Verifying energy savings after refurbishment
A lower meter reading alone does not prove the effect of new lighting. Comparable conditions are essential.
Establish a baseline before refurbishment. Record measured consumption, operating hours, occupied areas and lighting levels. After the upgrade, assess the same system boundary. Other equipment on the same meter can otherwise distort the comparison.
Changes in shift patterns, use or daylight conditions need transparent treatment. Extrapolation from a short measurement period should be clearly identified. Measurement duration and accuracy must suit the question; contractual savings verification requires an agreed measurement and evaluation method.
Check the agreed lighting quality as well as energy. Savings achieved by providing insufficient light are not an equivalent result. Present measured values, assumptions and calculated adjustments separately. This helps explain differences and improve control settings instead of relying on a single headline savings percentage that conceals changed conditions.
What to clarify for your project
- Define the measurement boundary and baseline before work.
- Record usage changes and measurement uncertainty.
- Verify lighting quality alongside energy use.
Remember: Assess savings against a clear baseline and comparable use.