CREWE-BASED Swansway Group is making light work of reducing its carbon footprint.

As the country marks Clean Air Day today (June 17), the motor firm - which includes Crewe Audi, Crewe Volkswagen, Crewe SEAT, CUPRA Crewe and Swansway Jaguar Crewe - is committing itself to a sustainable future by spending £300,000 replacing traditional light bulbs across all its 23 sites and ancillary operations.

The bulbs will be replaced by energy-efficient LED lights, with Swansway estimating it will result in a reduction of 1.5 million kilograms of carbon emissions over a five-year period.

Every light bulb across the business, both indoor and out, is to be replaced in a project that will take until the end of this year to complete.

LEDs require far less maintenance, are cost efficient and have a very long lifespan, which is ideal for showroom settings where spectacular vehicles are on display.

Positive first impressions counts for a great deal in the motor industry. And after the first installation at Crewe Volkswagen, team members said they could instantly see the quality of light produced by the LEDs improved the appearance of the showroom and the areas where they work.

They could also help with a happier and more productive workforce, affecting motivation and productivity levels. Headaches, eye strain, the inability to concentrate for long periods of time, and an overall lack of comfort can all be caused by poor lighting.

Swansway Group estimates that their overall return on investment of switching bulbs will be around £1 million over five years.

All of the above factors though, are dwarfed by the potential to reduce the Group's carbon dioxide emissions, which is a contribution to the UKs green agenda, and will give payback for the businesses and the communities they serve for many years to come.

Swansway Group estimates that after making the switch, over a five-year period, they will reduce their carbon emissions by 50 per cent, preventing 1.5 million kilograms of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.

Swansway Group Procurement Manager Asa Baker said: "While I can appreciate that the high up-front costs might be off-putting at first glance, once you delve more closely into the efficiency and effectiveness of switching the lightbulbs, the arguments, both in terms of cost-saving and Corporate and Social Responsibility easily make the case to justify the investment.

"I would encourage others within the business community to look into the viability of switching over to LEDs in their own workspaces."

Swansway Group Director David Smyth said: "The message about sustainability is clear. We have always been focussed on investing in the areas where we do business, and this commitment to reduce the carbon footprint for each of our operations is an extension of this commitment.

"We are very proud to be making this change to improve our environments for all our customers and workforces and to for us to contribute to a future-proofed, sustainable environment for us all to enjoy."

Meanwhile, Swansway Group has announced its investment in a new Motor Match Crewe location in March of this year is already paying off with a 100th non-franchise sale completed.

Swansway added a non-franchise offering at their prestigious site at Crewe Green roundabout. Motor Match Crewe shares the site with the iconic Jaguar marque and gives customers maximum choice when it comes to purchasing quality used cars, in a superb setting.

Motor Match vehicles are very often sourced from the part exchanges Swansway Group undertakes in their franchise dealerships, both in Crewe and across their network. Therefore, very often the vehicle is known from new, as are its previous owners, to ensure genuine provenance.

Swansway Motor Match now operates in six locations across the North West and has over 400 vehicles in stock to suit every taste and budget from £3,000 to £50,000 plus, while customers have the benefit of knowing Swansway's "Excellent" rating on Trust Pilot.

Director Peter Smyth said: "Motor Match Crewe is a really exciting development, which will enable us to welcome more customers into our facilities and showcase more of our superb products.

"We have already been delighted by how the Motor Match brand has been received here in Crewe, and the 100th car sold shows that we are in a great place to offer customers a superb choice of product, and an excellent buying experience."