Determination of real energy saving potential of daylight responsive systems: A case study from Turkey

Energy saving approaches for interior lighting, especially for government and non-government offices, are significant for every country around the world. As energy sources are rapidly depleting and greenhouse gas emissions increase, lighting energy savings should be considered more seriously. A project entitled "Determination of Interior Lighting Energy Saving Potential for Sakarya Region", financed and supported by Sakarya University Engineering Faculty (since 2005) and the Scientific Research Projects Commission (since 2007), has started. Using electrical and climatic data collected from the daylight responsive automated lighting control system constructed in 2008, detailed information regarding the real energy saving potential of an office building is estimated. Approximately 36 % of the lighting energy used in the room over a period of 6 months can be saved without taking climatic energy consumption into account. In accordance with the results of the total energy consumption in the test room, a clear ath may be drawn to determine and increase the real energy saving potential.