Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Illumination of barns for dairy cattle : Energy-efficiency and circadian lighting in a Swedish context

Ahmmad, Sheikh Rishad ; Nordin, Karl Axel ; Zaw, Phoo Wint ; Gentile, Niko LU and Dubois, Marie-Claude LU (2025)
Abstract
Improving energy efficiency in agriculture is key to reducing environmental impact. Lighting in animal buildings is one of the most cost‐effective energy saving measures. Lighting retrofit offers a short payback period, enhances animal welfare and production, and aligns with regulations for phasing out fluorescent lighting. The purpose of this study was to investigate the energy-saving potential of daylighting and electric lighting retrofits in dairy barns, focusing on energy efficiency and circadian lighting conditions. The study involved on-site measurements and lighting simulations of a dairy barn located in Southern Sweden. The results show that energy use reductions of 63% can be achieved with LED upgrades. Moreover, installing... (More)
Improving energy efficiency in agriculture is key to reducing environmental impact. Lighting in animal buildings is one of the most cost‐effective energy saving measures. Lighting retrofit offers a short payback period, enhances animal welfare and production, and aligns with regulations for phasing out fluorescent lighting. The purpose of this study was to investigate the energy-saving potential of daylighting and electric lighting retrofits in dairy barns, focusing on energy efficiency and circadian lighting conditions. The study involved on-site measurements and lighting simulations of a dairy barn located in Southern Sweden. The results show that energy use reductions of 63% can be achieved with LED upgrades. Moreover, installing skylights in the roof would increase daylight autonomy from 12% to 55%, while providing higher melanopic illuminance than electric lighting. In conclusion, implementing LED lighting and daylighting strategies such as skylights can improve energy efficiency and indoor lighting quality in dairy barns. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
barn, illumination, cattle, lighting, daylighting, energy, circadian
host publication
Journal of Physics: Conference Series : CISBAT 2025 - CISBAT 2025
edition
3-5 September 2025
pages
8 pages
publisher
IOP Publishing
DOI
10.1088/1742-6596/3140/10/102007
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e1043d04-632b-41e8-82c6-87b26cb06797
date added to LUP
2025-10-10 13:47:43
date last changed
2025-12-04 11:19:43
@inproceedings{e1043d04-632b-41e8-82c6-87b26cb06797,
  abstract     = {{Improving energy efficiency in agriculture is key to reducing environmental impact. Lighting in animal buildings is one of the most cost‐effective energy saving measures. Lighting retrofit offers a short payback period, enhances animal welfare and production, and aligns with regulations for phasing out fluorescent lighting. The purpose of this study was to investigate the energy-saving potential of daylighting and electric lighting retrofits in dairy barns, focusing on energy efficiency and circadian lighting conditions. The study involved on-site measurements and lighting simulations of a dairy barn located in Southern Sweden. The results show that energy use reductions of 63% can be achieved with LED upgrades. Moreover, installing skylights in the roof would increase daylight autonomy from 12% to 55%, while providing higher melanopic illuminance than electric lighting. In conclusion, implementing LED lighting and daylighting strategies such as skylights can improve energy efficiency and indoor lighting quality in dairy barns.}},
  author       = {{Ahmmad, Sheikh Rishad and Nordin, Karl Axel and Zaw, Phoo Wint and Gentile, Niko and Dubois, Marie-Claude}},
  booktitle    = {{Journal of Physics: Conference Series : CISBAT 2025}},
  keywords     = {{barn; illumination; cattle; lighting; daylighting; energy; circadian}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  publisher    = {{IOP Publishing}},
  title        = {{Illumination of barns for dairy cattle : Energy-efficiency and circadian lighting in a Swedish context}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/3140/10/102007}},
  doi          = {{10.1088/1742-6596/3140/10/102007}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}