Somar's partnership programme enables contractors to become official resellers for its Eluma intelligent lighting solutions

(01/03/2011)

Despite the recession, a new study by BCC Research predicts that the global market for energy efficient technologies will grow almost 10% every year for the next five years becoming a $311.7 billion market by 2015.

Somar International has launched a new ‘partnership programme’ to help electrical contractors and energy consultants quickly expand their energy efficiency businesses.

Through Somar’s programme, selected contractors can become official resellers or referral partners for its Eluma intelligent lighting solutions. Manufactured in the UK and not available at wholesale, Somar’s Eluma products significantly reduce electricity consumption and maintenance, and provide better quality light. Eluma users typically reduce their energy consumption by 80% and at the same time improve lighting levels by 50%.

In trialling a branded T5 fluorescent fitting against Somar Eluma in a proposed retro-fit scenario, where 400W metal halide fittings were currently being used, the T5 and metal halide fittings delivered similar light levels, the low-low-energy Eluma lighting provided approximately 50% more light at the same connected load as the T5 fitting.

Somar’s Eluma products are already used by major names including Coca Cola, Sainsburys, GKN and Rolls Royce Plc plus local government amenities and regional owner-operated businesses.

Under Somar’s new ‘partnership programme’ larger contractors can resell and install the Eluma products on a formal basis, whilst smaller contractors and energy consultants can be referral partners. However the programme goes way beyond simply giving contractors access to these unique products. The programme includes a technical workshop plus a training day so that contractors can discuss ‘the business case for energy efficiency’. The programme also includes support for every step of the sales process. For instance Somar will provide site surveys, operational, financial and environmental proposal writing plus pilot installations.

David Bone, managing director of Somar International explains: “Organisations are under immense pressure to reduce their carbon footprint and save money. Energy efficiency is seen as a great way to deliver both – so contractors and consultants are increasingly being called on to come up with low energy solutions, but it’s a complex area to get into.

“Setting up trials, coming up with designs, measuring performance in terms of CO2 and gauging return on investment can be very involved. It’s something we’ve been doing for years but which may feel very daunting to already busy contractors. So we’ve worked hard to ensure our ‘partner programme’ takes all the pain out of this process and made it very easy for contractors and consultants to talk and sell energy efficiency.”

Related categories:  Energy efficiency   Lighting system   Luminaires and light fixtures