Many strata property owners and tenants are needing to decrease energy usage, increase product life cycles and improve financial sustainability. With limited options to reduce their environmental impact of construction, they are always looking for sustainable lighting solutions that are also compliant, fast and affordable.

Few of LR Reed’s clients have the budgets or space to embark on expensive solar, HVAC or other options to decrease carbon in their facilities and adopt more sustainable waste management practices.

Traditional exit signs, reliant on electricity and batteries, posed significant maintenance burdens and hidden costs. These signs required regular testing and frequent replacements, leading to increased operational expenses and potential safety risks due to system failures.  

LR Reed were always replacing failed electric-battery exit signs, which was costly and disruptive for their Owners Corporations, and this also took a lot of effort to manage electrical contractors undertaking the work.

There is often the added complexity of gaining agreement across all owners and tenants and Owners Corporations, especially when changes are proposed in common areas of buildings. Therefore, LR Reed also needed a solution that could be quickly and easily implemented so owners and tenants could see value for money to improve financial sustainability.

Understanding their financial and environmental drivers assisted Smarterlite to help LR Reed understand how much their existing electric, battery-reliant exit signs were costing their clients, and how we could help them make a difference.

Smarterlite worked closely with LR Reed on their existing and new exit signs, and together we commissioned over 310 Smarterlite Environmental Exit Signs for use in eight strata properties including residential and commercial owners and tenants. In all we were able to conduct a hazard identification and risk assessment for more than ten commercial tenancies and almost 1,000 residential apartments.

LR Reed and Smarterlite also worked together on other sustainable lighting solutions to reduce energy usage and provide more sustainable waste management options. This led to LR Reed installing Smarterlite’s Environmental Exit Signs powered by their world’s-best Smarterlite Photoluminescent Technology for evacuation plans and building safety signs.

These zero operational carbon safety signs ensure that even in a blackout, people could get home safely every day and be able to find their way out of buildings during blackouts.

More reliable exit signs and better safety signage both mean less failures, better compliance and less risk for all visitors, tenants and owners. 

The implementation of Smarterlite’s Environmental Exit Signs and OH&S Signs has yielded impressive results for LR Reed’s clients. The most significant benefit has been an 88% reduction in energy usage from their exit signs, dramatically lowering operational costs and contributing to a more sustainable energy profile.  

This reduction in energy consumption directly correlates with a substantial decrease in carbon emissions, with around 1.5 tonnes of carbon saved every year and around 300 tonnes of carbon saved every 20 years. Such a notable decrease in carbon footprint aligns with LR Reed’s commitment to helping their clients reduce environmental impact of their construction and maintenance.

In addition to the impressive energy savings, the switch to Smarterlite’s Environmental Exit Signs has led to a reduction of 502kg of electronic waste every year and 9,106 kg over 20 years.

Traditional battery-reliant systems often require frequent replacements, contributing to e-waste and environmental degradation.  

By eliminating the need for batteries and reducing the frequency of replacements, Smarterlite’s signs help LR Reed’s clients minimise their environmental impact. This comprehensive approach not only enhances safety and reliability but also supports the company’s broader goals of reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices. 

• Reduced Lifetime Costs: From construction and installation to the operation of the Environmental Exit Signs, LR Reed’s strata property clients have experienced a significant reduction in lifetime costs by using Environmental Exit Signs with increased product life cycles. Smarterlite’s Environmental Exit Signs simplify maintenance, eliminating the need for regular 90-minute tests and ensuring long-term reliability without frequent replacements. 
• Contribution to ESG Targets: The reduction in emissions and electronic waste directly supports LR Reed’s clients’ Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) targets. By saving 300 tonnes of carbon and avoiding 9,106 kg of e-waste over 20 years, this adds to their commitment to sustainable and responsible business practices. 
• Enhanced Safety for Customers and Staff: The reliability and durability of Smarterlite’s Environmental Exit Signs and OH&S Safety Signs ensure safer environments for visitors, owners and tenants in strata properties. With no risk of sudden failures or frequent maintenance disruptions, the signs provide peace of mind and a higher standard of safety throughout Harvey Norman’s complexes.