Evaluating daylight renovations for a sports hall - Energy, Environmental, Economic, and Circadian consideration

Abstract

Sports facilities, in general, have the highest energy use in Sweden, compared with other buildings. Sports facilities are usually very wide and have a high ceiling height. This makes it hard for buildings as such to allow for the same daylight integration as in e.g. traditional office spaces. Electric lighting is very often used to supply the high illuminance demands inside sports halls. Since most sports facilities are used multiple times a day throughout the whole year, the electrical energy use can be very high. Daylight is a renewable resource that, if used correctly can provide the needed illuminance in buildings. By integrating daylight into a building, great electric energy savings can be made. Furthermore, daylight is a dynamic light source that can stimulate the circadian rhythm. In this study, a sports hall in the southern part of Sweden was renovated for daylight integration. Three different daylight implementations were evaluated based on their: daylight performance, life cycle cost, and environmental impact from an LCA perspective. Included in the LCC are the energy savings from daylight integration, additional energy use for heating, installation costs, maintenance costs, and the price of each product. As a co-benefit of this study, simulations were made to assess the circadian potential of the existing and improved lighting conditions inside the sports hall. An integrated life cycle assessment was conducted in this study to make a holistic decision in selecting the most suitable improvement. The results of the study suggest that all implementations were more profitable than the base case, i.e. unrenovated building with only electric lighting. The implementation of skylights was the most suitable solution when looking at an integrated life cycle perspective. Looking only from a monetary perspective, the implementation of tubular daylight devices was the most profitable. The energy savings from the daylight integrations ranges from 44% to 51% compared to the base case. The new improvements also show great potential in stimulating the occupants’ circadian rhythm. Although the daylight renovations were deemed profitable, greater profits could be made if designing for daylight integration and control systems earlier in the design stage. The outcome of using the same method and structure of this thesis suggests that great energy savings can be made for deep applications, such as sports facilities.

Popular Abstract

Sports facilities, in general, have the highest energy use in Sweden, compared with other buildings. Sports facilities are usually very wide and have a high ceiling height. This makes it hard for buildings as such to allow for the same daylight integration as in e.g. traditional office spaces. Electric lighting is very often used to supply the high demanding lighting levels inside sports halls. Since most sports facilities are used multiple times a day throughout the whole year, the electrical energy use can be very high. Daylight is free and will always be available. If daylight is used correctly, it can provide the needed light levels in buildings. By integrating daylight into a building, great electric energy savings can be made. Furthermore, daylight is a light source that is constantly changing in aspects like colour and lighting levels which means that it can stimulate the circadian rhythm of the occupants inside the building.
In this study, a sports hall in the southern part of Sweden was renovated for daylight integration. The considered daylight implementations were: Tubular daylighting devices (a pipe that transports daylight from the outside to the inside), skylights, and windows. The three different daylight implementations were evaluated based on their: daylight performance, life cycle cost, and environmental impact from a life cycle analysis perspective. Included in the Life cycle cost are the energy savings from daylight integration, additional energy use for heating, installation costs, maintenance costs, and the price of each product. As a co-benefit of this study, simulations were made to assess how well each daylight implementation stimulates the circadian rhythm, for both the existing and improved lighting conditions inside the sports hall. This is evaluated by knowing how much of the melanopic light is reaching the observer’s eyes in the view plane. An integrated life cycle assessment was conducted in this study to make a holistic decision in selecting the most suitable improvement. The integrated life cycle assessment helps to select the most climate-friendly and yet most financially feasible product out of the three daylight implementations.
The results of the study suggest that all implementations were more profitable than continuing to use the building as it is originally. The implementation of skylights was the most climate-friendly and financially feasible product when looking at an integrated life cycle perspective. Looking only from a money perspective, the implementation of tubular daylight devices was the most profitable as it would earn the building owners the most money. The energy savings from the daylight integrations ranges from 44% to 51% compared to the original building condition. The new improvements also show great potential in stimulating the occupants’ circadian rhythm. Although all renovations were profitable, greater profits could be made if thinking of adding daylight integration and control system before the building is being built. The outcome of using the same method and structure of this thesis suggests that great energy savings can be made for deep applications, such as sports facilities.

• author: Laursen, Carl
• supervisor: Niko Gentile; Karin Farsäter
• organization: Division of Energy and Building Design; Department of Architecture and Built Environment
• course: AEBM01 20221
• year: 2022
• type: H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
• subject: Technology and Engineering
• keywords: Tubular daylighting device, Daylight, Energy savings, Life cycle analysis, Life cycle cost, Integrated life cycle assessment
• language: English
• id: 9085368
• date added to LUP: 2022-06-08 15:58:34
• date last changed: 2022-06-08 15:58:34