Energy efficient lighting and energy management

Abstract

Energy management and the application of energy consumption reduction methods is high on the priority list of South Africa’s electrical supply utility, Eskom. One of Eskom’s Demand Side Management (DSM) recovery plan steps was the establishment of a subsidy programme for energy auditing and energy efficient lighting. A need arose to implement new lighting designs and to improve existing lighting systems. These improved lighting systems are used as recommendations in Energy Audits to achieve lighting efficiency and energy consumption reduction. It also highlights and promotes cost effective designs and energy management. New and better lighting methods are developed and researched to increase returns, domestically and in industry. This also highlights the importance of energy consumption reduction. This paper also discusses an Energy Audit conducted at a school in Worcester by the Service Learning and Development (SLD) unit of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Electrical Engineering Department in Bellville. The SLD delivers a service to the community, to improve their standard of living and to provide training to electrical engineering students. The aim of the project was to recommend energy consumption reduction methods.