A Multi-Parameter BIM-based for artificial light use assessment: a Food Retail Case Study.

Artificial lighting represents about 30% of total electricity consumption in food retail buildings. Lighting plays a crucial role in this building typology, as it directly influences the visual perception of food products, affecting customer experience and purchasing behavior. The effective use of natural lighting, combined with solar radiation control, provides an opportunity to reduce electricity consumption due to artificial lighting, while maintaining high-quality illumination and optimal system management. This study investigates the potential reduction in electricity consumption resulting from architectural upgrading scenarios including the incorporation of skylights, use of advanced materials, and the integration of photovoltaic panels in food retail buildings. The analysis focuses on three Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): real energy effectiveness, lighting control, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) - to evaluate the impact of some building design upgrades. Results obtained for a retail store in Italy are discussed. A parametric Building Information Model (BIM) and an energy model are implemented and calibrated using real available electricity consumption data. Energy design upgrade scenarios are compared to the baseline condition using KPIs. The results show a reduction of 84% lighting electricity use and 55% annual electricity use. The LCA shows a performance improvement of 85%. This study highlights the effectiveness of parametric design analyses in evaluating multi-criteria decision processes for sustainable energy refurbishment practices.