Measurement and Verification of Lighting Projects: A Case Study

Experiences in the Measurement and Verification of Lighting Projects for the

Eskom Demand Side Management Programme
Measurement and Verification Team, Energy Research Centre
University of Cape Town


ABSTRACT
Project sites have included industrial, commercial (offices), and retail stores. The requirements for each
type of application are similar and are dealt with collectively. Lights are generally on or off and the
period of operation is usually well defined. Only spot measurements need be taken with portable
instruments. Typical values of W/lamp can be multiplied by the total number of lamps under
consideration to arrive at the overall project load. Care needs to be taken to ensure that the numbers of
light changes originally specified were implemented. It is also important to ensure that the correct tariff
is applied. The indicated power requirements for lamps (particularly older ones) can be misleading and
could produce a baseline higher than actual. Circuit voltage has a non-linear effect on lamp power and it
is advisable to measure this as well as current, power factor, and frequency.
Introduction
Measurement and Verification (M & V) is required in order to audit the proposed and subsequent
performance of a demand side management (DSM) intervention. The DSM interventions are either of
the energy efficiency (EE) type or of the demand reduction (DR) type applied to an existing electricity
demand profile. The intention is to influence the magnitude and time of occurrence of the maximum
demand such that peak demands are reduced. These interventions are generally proposed and carried out
by an energy services company (ESCo).
M & V must provide credible yet cost effective proof of performance. Savings that are estimated to be
small in comparison with the overall project but are difficult to quantify accurately without large
expense are deemed not to be cost effective in terms of their contribution to savings. Decisions and
judgements are made such that savings will always be conservative, i.e., the impact of the intervention
would not be less than the given value.
The method required for assessing impacts in office buildings, retail premises, and industrial
applications are similar. This case study takes the three applications as a group and only makes specific
reference where differences are found.
Approach
Lighting DSM projects are similar to other DSM projects in that they also require the normal range of
documents from Scoping Report through to Annual Report. Lighting projects are initially thought to be
simple and there may be a tendency to treat them less rigorously. This should be avoided as lighting has
a greater impact than the obvious energy saving. Issues such as workplace safety under the Occupational
Health and Safety Act, or effects on air conditioning systems, need to be considered.
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Therefore, it is essential to secure a copy of the full Scope of Work (SoW) as given in the contract
between the ESCo and Eskom. This will enable the M & V team to know exactly what they have to
verify in order to prove the credibility of the project. The SoW should include the ESCos schedules for
the proposed changes.
Measurement & Verification Plan
In most cases lighting is generalized, that is, the lights illuminate a large space in which there are several
people at work (e.g. office or factory), or there is a fairly regular flow of people through the space (e.g.
shoppers in a retail store). In all these cases the lights are usually turned on and off at the same times
each day. In addition, many of the lights are multiples of a smaller number of fitting types. This
situation immediately leads to a Partially Measured Isolation option for determining both the Baseline
and Post-implementation energy consumption.
Development of the M & V Plan presents an opportunity to assess the ESCos proposal as check
calculations have to be made for the savings. Having the ESCo and the Client sign acceptance of this
document concentrates the thinking and allows full understanding of the project before costly site errors
are made.
Baseline Measurements
The Partially Measured Isolation option allows spot measurements of representative fitting types to be
made. This is a far more cost effective and efficient way of using time than measuring every circuit
either by hand or with continuous recording instruments.
Figure 1. Power Demand v Circuit Volts for a Fluorescent Lamp
T5 consumption (1 lamp)
25
27
29
31
33
35
37
200 210 220 230 240
Voltage
P
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w
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(
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T12 consumption (2 lamps)
70.00
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90.00
95.00
200 210 220 230 240
Voltage
P
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e
r

(
W
a
t
t
s
)

