Evaluations of energy efficiency and economic impact of the application of retrofit lighting in popular housing

This paper proposes to investigate the energy efficiency and the economic impact provided by lighting retrofit in popular housing, verifying the qualitative analysis of light emitting diode lamps replacing compact fluorescents by the evaluation of electrical and lighting parameters. The study evaluated proposal by the Housing Agency of the State of Goiás, Brazil, which will replace conventional light bulbs with high efficiency LED bulbs in 1,199 housing units. The applied methodology uses a lighting simulation software and energy analyzer for verify technique characteristics of the lamps available on the market which were selected according to incandescent lamps equivalent specified by manufacturers. Lighting technician's results shows that lamps with the same electric power presents disparate lighting performance. Electric parameters analysis demonstrate that LED lamps have greater harmonized distortion rate, lower electric current value and low power factor, comparing to fluorescent lamps. Results points that the main parameter to be observed to make a lighting retrofit is the luminous flux and than others important parameter are electric consumption and power factor. Retrofit actions implemented in the popular housing, provided a saving of 10% in the average consumption of electric energy.