“Energy efficiency gains by led luminaires in common areas’ of shopping malls through transition from fluorescent lamps to leds: a case of mini-mall, Kisumu, Kenya.”

Abstract

The quality of light plays a significant role in determining the number of people drawn to shopping malls, which increases sales. The quality of light in shopping malls is dependent on several factors such as the type of fixtures, color rendering index of the lighting, beam angle, the dimming compatibility of the fixtures, and the luminance distribution. LEDs can be used to increase illumination intensity lighting from ceilings. When the installation of the LEDs is correctly done, it helps in minimizing the glare, which encourages mall visitors to stay longer. Besides having a long lifespan, LEDs are energy efficient, therefore, reduces the amount of energy consumption in commercial setups. Nonetheless, the quality of the construction of the building also has an effect on the quality of a lighting scheme. The case study analyzed is for a shopping mall (Minimall-Kisumu) with an aim of making a comparison of the suitability and cost-effectiveness between the existing CFLs and LEDs in the commercial spaces. A layout design was simulated using Dialux where the CFLs were replaced using different LED luminaires in different common areas. The simulated lighting design lowers the amount of energy consumption by 43% and optimizes quality of lighting in common areas of the mall. The simulated and calculated results validate the technical and economical part of the project.