings; it's about creating lasting value for your school.

*Fixture Lifetime Calculation:

  • Based on 60,000 hour fixture rating across all zones
  • Lifespan range: 38-60 years (high-use areas replace sooner, low-use areas last longer)

*All projections update dynamically based on your operational settings

A Smarter Balance of Cost and Performance

For this project, we've focused on delivering the best long-term value within the practical budget constraints of a state school. The fixtures we've selected offer a strong balance between affordability and durability — significantly reducing the need for future replacements and lowering maintenance overhead.

This ensures you benefit from high-quality, energy-efficient lighting that cuts running costs year after year, without compromising your upfront budget. It's a smarter investment that supports both operational and sustainability goals in a way that's financially realistic.

The result? Over 34 years, that's £300,000 in net benefit to your educational budget — money for books, technology, and what really matters: teaching.

Beyond Energy Savings: The Complete Value Picture

🎓 Enhanced Learning Environment

Superior light quality with CRI 80+ and reduced flicker. Research shows proper lighting improves concentration and can boost academic performance by up to 15%.

🔧 Operational Excellence

Virtually eliminate maintenance for the next decade. No more disrupted classes, emergency call-outs, or budget surprises from failed tubes.

🌍 Environmental Leadership

Cut 38,634 kWh annually (77% reduction). Visible climate action that becomes a teaching tool.

Why Schools Trust Our Approach

  • ✓ 5-Year Parts & 3-Year on-site Labour Warranty - Complete peace of mind with comprehensive coverage on all fixtures and installation
  • ✓ Education-Focused Installation - We work around your term dates, exams, and events - installations scheduled during holidays or weekends to ensure minimal disruption
  • ✓ Future-Proof Technology - Compatible with smart controls and IoT integration when you're ready
  • ✓ UK-Based Support - Local technical team with rapid response for any issues
  • ✓ VAT Recovery Assistance - We guide you through reclaiming 20% of your project cost - the government effectively pays for a fifth of your upgrade
  • ✓ End-to-End Project Management - From initial survey to final commissioning, we handle everything

⚠️ The Hidden Costs of "Cheap" LED

Beware of contractors offering rock-bottom prices. Low-quality LEDs often deliver only 20,000-30,000 hours, use inefficient drivers that waste energy, and suffer from colour shift and lumen depreciation within 2-3 years. You'll end up replacing them twice while our fixtures are still performing at 90% output.

Smart Control Strategy Maximising Efficiency

Beyond the core LED upgrade, strategic deployment of occupancy sensors transforms your energy profile by ensuring lights operate only when spaces are occupied. The hours shown in the calculations already reflect these intelligent reductions:

This comprehensive approach also avoids future retrofit costs. Installing sensors later - particularly in corridors and circulation areas - would require additional mobilisation costs and cause more disruption. By addressing all control upgrades now, we maximise efficiency whilst minimising long-term costs. And of course using your PIR sensors will extend the life of your LED lights still further - by between ${minPirExtension}% and ${maxPirExtension}%.

Funding Options

Self-Funding: If you choose to self-fund this project, payment terms are 40% on order and 60% on completion.

Finance Options: If you prefer to spread the cost, we offer flexible financing with up to 100% funding available. Choose your preferred deposit amount (if any) and use the Funding Assumptions calculator opposite to explore monthly costs and terms that work for your budget.

▼ Energy & Operational Calculations Live Updates

Understanding how we calculate your savings

Transparent Methodology: Unlike typical LED proposals that present opaque "black box" calculations, we show you exactly how every figure is derived. All values below update live as you adjust your operational settings - you can verify every calculation yourself.

Energy Consumption (kWh)

Annual energy consumption calculated from first principles using fixture specifications and actual operating hours.

Annual kWh = (Quantity × Wattage × Daily Hours × Days per Year) / 1000
Zone-Specific Calculation:
• Different zones have different operating days (e.g., main building 195 days vs sports hall 320 days)
• Different areas have different daily hours based on usage patterns
• PIR sensors reduce effective hours in applicable areas
Live Example: Classrooms (Main Building)

Energy Cost (£)

Costs calculated using your electricity tariff rates, with optional day/night split for dual-tariff contracts.

Annual Cost = Annual kWh × Electricity Rate (£/kWh)
Your Current Rates:
• Day Rate: £0.23/kWh
• Night Rate: £0.15/kWh (for applicable areas)
Live Example: Classrooms

Carbon Emissions (CO₂e)

Carbon emissions calculated using UK Government's published grid intensity factors.

Annual CO₂e (tonnes) = (Annual kWh × 0.233 kg/kWh) / 1000
Grid Intensity Factor: 0.233 kg CO₂e per kWh
Source: UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Scope: Scope 2 emissions (purchased electricity)
Live Example: Whole School Annual Emissions

Fixture Lifespan & Replacement Cycles

Dynamic lifespan calculation based on actual operating hours and manufacturer-rated lifetime hours.

