Fuzzy-Based Model For Electric Lighting Evaluation In Institutional Buildings

Lighting energy consumption is the major source of energy consumption in the United States. As a result, various behavioral models that have arisen from field studies may provide the predicting personal action of artificial lighting. This paper introduces a new methodology for analyzing and predicting artificial lighting switching patterns in workplaces within institutional buildings. The methodology is based on a hierarchical fuzzy expert system approach that begins by evaluating the various factors’ performance through a set of three factors that are environmental, physical, and users’ attitudes. The fuzzy expert system is utilized to determine the weight for each factor and to aggregate all of the previous factors into one single crisp output. Finally, fuzzy logic technique is applied, which allows the aggregation of all previous indicators into one lighting performance scale that depicts the personal action of the lighting switching patterns. This study investigates the occupants’ preference factors of daylighting intensity in the workplace as occupants’ presence and behavior in buildings as well as environmental and physical factors have a large impact on electric lighting usage. The data is collected using a questionnaire from occupants of different institutional buildings. In all, the developed research/model will help architects and practitioners design efficient workplace daylighting and reduce artificial lighting energy use.