Performance Evaluation of Light-Shelf based on Light Enviorment and Air Conditioner Enviorment

빛환경 및 냉난방환경 기반 광선반 성능평가 연구

Purpose: As the energy consumed by buildings increases, there is a growing need for studies and technology development to address this issue. One of the solutions to excessive energy use by buildings is the light-shelf, which is a natural lighting system enabling efficient reduction in light energy, and research in this area has been intensive. However, most of the studies about the light-shelf are limited to the light environment, and thus the application of their findings to an actual environment in the form of a design may be problematic. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to provide fundamental data for light-shelf design by carrying out a light-shelf performance evaluation on the basis of the light environment and the heating and cooling environment. Method: In the present study, a testbed was established to conduct a light-shelf performance evaluation by measuring the electric power consumption of lighting and heating and cooling devices depending on the existence of a light-shelf and its angle. Result: The findings of the present study are as follows: 1) With respect to the uniformity of the indoor light environment amenity, the optimum angle of a light-shelf was found to be $30^{\circ}$ for the summer solstice and the winter solstice. 2) With respect to the reduction of electric power consumption by indoor lighting devices, the optimum light-shelf angle at the summer solstice is $30^{\circ}$, at which time electric power consumption may be reduced by 10.2% in comparison with when no light-shelf is applied. However, at the winter solstice, a light-shelf may increase the energy consumption for lighting in comparison with when no light-shelf is applied, and this should be taken into account in the design of a light-shelf. 3) In terms of reducing the electric power consumption of heating and cooling devices, the optimum angle of a light-shelf was found to be $30^{\circ}$ for the summer solstice, while a light-shelf is inappropriate for the winter solstice since a light-shelf creates shade and thus increases the heating energy consumption. 4) To summarize the findings above, the optimum angle of a light-shelf is $30^{\circ}$ for the summer solstice, but the installation of a light-shelf may in some circumstances increase the energy consumed by lighting devices as well as by heating and cooling devices. Therefore, more studies and technology development may need to be performed to solve the problem of increased energy consumption at the winter solstice.