Retrofitting electric lighting in livestock buildings

Energy-efficient lighting in livestock buildings ensures low energy use in agriculture practices and good indoor climate for the animals and their human caretakers. Lighting affects the fertility and production of animals as well as internal heat loads.

With anticipated heat waves due to climate change, the use of control systems in combination with low installed lighting power density (LPD) becomes a necessity to manage heat stress and reduce electricity use.

The replacement of fluorescent lamps by LEDs provides major benefits as it allows simulating dusk and dawn and modifying the colour of light, which positively affects animal behaviour.

Daylight utilisation also brings major energy savings, while providing flicker-free illumination and more natural light transitions (dusk-dawn).

This Licentiate project investigates energy-saving technologies and strategies for illumination of livestock buildings, through advanced simulations and measurements in full-scale stables.