Proving energy savings: The data challenge facing lighting solution providers

Lighting is often the first step on the path to net zero for commercial buildings and for good reason. According to the UK Green Building Council, lighting accounts for 23% of operational emissions in commercial buildings and is one of the easiest areas to decarbonise by switching to proven, energy-efficient LED technology.

However, proving the real-world impact of lighting solutions remains a challenge.

The opportunity

There is significant potential for lighting to reduce commercial property’s operational energy use, and therefore its carbon footprint. According to international research cited by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), LED based lighting systems with controls can reduce lighting energy use in commercial buildings by up to 85%.

The BRE is so confident in lighting’s contribution to sustainability that in a recent insight report it called for updated planning guidance, enhanced building regulations, and broader adoption of smart lighting with controls to drive efficiency and circularity in commercial buildings.

But increasingly, the focus is not on what lighting systems could achieve, but on what they can be proven to deliver.

The pressure to prove energy performance

At Cura Energy, we’re seeing increasing pressure on lighting solution providers, particularly those delivering LED retrofits or integrating smart controls, to evidence the actual performance of their solutions.

This pressure is coming from multiple directions amid growing scrutiny of sustainability claims. Building owners, finance teams and ESG reporting requirements are demanding reliable, project-specific data that demonstrates the impact of lighting systems on buildings’ energy use.

Bridging the validation gap

Part of the problem is lighting energy use can vary significantly depending on occupancy patterns, daylight availability, building schedules and how different spaces are used. For solution providers trying to quantify savings, this variability can make it difficult to isolate the results of a specific lighting upgrade.

Furthermore, demonstrating improvements after installation becomes even harder if no accurate baseline data is available. This issue is especially pertinent in retrofit projects, where previous lighting systems were not monitored and energy performance wasn’t measured in detail. In many cases, lighting solution providers are left relying on projections which may be technically sound but lack the evidential weight that stakeholders want to see.

How temporary energy monitoring can help

Temporary energy monitoring provides a simple and cost-effective way to generate credible performance data. By installing temporary sub-meters before, during and after a project, lighting solution providers can capture real-time, site-specific energy data that clearly shows how systems are performing.

This data allows providers to demonstrate avoided energy use, confirm whether design goals have been met and support a stronger case for future investment - all without the disruption or expense of installing permanent metering infrastructure.

At Cura Energy, we’ve worked with many lighting solution providers to use temporary monitoring to move from assumption to verification and turn expected outcomes into proven results.

Proof builds trust

Independently verified energy data builds trust with facilities teams or sustainability leads, as well as finance directors and other key decision-makers. It helps turn lighting projects into evidence-based successes, supporting investment decisions and enabling the scalable expansion of lighting solutions.

Lighting remains one of the most accessible, cost-effective and impactful ways to reduce carbon emissions in commercial buildings. But proving its impact is the key to securing support and delivering wider change.

With temporary monitoring, lighting providers can confidently demonstrate their value in the highly competitive, results-driven sector of commercial real estate.

Want to learn more about how to validate your lighting solution’s energy savings? Download Cura Energy’s guide to temporary sub-metering.