Energy Savings from Energy Efficient Lighting in Houses

In recent years, due to the substantial reduction in the incremental costs associated with energy efficient lighting fixtures, their use in housing is becoming more prevalent. The energy efficient lighting fixtures offer substantial potential for reducing the electrical power consumption and energy use. The use of these energy efficient fixtures may also affect the need for house heating (penalty) and the need for cooling (benefit).

The purpose of this project was to do benchmarking testing using the CCHT facility and to develop reliable power and energy use profiles. Results are summarized as follows:

Compact Fluorescent Lighting

• Compact fluorescent lighting can create significant energy and cost savings in houses. These are based on the reduction in electrical power demand and annual energy use; increase in the space heating loads to offset the reduction in lighting energy; and reduction in the cooling energy use.

• The CCHT houses provide a unique research and test facility to accurately determine the impact of conventional incandescent and energy efficient compact fluorescent lighting on the performance of a whole house. The measured power draw for the incandescent and compact fluorescent lamps compared well with manufacturers' specifications.
• The energy efficient lighting systems do affect the space conditioning requirements. During the heating season, the compact fluorescent lighting reduces the internal gains thereby increasing the space heating energy use. The CCHT test showed that 83% to 100% of lighting energy use offset the space heating energy use. During the cooling season, the compact fluorescent lighting reduces the internal gains; thereby, reducing the space cooling energy use. So, during the cooling season, the lighting energy reductions and the cooling energy reductions are additive. The cost savings are positive in all climates although the interaction effects reduce savings in most cases.

Lighting power draw profile during the testing at CCHT houses.

Energy cost impacts of compact fluorescent versus the conventional lighting. The 'take back' effect indicates the net savings of lighting energy savings.

Report

Benchmarking of energy savings associated with energy efficient lighting in houses
Parekh, Anil Swinton, M.C. Szadkowski, F. Manning, M.
pp. 1-48. 2005-07-04
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Research Highlight

Benchmarking Home Energy Savings Associated from Energy-Efficient Lighting.