DALI lighting controls take centre stage at the National Theatre Green Store

Lighting controls specialist B.E.G. helped the National Theatre Green Store take a major step towards sustainability by supplying an advanced lighting controls system at its new ‘game-changing’ Bermondsey facility.

The German manufacturer consulted on the large store facility switching to a DALI-LINK dimming solution which can be maintained by the theatre’s in-house team via a free downloadable B.E.G. app following training which could reduce its energy usage by up to 60 per cent.

The project at the National Theatre Green Store, which houses all props, costumes and technical storage, showcases how smart building technologies can deliver measurable energy savings in line with the UK’s growing Net Zero ambitions.

The theatre decided in 2024 to move from its old home in Kennington to an exciting new space in Bermondsey. The aim was to consolidate its extensive props and costume collections under one roof and create a facility that reflects the creative industry’s commitment to sustainable practices. Now with the integration of B.E.G.’s DALI-LINK system, this has helped bring that ambition to life.

The Bermondsey Green Store is now home to over 130,000 costumes and, for the first time, all 21,942 props are housed under the same roof. The 1,260 m² facility serves the theatre’s internal needs but it can now act as a ‘one-stop shop’ for hire for designers and creatives across the sector.

With materials and resources now more accessible at its central London location, it will lead to an increase reuse of materials across productions. This directly supports the principles set out in the Theatre Green Book, an industry-wide framework encouraging more sustainable theatre production.

Paul Handley Director of Production and Technical at the National Theatre, said: “This game-changing facility has been developed to inspire designers at the early stages of the production process to reuse existing materials, while encouraging them to achieve their creative goals and adhere to the standards of the Theatre Green Book.

Reuse is at the heart of achieving the Basic Standard with 50 per cent of materials needing to have had a previous life, and 65 per cent needing to be repurposed at the end. By encouraging reuse we can create a circular economy and reduce our carbon footprint.

In May 2021, we started working towards the Basic Standard of the Theatre Green Book and all productions staged at the South Bank in 2024 met these requirements – with further progress being made to reach intermediate and advanced levels of sustainability.

As well as storage, the building provides office, laundry, and workspace for the National Theatre’s on-site team. This includes new lighting, heating, and ventilation systems to reduce energy use, and electric charging for lorries. Initiatives like the Green Store will drive forward our ambition to reach net zero by 2030. This success could not be achieved without immense collaboration between all the skilled makers, designers and creatives involved.”

A key part of the energy efficiency strategy was the implementation of B.E.G.’s DALI-LINK lighting control system. This standalone, app-programmable system uses presence and absence detection to ensure lighting is only active when needed – ideal for dynamic working environments like workshops, storage areas, and office spaces.

The system was programmed and commissioned using the BEG One app, available from the App Store, which offers installers and facilities teams a simple, intuitive way to set up and adjust controls without the need for complex infrastructure.

Dan Glynn, Director at B.E.G. UK, said: “We’re proud to support the National Theatre Green Store in its sustainability journey. DALI-LINK is a versatile system that now allows them to take control of their energy usage with minimal disruption. It’s perfectly suited for a facility like this, where operational flexibility and efficiency are both critical.”

The design and coordination of the building services were led by Skelly & Couch, an environmental engineering practice, which ensured B.E.G.’s systems integrated seamlessly with other energy-saving technologies such as upgraded heating and ventilation systems at the National Theatre Green Store.

Installation of the lighting controls and associated infrastructure was carried out by CES Electrical, who specialise in industrial and commercial electrical installations, based in Enfield. Their team worked closely with B.E.G.’s engineers throughout the process, delivering a ‘compliant and efficient installation that met sustainability targets while leaving room for future system expansion’ according to Mr Glynn.

Steve White, lead consultant at Skelly & Couch, said: “Having B.E.G. systems integrated into the heart of the new site gave us an effective, easy-to-maintain solution that fits perfectly within the National Theatre’s wider sustainability objectives.”

The National Theatre Green Store also extended its energy efficiency upgrades by installing the B.E.G. DACO system, which provides daylight and occupancy-responsive lighting control across rehearsal and back-of-house areas which is designed to provide consistent, automated energy savings across both key sites.

With further steps such as the donation of a fully electric DAF truck for transporting production materials, the National Theatre Green Store continues to reduce its operational carbon footprint, setting a strong example of how environmental responsibility can be embedded into every part of an organisation.

Dan added: “This project proves that with the right collaboration between consultants, manufacturers, and electrical contractors, buildings can be both smart and sustainable – without compromising on performance.”