Power measurements are typically taken with a portable Power Analyser, while illumination levels are
measured using a handheld light meter. While the major interest lies in the measurement of power
values, it is useful (sometimes essential) to record values for the voltage, current, power factor, phase
angle and frequency. The additional values can be used to verify queries that arise at data analysis stage.
For instance, the power drawn by fittings can be lower than expectation as a result of lower voltage. The
graphs in Figure 1 were drawn following tests carried out by the UCT Energy Research Centre.
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All distribution board numbers and locations, as well as circuit (breaker) identification should be
carefully recorded on site. Preferably, two recording systems should be used, such as the data logger
supplied in the measuring device, as well as written copies. It is particularly important to record the
location and height above the floor of the points at which lighting levels are taken. Note should also be
made of whether operations in the space affect the lighting. This is particularly relevant in warehouses
where product is packed in such a way that it obscures fittings. Photographs may be useful in such
cases.
It is not necessary to measure the demand of every lamp, provided a sufficiently representative circuit
can be found for each lamp type. The circuit with the largest number of identical lamps is preferred in
the interests of increased accuracy. The power demand divided by the number of lamps will give watts
per lamp and this value can be applied to other similar fittings in the rest of the project.
Record the hours of operation for each part of the building under consideration and physically check
whether or not the lights are switched off at night.
Note that measurement of lighting levels should be carried out at night or in places where there is no
possibility of including the contribution from daylight.
Some sites are fitted with Power Reduction Equipment in the lighting circuits. If they have been in use
they must be regarded as such and measurements are to be taken to include the effect of these devices,
even if they are to be removed at some future time. Similarly, if many lamps or fittings are defective,
this is the base position and the circuit(s) should not be taken to be as new.
As with the M & V Plan, the Baseline document requires acceptance by both the Client and the ESCo in
order to avoid disputes later in the project. Clients are more interested in monetary savings, and all
reports must include these values whether they form part of the ESCo-Eskom contract or not. The only
acceptable way to quantify the cost of the electricity is first to see a utility bill and then to approach the
supplier for a copy of their latest appropriate tariff. Figures produced in any other way are often wrong
and should not be accepted.
Post Implementation Assessment and Measurements
Intentions change and it is not uncommon for the implementation to be different from the plan. A
typical example is in the number of lamps that are finally installed. While it may not be cost effective or
practical to count every lamp in a large installation, it is necessary to ensure that the given plan has been
fully implemented.
Large installations or projects with multiple facilities often take many months to implement. Tariffs or
operational conditions may well have changed during this time. In one case a factory had moved to two
shifts per day; this necessitated a change of baseline.
The entire installation is retested in the same way as for the baseline, i.e., spot measurements of the
same circuits in the same distribution boards as previously. The lights need to be counted again as the
circuits may have been shortened or extended. As with the baseline measurements, the demand in watts
per lamp or fitting can be calculated and then used to multiply across a much larger area of similar
lamps. It is important to note whether the circuit voltages have remained the same. Any changes will
have to be investigated and the significance of their impact assessed.
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Savings Assessment
Savings are typically produced for maximum demand, energy, and cost for each month of the contract.
A summary table may look something like the one shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Pre- and Post-Implementation Energy & Demand Readings
Before After
No. of
Fittings
Lights/
fittings
Rated
Watts/
Fitting
Measured
Watts/
Fitting
Total
Demand
Baseline
(kW)
No. of
Fittings
Lights/
fittings
Rated
Watts/
Fitting
Measured
Watts/
Fitting
Total
Demand
(W)
Total
Demand
(kW)
Bulk store
253 1 400 450 103.22 459 2 58 55 50 854 50.85
Car parts store
108 1 400 450 46.80 108 4 58 57 24 419 24.42
PDC
422 1 400 450 253.48 75 1 400 455 34 159 165.07
457 2 65 64 470 2 58 58 54 520
421 1 65 64 1 317 1 58 58 76 386
Engine Plant
330 1 400 435 140.24 466 2 58 58 54 056 54.06
Finishing Lines
1 532 2 65 64 285.24 400 1 58 54 21 692 120.61
625 2 65 64 80 2 58 54 86 769
112 2 58 54 12 148
Body Shop (Trim & Mechanical)
2 325 2 65 64 384.95 1 170 2 58 58 135 720 271.56
586 2 65 64 1170 1 58 58 67 860
586 2 58 58 67 976
Paint Shop
1 169 2 65 64 209.20 1270 2 58 58 147 320 147.32
381 2 65 64
64 1 65 64
Stamping Plant 1 and Basement
390 1 400 398 177.41 390 4 54 59 91 406 104.50
240 2 75 72 126 2 58 52 130 89
54 1 80 105
25 1 80 105
Stamping Plant 2 Chassis Assembly
183 1 400 450 87.60 183 4 54 58 42 776 50.36
73 2 58 58 73 2 58 52 7 583
TOTAL DEMAND IN ALL PLANTS 1688.15 988 734 988.73
TOTAL SAVING 699.41kW

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Energy and demand figures in Table 1 are used to calculate the costs shown in Table 2.
Table 2. Savings Summary (May 2005)
Total Demand
(kW)
Total Demand
(kVA)
Demand Cost
(R)
Energy Consumption
(kWh)
Energy
Consumption Cost
(R)
Before 1 688.15 1 928.59 103 314.58 729 279.07 97 504.61
After 988.73 1000.47 53 595.24 427 133.10 57 107.70
Savings 699.41 928.12 49 719.34 302 145.97 40 396.92

As has been mentioned, lights are typically switched on in the morning and remain on until they are
switched off in the evening, unless they are required 24 hours per day. The load is, therefore, continuous
during these periods. However, in a retail application where there is operation at weekends and on
public holidays, profiles may look like those in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Cumulative Demand Profile for a Group of Retail Outlets
0.0
100.0
200.0
300.0
400.0
500.0
600.0
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Time
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Weekday Mon - Fri Saturday Sunday Weekday Public Holiday

Subsequent monthly reports would be adjusted to reflect the number of working days during that month,
particularly in the cases where the tariff is structured to offer different rates on different days and at
different times within those days.
Regular site visits are also necessary to determine that current operation is as it was originally. For
instance, power reduction units have been removed and this clearly reduces the savings. It may also be
possible that part of a factory is closed down in which case the baseline would also have to be
recalculated.
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