Energy-saving performance of light shelves under the application of user-awareness technology and light-dimming control

Abstract

Much attention has been given to the sun as a source of alternative energy for conserving energy. Recently, solar energy technologies have been linked with IT to reduce the energy consumed in buildings, with proven effectiveness. In this study, we investigate the effectiveness of a light shelf with user-awareness and dimming control features. We assess the efficiency of a light shelf in saving lighting energy by examining each component of the light shelf. A testbed is used to verify the lighting energy-saving effect of this light shelf. In order to determine the energy consumption in different situations, we examine three cases. Case 1 features a light shelf that is user-unaware but with lighting On/Off control. Case 2 features a light shelf that is user-aware with lighting On/Off control. Case 3 features a light shelf that is user-aware with dimming control. Users were classified by target illumination levels according to illumination standards: A (600 lx), B (400 lx), and C (300 lx). The appropriate standards and lighting energy consumption levels for each Case were found through this study, and the lighting energy saving performance of the light shelf that is user-aware and applies light dimming technology proposed here was verified.