Design and Implementation of Daylight Harvesting Illumination System in a Retail Environment

Abstract

Abstract - The study was conducted within a Retail Store Chain. The main objective of this project was to reduce energy consumption in a retail environment. An illumination design was performed. Light intensity level is measured in foot-candles (fc). The required level of foot candles according to the Illumination Engineering Society (EIS) Lighting Handbook for a retail environment should be between 50-120 fc. The established design guideline for the retail store which this analysis is based on is 50 fc. The focus was on introducing new technologies that would reduce the amount of electrical lighting necessary, while keeping the projects simple payback period under five years. Daylight harvesting was the technique used to reduce energy consumption. This term refers to a control system that reduces the use of electrical lighting in buildings interiors by the use of natural daylight. With the techniques used it can be shown that the energy consumption was reduced, from a monthly average of 492,485.73 KWh to 453,688.43 KWh. This reduction translates to yearly savings of $116,391.89. These techniques are easily transferrable to many other types of environments where lighting energy reduction is necessary. Key Terms – Daylight Harvesting, Full Dimming, Step Dimming, Foot Candle.