A novel cost-efficient daylight-based lighting system for public buildings: Design and implementation

Abstract

In this study, design and implementation of a new cost-efficient daylight-based lighting control system is proposed to provide energy saving in a public building with a conventional lighting sys-tem. Energy gain recovery and regional daylight utilization coefficients are obtained by conducting daylight measurements in all indoor spaces of the building where the proposed lighting system will be applied. Daylight value is continuously trans-ferred to the control system through the pyranome-ter placed outside and the need for artificial lighting is calculated by using sectional daylight utilization coefficients. Thereby, maximum benefit from daylight is realized when unnecessary energy consump-tion for artificial lighting is reduced. Experimental measurement results show that the proposed day-light-based lighting control system provides an av-erage energy efficiency of the building at the level of 60 %. Additionally, the required investment, such as operating cost and payback period for converting an existing conventional lighting system into the proposed system, are discussed in detail. Cost analysis shows that the payback period of the proposed system can be reduced by 5 years compared to the conventional system.