In a department store the investment cost for lighting only makes up 20 percent of the total cost, while the energy costs represent about 65 percent (calculated on the installation's entire life). The remaining 15 percent is used for service and maintenance. Having the right light in the right position makes it possible to reduce energy consumption without impairing the light setting.

Stores and department stores usually use a large amount of electrical energy. The installed output is often high and furthermore the lighting installation is used during a large part of the day. The installed output in a shop can vary between 20-100 W/sqm, and the light installation can be used about 5,000–6,000 hours per year. A store of 400 sqm can lower its operating cost by as much as €4350 per year just by reducing the output from 60 to 40 W/sqm. We then use an installed output of 60 W/sqm utilised 5000 hours per year in our calculation, which means it uses 120,000 kwh. With an installed output of 40 W/sqm instead, operating costs can be lowered to euro 8650. If there are 50 or more stores in the same retailchain and all reduce the installed output in the same way, this gives an annual saving of euro 216.500!

THIS IS HOW WE WORK WITH LIGHTING PLANNING

Using the computer based tool DIALux, we can plan all possible lighting in all imaginable environments. The application offers numerous functions to calcu late luminance and luminous intensity. A major feature is the import and export function to/from different CAD software. With just a few clicks you can position luminaires in the store environ- ment with the amount of light calculated correctly and then work with them in dxf-files in 2D-format.

In DIALux we can also make photo realistic visualisations in 3D format. Contact us and we will help you plan the lighting in your stores.