Energy optimisations in large-scale lighting retrofit projects

Energy optimisation techniques can be suitably applied to support energy efficiency lighting retrofits in buildings. In previous studies, optimal measurement and verification (M&V) plans are developed to quantify energy savings realised by implementing large-scale lighting retrofit projects. In addition, optimal maintenance plans for the implemented energy efficiency lighting systems are also identified to maximise the project profits and energy savings. All these efforts aim to control the investment cost for large-scale lighting retrofit projects while producing more benefits for project participants in terms of financial benefits and energy savings. In order to further improve the cost-effectiveness of lighting retrofit activities, an optimal implementation plan (OIP) is designed in this study, which is obtained by solving an optimisation problem whose objective function is to maximise the cost-benefit ratio subject to the constraints of planned project scope and budget availability of a large-scale lighting retrofit project. When applying the OIP to a practical lighting retrofit project in a case study, it shows that the OIP is able to increase the project cost-benefit ratio by 33% with a significant reduction of the initial investment by 62% compared to the state-of-art research results, which clearly illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed energy optimisation model.