Assessment of Daylight Performance in Buildings

Recently a renewed emphasis on the benefits of proper use of natural light has focused attention on the need to define a new paradigm - to properly assess the variability of the amount light that can be used not only to enhance the presence of natural light as a instrument to outline expressively the indoor space, but also to reduce the demand for electricity and thermal energy consumption in buildings.This title deals with the many advantages associated to the use of natural light, comparing architectural experiences, technological devices and calculation methods. It explores the spatial qualities of built environments through the use of natural light, involving energy saving strategies and visual comfort definition, although in current architectural practice, daylight is a deeply underexploited natural resource. A proper natural lighting system, tailored to the requirements of architectural form and customized to occupants functional desires is an essential support to modern climate control policies, as well as to energy-saving measures and in reducing thermal loads.An in-depth investigation on the different methods of assessment natural light highlights deficiencies and inaccuracies, showing the need to define a new calculation procedure that merges purely qualitative assessment with the new dynamic approach, involving users' preferences.Primarily intended for architects and designers, this book provides an introduction to the types of problems encountered and current available solutions to enhance and to convey the right dose of daylight inside the buildings, with a deep attention to energy saving strategies and to indoor visual comfort. Written for practitioners whose work is related to design and retrofit actions, the book will also be of interest to postgraduate students and lecturers dealing with indoor design optimization and energy saving issues.

Table of Contents:
ContentsPART 1: ARCHITECTURE AND DAYLIGHTCHAPTER 1Natural light in the architectural projectNatural light as a construction material; The architectural meanings of natural light; Connectivity and communication; Symbiosis and mediation; Natural light in architectural projects: written testimonies; The historical treatises; The Italian experience; The experience of Central Europe; The experience of Northern Europe; The U.S. experience; The experience at low latitudes; Daylighting between the project and definition of spaceCHAPTER 2Daylighting, architectural strategies comparedDaylighting techniques and other devices for daylighting; Sidelighting; Toplighting; Corelighting; A dichotomic question: solar penetration versus -solar screens; Apertures andinterior finish to facilitate solar penetration; The role of shading in architectural design; Internaland external shading systems; Lightshelf; Louvre; Prismatic panels; Laser cut panels; Light guiding shades; Sun-directing glass; Glazing and shading systems that employ HOE materials; Zenithal anidolic systems and anidolic ceilings; The role of Daylighting in environmental and energy certification procedures; Natural light in environmentval assessment procedures: protocols and certifications; Daylighting between the architectural design and the management of lightPART 2: THE CALCULATION OF NATURAL LIGHT - FROM THE STATIC TO THE DYNAMIC MODELCHAPTER 3Daylight assessment: the evolution of static modelIntroduction; The Daylight Factor: methods and tools; Graphic methods; Geometric methods; Analytical methods; Rules of thumb; Limits of applicability of the static approach; The current status of the legislation on Daylighting: European and international codes; Standards and re-quirements based on illuminance levels; Standards and requirements based on the Daylight Fac-tor; Standards and requirements based on the sizing of windows; Standards and requirements based on solar zoning building regulations; The need for a new international paradigmCHAPTER 4Daylight Assessment: definition of dynamic modelIntroduction; Climate-Based Daylight Modelling; Typical meteorological year climate data for the formulation of dynamic parameters and methods of application; The project to define an Ital-ian TRY and the last frontier of dynamic calculation through Real-Time Weather Date; New Metrics; Useful Daylight Illuminance; Daylight Autonomy - DA and continuous Daylight Autonomy - cDA; Other parameters: daylight saturation percentage, annual sunlight exposure and spatial daylight autonomy; Comparative analysis of the dynamic parameters; Daylight As-sessment and dynamic performance metrics: issues worthy to be clarifiedCHAPTER 5A new paradigm for Daylight AssessmentDefining a protocol to optimise the Daylight Assessment procedure; An integrated protocol for the dynamic assessment of natural light in confined spaces: a cascade framework in line with qualitative and quantitative aspects; Quantitative analysis through simulation by software and the models in use. Methods, algorithms and interoperability of resources; Qualitative analysis through the subjective assessment component and POEs; Application of the new assessment pro-tocol: dynamic -simulation for a case study; Results of quantitative analysis of the static parame-ters and the new dynamic schemes; Results of qualitative analysis of visual comfort through sub-jective assessments; Considerations on implementation of the new paradigm; Extension of the field of the phenomenology of daylight