Lifespan (years) = Rated Hours / (Daily Hours × Days per Year)
Selected Option Rated Life: 60,000 hours
Your Weighted Average: 29 years across all areas
Live Example: Classrooms

📊 Detailed Breakdown: See the "Fixture Lifespan by Area" section above for a complete area-by-area analysis showing how different usage patterns affect replacement schedules.

Compounding Savings Over Time

Energy prices have historically risen faster than general inflation. When projecting long-term value, we apply compound growth to annual savings to reflect the increasing real-world value of each kWh saved. A kilowatt-hour saved today avoids not just today's cost, but the inflated cost that same kWh would carry in Year 10 or Year 20.

Lifetime Value = Σ (Year 1 Savings × (1 + Inflation Rate)^(year-1))
Where:
• Year 1 Savings = Annual kWh saved × current electricity rate
• Inflation Rate = Energy price inflation (default: 3.8% per annum)
• Σ = Sum across all years of fixture lifetime
Worked Example: 3.8% Energy Inflation Over 20 Years

Each year you generate a new saving. Because energy prices rise, each year's saving is worth more than the last. Your lifetime benefit is the sum of all annual savings — each year's contribution added together:

Year 1:£30,000→ Running Total: £30,000 Year 2:£31,140→ Running Total: £61,140 Year 5:£34,800→ Running Total: £163,647 Year 10:£43,470→ Running Total: £358,526 Year 20:£62,910→ Running Total: £878,549

Compare: Simple multiplication (£30,000 × 20) = £600,000
With compounding: £878,549 — that's £278,549 more value captured.

The True Cost of Delay
Delaying by one year doesn't just lose Year 1's £30,000 — it loses the compounded value that £30,000 would have generated. That first year's savings, growing at 3.8% for 19 remaining years, would contribute £59,873 to your lifetime total. Delay means you start the accumulation later and permanently miss capturing those early years of compound growth.

📈 See It In Action: The "Compounding Savings" section above shows your school's actual projected values using your specific annual savings and the energy inflation rate set in the sidebar.

Executive Summary

Option A Conservative Projection

Financial Performance

Annual Savings
£9,194
Simple Payback
4.0 years
Funded Payback
5.0 years
Return on Investment
25% per year
Monthly Cashflow Analysis
Energy Savings
£766
Net Position
+£3/month
Funding Payment
£763
Selected Funding Term
48 months

Long-Term Value Creation

10-Year Value
£92k
30-Year Value
£276k
Value vs Investment
7.5x return
Sustainability Impact
Energy Reduction 79%
CO₂ Reduction (tonnes) 10.2t/yr
Learning Quality UGR<19

Calculation Methodology: Projections based on conservative operational estimates with mixed-zone scheduling. Energy savings calculated using actual fixture consumption data with PIR sensor optimisation in 4 areas. Financial returns assume Day: £0.205/kWh, Night: £0.17/kWh electricity rates with 3.00% annual energy price inflation.

Investment Parameters

  • Capital Required: £38,332
  • Optimal Financing: 60 months at 4.75%
  • Deposit Flexibility: 0-100%
  • Payment Terms: 40% order, 60% completion

Quality Assurance

  • 5-year parts warranty
  • 3-year on-site labour included
  • 60,000+ hour rated lifespan
  • Minimal maintenance required

Recommendation: Approve LED upgrade with 60-month financing term
Zero capital risk with immediate operational savings and 25% annual ROI

↑ Return to Energy & Cost Analysis

So How Long Do We Leave The Taps Running?

For St Mary's RC High School, this dashboard makes the choice fairly clear. This LED upgrade gives you around £0 a year in savings, pays back in about 0 years, and is worth roughly £0 over its life.

If we wait, we keep the old lighting and watch about £0 a month trickle away until the next holiday window. If we go ahead, we lock in the savings and improve the spaces your staff and students use every day.

Your environmental impact would be immediate – reducing emissions by 0%, the equivalent of planting around 0 trees every year.

Annual Savings: £0 • Carbon Reduction: 0 Tonnes • 0% Energy Reduction

Isn't it time to turn off the taps?

Unifi ID Ltd

Level 39, One Canada Square
London E14 5AB

[email protected] | www.unifi.id

© 2025 Unifi ID Ltd. All rights reserved.

Confidential & Proprietary: This interactive dashboard and all associated calculations, methodologies, algorithms, and design elements are the exclusive intellectual property of Unifi ID Ltd. Unauthorised reproduction, distribution, modification, or commercial use of any part of this dashboard is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action. This dashboard is provided solely for the evaluation of LED upgrade opportunities by the intended recipient organisation.