INTRODUCTION

Commencing the initial assessment of the model room, the team noticed several aspects of the
original construction that can be considered energy wasting. First of which is the room’s use of
incandescent bulbs for lighting. Secondly, the room utilizes unsuitable window coverings, as only a thin,
dully colored cotton curtain is draped over them. In addition to that, the walls of the house, both inside
and out, are painted in muted shades that do very little help improve the house lighting and temperature.
Lastly, the room is also hugely lacking in any form of reflective surface. All of these characteristics of the
pre-improved room model fail to maximize the energy-saving potential of the construction.
Room Description
The area to be remodeled is a standard, rectangular, 24-square meter room positioned lengthwise
perpendicular to the main door. The room has a simple set up without any partitions. It contains a joined
bedroom, living room, dining room, and kitchen space, as well as a smaller room for the toilet and bath.
The aforementioned bathroom can be found directly to the right of the main door. A panel door and flush
door is used for the main door and bathroom door respectively. Beyond the main entrance is a short
hallway that opens to the joined living space. Once an individual enters, the first area they would
encounter is the kitchen space to the right of the hallway right and after the bathroom. Further into the
room would be the dining or living area, and finally the bedroom area. The farthest wall at the end of the
room has a sliding glass window that takes up about half the back wall’s total size.
Light Bulbs
Given all these information, the team revamped the original room design and have a proposed
plan that would reconstruct it into a better, improved version. The proposed renovations to the original
room entail the installment of better amenities and technology that are guaranteed to save both cost and
electricity whilst improving the room’s efficiency, comfort, and overall aesthetics. The first issue to be
addressed is the original room’s use of incandescent light bulbs, which have higher electricity cost, lower
lifespan, and lower light output, making it a very impractical choice for any homeowner. The new plans
for the room highly recommend that these bulbs be replaced with Light Emitting Diode or LED bulbs.
Though they seem more expensive at the first purchase, these LED bulbs are at least 6% cheaper than
incandescent light bulbs in the long run, as incandescent bulbs cumulatively cost $211 after 20 years and
LED bulbs cumulatively cost only $34 after the same span of time (VIRIBRIGHT, n.d.). LED bulbs also last
nearly 21% longer, as it is estimated that incandescent bulbs have only a 1,200-hour lifespan, and an LED
bulb has a 25,00-hour lifespan (VIRIBRIGHT, n.d.).
Louvers
 The team also suggests that louvers, or window blinds, which disrupt and shift the angle of light
when it enters the building, must be installed in order to block glare and reduce the heat brought about
by direct sunlight. These blinds would be far more effective than cotton curtains in blocking out excess
heat and light when needed (Gharpedia, n.d). In the long run, installing these louvers are also a more cost-
effective choice. This is because these blinds, commonly made of materials like aluminum, metal, plastic,
and glass, are durable and long-lasting, as they do not need to be laundered, mended, or replaced like
curtains do. Again, investing in these blinds would also save costs on cooling technology at home.
Paint Color
Another investment that would help homeowners save on the electricity costs of light and cooling
technology, as well as greatly improve their room aesthetics is the paint color of the home. The original
room sported muted colors like gray, beige, and off-white. Though these colors can be aesthetically
pleasing when used right, they do little to reflect light and help cool the temperature of the building. The
new building plans suggest using light, pastel colors instead. Pastel colors, especially the color white, do
not absorb heat like their darker counter parts do (Deziel, 2018). Instead, these colors are able to
effectively reflect light. Thus, lighter house colors help eliminate the increased need for electrical lighting
and cooling, not only during daytime, but also at night when light bulbs are used. Lighter interior colors
would lessen the quantity of light bulbs needed inside the house as the light from even a single light bulb
would be maximized when it is reflected by the light-colored walls in the room.
Dimmer Switch
Energy-efficient dimmers reduce the flow of electricity to a bulb, which allows the resident to
adjust the brightness to the amount of light he needs. Dimmers are devices connected to light fixtures
that can lower the intensity of the light by changing the voltage waveform. This way, it helps extend the
life of a light bulb because bulbs with lower outputs last longer than the ones that are used on full power
at every use. (Energy Efficiency, 2017). Dimming lights can also make a room more comfortable and easier
to adjust to the desired ambiance (“The Benefits, Types & Installation of Dimmer Switches”, n.d.).
Reflective Surfaces
One of the last improvements that need to be made in regards to the old room is to increase the
quantity of reflective surfaces in its interior and exterior through the installment of mirrors and glazed
windows. These reflective surfaces would be able to reflect light and heat in a more direct manner than
light colored paint, and similar to the effects of light-colored paint, their reflective properties inside the
home would be able to lessen the quantity of light sources needed come night time.
 SCHEMATIC DESIGN

