Assessing the energy use of occupancy-based lighting control strategies in open-plan offices

Abstract

Occupancy-based lighting control can be applied at several resolution levels. To aid lighting designers in choosing the appropriate solution for a specific open-plan office case, this paper presents a simulation tool which enables calculating the lighting energy use for the different control strategies. By using a stochastic modelling approach and input parameters as users' function type, the office's policy and special absences, the model could reflect the actual occupancy behaviour in the office at hand. The results of the model were validated with occupancy data from several studies and found to be similar enough to conclude that the model can be trusted and applied. A convergence analysis showed that 1000 iterations are required to produce these reliable results. This paper discusses the development of the tool, its performance as well as the deviations found between its output and measurements on the average occupancy of the different occupancy types. Further research on occupancy patterns of different job function types would improve the model as well as extend its applicability.