Accelerating Decarbonization in Public Institutions: A Scalable Model for LED Lighting Retrofits

Public and educational institutions represent a significant share of global electricity consumption and play a critical role in achieving national decarbonization targets. This study addresses this challenge by conducting a comprehensive lighting retrofit assessment for a university engineering building in Malaysia, with the objective of evaluating the energy, economic and environmental impact of replacing conventional fluorescent lighting with light-emitting diode (LED) technology. A methodology was adopted, comprising a detailed on-site lighting audit, development of LED replacement scenarios, energy consumption modelling based on operating profiles, life-cycle cost (LCC) and payback period analyses, emission reduction assessment using national grid emission factors and sensitivity analysis to test economic robustness under varying assumptions. A total of 1831 luminaires were audited, establishing a baseline annual lighting consumption of 158,410 kWh. Retrofit simulations indicate that replacing existing fluorescent and CFL lamps with LED alternatives reduces daily lighting energy use from 434 kWh to 240 kWh, corresponding to annual energy savings of 70,810 kWh or 44.7%. Financial analysis demonstrates strong economic viability, with payback periods of 2.21 years (20W_LED), 2.14 years (10W_LED) and 1.90 years (9W_LED). Over a 10-year assessment horizon, cumulative cost savings exceed RN225000, driven by reduced electricity consumption and lower maintenance requirements resulting from LED lifespans of up to 50,000 h. Environmentally, the retrofit yields cumulative emission reductions of approximately 130,285 kg CO2, 408 kg SO2, 275 kg NOx and 106 kg CO over 10 years, supporting national objectives to reduce greenhouse gas intensity and improve urban air quality. Overall, the study provides a structured, scalable and evidence-based framework for LED lighting retrofits in educational buildings, demonstrating that lighting upgrades can deliver rapid economic returns while contributing meaningfully to long term decarbonization goals