The RAF has had LED lighting installed in one of the helicopter hangars at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire as a way of saving energy and providing a better working environment.
RAF Benson is home to two-thirds of the RAF's support helicopter force and it is set to have £105 million invested into the facilities in energy efficiency initiatives.
It is anticipated that the LED lighting retrofit - installed by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) - could save as much a £110 million by 2014 and a further £70 million each year afterwards.
One hangar has already been updated, with the rest of the areas on site to have energy efficient ceiling light fittings installed in the next 12 months.
The changing in lighting offers more than just cost savings, the new lights will also reduce carbon emissions and don't need to warm up like conventional HID hangar illuminations.
These improvements are part of the DIO's Energy Spend to Save programme, which are helping to support the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) estate related energy spending by 25 per cent in the next two years.
Head of utilities at DIO Matt Foley said RAF staff now have better working conditions, while the MoD takes one step towards making its operations more green so they are in line with government environmental goals.
Senior engineering officer Sqr Ldr Steve Rowley said everyone is "extremely pleased" with the effect that the new lighting system has had on the hangar.
"Much of the engineering work undertaken on the Merlin helicopter is comparatively complex due to the high-tech systems the aircraft employs, thus maximum light conditions to enable attention to detail is extremely beneficial.
"In addition, the increase in light levels has given a better and safer overall working environment for our engineers, all of which contributes to successful operations."
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