Question-and-Answer Resource for the Building Energy Modeling Community
 | 1 | initial version |
I think a lot of this will depend on what you are using the lighting schedule for and what you want to get out of your simulation.
For instance I model a lot of existing buildings and calibrate the models. I have specific schedules for say electrical rooms or places that aren't really occupied but I tend to stick with the ASHRAE schedules for occupied spaces. I run my models for a year or over 2 to 3 months to work on the calibrations. I am looking at the HVAC and the controls however and the lighting in my models is purely to help me understand the heating and cooling required by the HVAC but not much else so the generic schedules work for me.
However if I was looking specifically at lighting and lighting controls. I would be less interested in the HVAC and controls and make that more generic and look at specific lighting schedules for each individual zone type or space in order to understand the lighting in more detail. I would also model any sensors that I could in my software.
In short I think it depends a lot on the question you are trying to answer :)
