LIGHTING RETROFIT STRATEGIES FOR OFFICE SPACES: A SPECIFIC STUDY ON VIKAS MINAR, NEW DELHI

Abstract

Lighting consumes 30% of the overall energy consumption in a building, becoming the second most energy consuming component after air-conditioning. Also, a good lighting condition can positively influence the occupants ofa space. Especially, in offices, lighting plays a crucial role in creating favourable conditions for productive work. These benefits of lighting along with a smaller payback period for lighting retrofits in existing buildings. However, lighting retrofits are mostly limited to a lighting upgrade to energy efficient lighting system. There is a vast untapped potential of daylight harnessing in existing buildings. Though most of the existing buildings provide the scope for the utilization of daylight, it is not given considerable importance during a retrofit. The thesis is an attempt to reframe the process ofa lighting retrofit, by assessing daylight potential in an existing building, along with an energy efficient lighting system upgrade - during the process. The case of various office buildings in New Delhi region has been studied because of the fact that it has a high density of existing office buildings. After a set of pilot studies, Vikas Minar. a 23 storied, highly glazed façade building, constructed in 1976. has been identified as a suitable case for further study. The existing issues have been identified, which are addressed by proposing suitable lighting retrofit solutions for the office space inside the building. The analysis of the proposed solutions is validated using building lighting simulations. The report is concluded by developing a matrix of the analysis of the proposed solutions based on daylight performance, energy loads and cost criteria.