Above is the proposed schematic diagram to improve the energy efficiency of the condominium
unit. It depicts a parallel circuit of connections from the energy source to toggle or dimmer switches, and
the light bulbs. The two lights in the central living area would be utilizing dimmer switches while the lights
in the bathroom and at the doorway would still be using the toggle switches. The dimmer switches would
allow for the moderation of the amount of light used in the central living area. Activities here are more
frequent and this area is more used. Since the bathroom and doorway aren’t areas often used, toggle
switches will be used since it would cost less in terms of buying switches and things done here are more
or less ‘one-stop-shop’ activities. Using selector switches here would be redundant as it isn’t often used
either way.
 PROCEDURES
a. Materials and Costing

Material Significance Quantity Cost each (in Total Cost

Peso) (in Peso)

LED Lights LED lights require 4 897 3588

much less wattage
(Philips 7W (60W) E27 Flame than the CFL or
Dimmable Bulb) Incandescent light
bulbs, which is why
they are more energy-
efficient and long
lasting than the other
types of bulb.

Dimmer Switch Dimmers reduce 1 1750 1750

energy consumption
(Panasonic Dimmer Switch) of dimmable LEDs.

Regular Switch For the light bulb that 1 600 600

will not be controlled
by the dimmer switch.

Screws For holding all the 1 pack 457 457

materials in place.
 Windows roller blinds (inclusive of For light control (and, 1 1584 1584
brackets and valance clips) in some cases, UV ray
protection) as well as
insulation to help
lower the electricity
bill.

Full-length home mirror To add its reflective 1 975 975

property to the white
(Billy Standing Mirror) painting in order to
reflect light and heat in
a more direct manner.

TOTAL: 8954 Php

b. Specifications
1. Philips 7W (60W) E27 Flame Dimmable Bulb (Dimmable)
Light characteristics

Application a. Comfortable light

b. Soft light
c. General light

Color rendering index (CRI) 80

 Color temperature 2000 K

Light Color Category Flame

Nominal luminous flux 600 lumen

Starting time < 0.5 s

Warm-up time to 60% light Instant full light

Power consumption

Energy efficiency label A+

Power consumption per 7 kW

1000h

Power factor 0.7

 Voltage 220-240 V

Wattage 7 W

Wattage equivalent 60 W

Energy Efficiency Label A+

2. Panasonic Dimmer Switch

Model: Weg-575151h / Weg-575151 / Weg-575181-H / Weg-575181
Brand: PANASONIC
Size: 500 watt / 800 watt
Color: Gray / White

3. Windows Roller Blinds

Size: 60 x 150cm/24" x 59"
Material: Aluminum + Polyester
Color: White
Installation: Hook and Bracket
Size: 60 x 150cm/24" x 59"
Features: half-shade/full sun
Function: Punch install curtains, dimmable, effectively UV.
c. Procedures
i. Turnkey Program
For the installation of the LED lights and Dimmer switches, the team would perform a turnkey program. A
turnkey program is a procedure that companies use to provide everything needed in the conversion from
incandescent or fluorescent lighting into an energy efficient LED lighting system (RLCLED, n.d.) This takes
place in 4 steps:
1. Lighting Analysis
· The first objective is to conduct an analysis on the current lighting of the area. It gives an
initial idea of the setup and ambiance of the place. This also involves spotting areas that
have specific lighting needs. The current electric bill serves as the baseline to track the
return on investments.
2. Consultation
· Consultation with the homeowner determines the aesthetic preferences and desired
ambiance of the owner. It includes the areas that need more improvement, number of
hours the lights are used on a daily basis, and the clear vision of the owner on the design
and placement of the LED lights.
3. Financial Analysis
· This covers the written proposal of how much the installation of the lights would cost as
well as how much can be expected in savings in a certain period of time. Financing options
will also be provided for the homeowner to choose the most efficient setup while at the
same time saving more money.
4. Light Installation
· Once the project has been approved, the installation crew with the needed supplies will
start working on the conversion process. Old light bulbs will be disposed by following
proper disposal requirements especially for fluorescent lighting. Dimmers would be
installed by connecting the grounding clip to the wiring of the lights (“How to Install a
Dimmer Switch”, 2018)
II. Installation of Blinds
The installation of blinds will be done in three parts:
1. Measuring and determining the mount
· A measuring tape will be used determine the exact size of the windows to be able to
acquire the accurate size of the blinds. Measurements should include the measurement
 of both the outside mount and the inside mount, as well as the measure of the width of
the window at the top, middle and bottom. Place mounting marks along the inner mount
in order to know the exact position and placement of the brackets.
2. Attaching the brackets
· Hold the brackets in place and drill the spots where the screws should hold the brackets
sturdier. For an inside mount, the brackets should be placed up against the inside top
corner of each side of the window.
3. Installing the head rail and valance
· Use the valance clips to attach the head rale to the valance. After drilling the brackets
in place, place the head rail into the brackets and position the valance along the head
rail. Place the blind wand and adjust the blinds to the desired amount of light. (“How
to install blinds”, 2019)
III. Reflective surface
Since the walls are already painted white, a reflective mirror will be added on the right
wall of the studio which is on the left side facing from the window. The mirror shall be in
full length (W34.4 x H 154.4 cm) in order to have a greater surface area for light and heat
reflection.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY CONSIDERATION
Previous meter reading of the condominium unit:
Meter reading with the new remodeled unit:

