Experimental Analysis of Passive Strategies in Houses with Glass Façades for the Use of Natural Light

Patricia Aguilera-Benito,Carolina Piña-Ramírez,Sheila Varela-Lujan

doi:10.3390/su13158652

Abstract

The main objective of this research was to analyze the passive solutions that help to reduce energy consumption through the use of natural light in buildings. In this case, the analysis focused on the use of natural light in buildings with all façades made of glass. Buildings designed with the criterion of regenerative sustainability, such as glass buildings, consider not only energy efficiency and the use of renewable and/or alternative energies, but also the improvement of the health and well-being of users—very important factors during an era in which the time spent at home has been increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic (disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus). This experimental research was based on the analysis of data collected during a full year of monitoring of two scale models of Farnsworth House, a house with glass façades in all of its orientations. The results allowed us to conclude that these passive elements must be taken into account in the initial design of a building; a solar control sheet is also advisable in this type of glass building because it greatly reduces the illuminance inside the spaces, and the use of overhangs distributes the illuminance inside the rooms more evenly. In addition, the use of scale models provides a more accurate view of the parameters related to light energy.

Highlights

The outdoor ambient temperature was compared during the summer season, and we calculated the deviation in temperature between 2017 and 2018
The analysis considers different scenarios, collecting data from two scale models with different passive strategies to be compared
It was shown that the use of glass with a solar control sheet reduced the

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. The construction sector generates a significant environmental impact due to its energy consumption and the large amount of pollutants emitted into the atmosphere throughout the entire life cycle of buildings. The European Union has set guidelines aimed at improving their energy efficiency, adding the obligation to build buildings with “almost zero energy” [1]. One of the main objectives established is to increase the use of alternative energy, such as solar energy, a free and inexhaustible source of energy on Earth. Solar radiation is a source of energy savings, both by reducing electricity consumption by artificial lighting and by saving money on heat generation facilities, as well as improving human well-being [2]

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Conclusion