An approach on determining lighting design parameters and effects relating to visual comfort and energy consumption in offices

As office buildings are places where various visual actions take place, providing visual comfort by creating appropriate layouts in lighting design is an important issue. In the world and in our country, due to the size of the energy consumed in lighting, it is extremely important to use energy effectively, especially in volumes that are used throughout the day and for a long time, such as office buildings. In this study, it is aimed to develop an approach to determine the effects of lighting design parameters on visual comfort and energy consumption in offices. For this purpose, office volumes in three different sizes and different surface reflection coefficients, which are assumed to be in Trabzon, were first modeled in the DIAlux evo simulation program. Variables related to lighting design parameters in office spaces, for artificial lighting; luminous flux, lamp power, efficiency factor, lamp type, lighting style, and reflectivity of devices, for natural lighting; window shape, light transmittance of glass, solar control element and orientation. In line with the scenarios developed with the determined variables, calculations were made in the simulation program to evaluate the visual comfort conditions of artificial lighting and daylight performance. W/lm/m2 values were calculated to evaluate the energy efficiency of artificial lighting scenarios. The obtained visual comfort and energy efficiency data were transferred to the SPSS program and statistical analyzes were made. With the regression analysis method, equations that approximately estimate visual comfort and energy efficiency values for artificial lighting and daylight performance in spaces for natural lighting systems were obtained in office volumes of 3 different sizes. The data transferred to the SPSS program were also analyzed with inferential statistical methods, evaluations were made, and alternatives were presented for users. At the last stage, integrated lighting scenarios were created in line with artificial and natural lighting variables and annual lighting energy requirements were calculated for these scenarios. This study aims to make easy calculations in lighting designs with the data obtained as a result of the developed approach, to be usable in the process of creating suitable design options or improving a lighting scheme.