Lighting and daylight control strategies using LabVIEW for optimizing visual comfort and energy savings

This study presents control strategies based on the National Instrument aboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench (NI LabVIEW) platform to reduce energy consumption as well as maintain visual comfort by controlling lighting fixtures and window blinds. A model prototype is presented equipped with motorized blinds and dimming lights controlled by NI LabVIEW, and light sensors for monitoring the indoor illuminance value. The results show that the model prototype performs well in maintaining uniformity of illuminance value. An annual simulation using Rhino/Grasshopper predicted that visual comfort can be well
maintained by window blinds that rotate 450 (half-closed) without turning on one lamp , mostly during the daytime when the sky condition is clear; therefore, lighting energy consumption can be reduced by around 16%.