Light Electricity kWh Generation Transmission System Distribution Subsidies

Level Saved Charge (Php) Charge (Php) Loss Charge (Php)
Charge
(Php)

90% 10% 129.6 719.38 100.61 60.77 261.15 10.63

75% 20% 115.2 639.45 89.43 54.02 234.55 9.46

50% 40% 86.4 479.59 67.07 40.51 181.35 7.09

25% 60% 57.6 319.73 44.71 27 128.14 4.73

TOTAL COST WITH TAXES, UNIVERSAL CHARGES AND OTHER CHARGES

Light Level Total Cost (Php) Total Amount Saved (Php)

90% 1475.59 125.66

75% 1349.96 251.29

50% 1098.66 502.59

25% 847.31 753.94

The amount saved from the electricity bill is based on the amount of energy consumption used
per degree of brightness or “light level” using dimmers. Here it states that if the light brightness stays at
90% using dimmers for a month, then 10% of the electricity based on kilowatt per hour will be saved. This
may also be applied if only 75%, 50%, or 25% are used with their own corresponding energy consumption
(20%, 40%, and 60% respectively).
The electricity bill measured from April 13, 2019 to May 11, 2019 is used as the basis of the whole
computation because it is more or less the usual amount of electricity the resident uses for that amount
of time. The breakdown of electricity charges that are dependent on the amount of kWh are the following:
 Price per kWh (Php)

Generation Charge 5.5508

Transmission Charge 0.7763

System Loss 0.4689

Distribution

· Distribution Charge 1.0012

· Metering Charge 0.3377

· Supply Charge 0.5085

Subsidies

· Lifeline Rate Subsidy 0.0820

· Senior Citizen Subsidy 0.0001

As the amount of light level decreases, the kWh and total cost of electricity also decreases. By
investing on dimmer switches, it can save you money in the long run. Blinds and reflective surfaces,
although not included in the computation can be of significant help to the lowering of energy use. Blinds
can reflect heat and prevent the glaring of light inside the condominium, making it possible to conserve
the use of cooling devices such as electric fans and air-conditioning. At daytime, the mirror can reflect
light from the window towards the interior of the room so that the use of electric lights may not be
necessary. Therefore, more could be added to the amount of energy and money saved indicated in the
computation.
 STRUCTURAL OUTPUT
Before:

After:
 SYNTHESIS
In the initial design, the unit utilized incandescent light bulbs. The proposed change would be to
shift to light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. LEDs are 6% cheaper in the long run and last 21% longer with a
lifespan of 25,000 hours (VIRIBRIGHT, n.d.). LEDs also are able to produce the light wanted, at a lesser
power consumption, without the heat that may be generated by incandescent light bulbs (Fennon and
Harris, n.d.).
The unit would still be utilizing a parallel circuit. This allows sections of the room to be illuminated
only when switch is turned on. It need not be changed but at the very least, it would reconfigured to adjust
to the amount of light bulbs needed.
The dimmer switch would also be replacing the normal toggle switches. Toggle switches interrupt
or allow electricity to flow. Dimmer switches, a form of selector switch, can adjust the amount of
electricity that flows through and not necessarily limit the options to ‘on’ and ‘off’ per se (Switch Types,
n.d.). This, in turn, allows for a certain amount of light to go through and lead to less energy being
consumed.
The white walls complement well with the LED lighting, especially in the proposed arrangement.
This allows light to be further distributed and reflected in the room without it being absorbed by darker
shades of paint per se. This can be explained by the effect of an artificial light on paint color which creates
varied results. For an LED light bulb, its effect on paint color would create a cooler and brighter
atmosphere on the area, due to its nature to produce a blue hue (Greaves, 2018).

CONCLUSION
In comparison to the starting model, it is clear to see that the new and improved model is far
more cost- and energy-efficient. The new building proposal is able to maximize the potential of the area
of the home without needing to make drastic changes and renovations. All the proposal manipulated was
the type of lighting and cooling technology used, the size, quantity, and position of windows, the
installment of louvers or window blinds, the home’s paint color, the addition of house plants, and the
placement of reflective surfaces around the home. Nearly all of these are ensured to be easy and
affordable home improvements that any homeowner should be able to implement.

PROPONENTS
Bea, Earl Harry
Bobis, Joaquim Anton
Carreon, Gabrielle
Chua, Kevynn
Hamoy, Paula Patrice
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