Daylighting as an Alternative to Artificial Lighting
What is Daylighting?
Daylighting involves using natural, outdoor light to illuminate the interior spaces of a building evenly by means of proper window placements and orientations, skylights, clerestories,and other methods.
How does Daylighting reduce energy consumption?
Glazing:
Transparent or translucent window glass having three main performance characteristics that affect energy use:
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Thoughtful Use of Exterior Elements:
The careful placement of windows and shading allows in more light when it is desirable and less when it is not.
The careful placement of windows and shading allows in more light when it is desirable and less when it is not.
- Windows: For example, if a house is designed with a large number of windows facing south those windows will let the low winter sun into the home to warm it [1].
- Shading: Awnings can be utilized to shade these same windows from letting in excess sun during the summer when the additional heat is not desired. Because the sun is higher in the sky in the summer months the awnings prevent the rays coming from a steeper angle from reaching the windows [1].
How can Daylighting work in North Texas?
Currently, the need for the use of artificial lighting indoors during the day is pervasive in residential buildings in North Texas. This is unnecessary even in existing homes with the availability of sunlight redirection devices. Moreover, Texas has a great deal of sun throughout the year, approximately 61%, and this can dramatically affect the temperature of a building [26].