Retrofitting the Electric Lighting and Daylighting Systems to Reduce Energy Use in Buildings: A Literature Review

Marie-Claude Dubois,Werner Osterhaus,Fabio Bisegna,Eino Tetri,Martine Knoop,Barbara Matusiak,Niko Gentile

doi:10.3844/erjsp.2015.25.41

Abstract

This paper presents a literature review about energy-efficient retrofit of electric lighting and daylighting systems in buildings. The review, which covers around 160 research articles, addresses the following themes: 1) retrofitting electric lighting in buildings, 2) electric lighting energy use and saving potential and 3) lighting retrofit strategies. The retrofit strategies covered in the review are: replacement of lamp, ballast or luminaire; use of task-ambient lighting design; improvement in maintenance; reduction of maintained illuminance levels; improvement in spectral quality of light sources; improvement in occupant behavior; use of control systems; and use of daylighting systems. The review indicates that existing general knowledge about lighting retrofit is currently very limited and that there is a significant lack of information concerning the actual energy performance of lighting systems installed in the existing building stock. The resulting key directions for future research highlights issues for which a better understanding is required for the spread and development of lighting retrofit. (Less)

Highlights

Projections by the International Energy Agency (IEA, 2006) show that if governments only rely on current policies, global electricity use for lighting will grow to around 4250 TWh by 2030, an alarming increase of more than 40%
Previous research (Dascalaki and Santamouris, 2002; Erhorn-Kluttig et al, 2004) suggested that it is necessary to look at energy saving measures in a holistic way since electric lighting reductions normally entail an increase in heating demand, which can make lighting retrofit measures less cost effective considering all other end-uses
It is worth mentioning that a reduction in lighting energy use yields a reduction of internal heat gains and cooling needs are reduced while summertime thermal comfort is generally improved

Summary

Introduction

Projections by the International Energy Agency (IEA, 2006) show that if governments only rely on current policies, global electricity use for lighting will grow to around 4250 TWh by 2030, an alarming increase of more than 40%. Due to the world’s growing population and the increasing demand for electrically driven services in emerging economies, this increase will occur despite constant improvements in energy efficiency of electric systems. Porritt et al, 2013) have warned about this so-called rebound effect, which means that with the reduced system power in lighting-and fixed energy prices-the tendency is to use more light because it is cheaper and by that absolute energy consumption is increased. Increase in efficiency will not necessarily produce an absolute reduction of energy use, as observed by William Stanley Jevons in 1865. The Jevons Paradox, which was first expressed in relation to use of coal, states that an increase in efficiency in using a resource leads to increased use of that resource rather than to a reduction (Polimeni et al, 2007). Saunders and Tsao (2012) argued that even in this scenario, the increase in efficiency should be pursued because it will at least lead to economic benefits

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