Re-Thinking Lighting in Educational Buildings: A Climate-Based and User-Centred Framework Integrating Daylight and Smart LED Control (Madrid Case Study)

This study develops and validates a climate-based, user-centred and data-informed framework to improve lighting performance in educational buildings through the integrated use of daylight and smart LED control systems. The research was conducted in a university facility in Madrid, Spain, using a mixed-methods approach combining on-site illuminance measurements, climate-based lighting simulations (CBMS) with Dialux Evo 12.1, and structured surveys on user perception. The objective was to quantify the dynamic interaction between daylight availability, artificial lighting demand, and perceived visual comfort, while assessing the energy-saving potential of daylight-responsive control strategies. Results show that existing LED systems meet current illuminance standards while maintaining low lighting power density (LPD). Daylight and electric lighting act complementarily, with daylight reducing artificial lighting demand by up to 50% in optimally oriented classrooms, particularly during spring and summer. Smart dimming and adaptive control systems provide additional energy savings ranging from 27% to 46%, with estimated payback periods of approximately four years. Overall, the findings demonstrate that integrating daylight and adaptive LED systems is an effective and scalable strategy for reducing energy use while maintaining visual comfort in educational buildings under Mediterranean climatic conditions.