Integrated innovative solar lighting system for optimization of daylight utilization for public library in Alexandria, Egypt

Abstract

Lighting has evolved over recent decades from an engineering perspective, in which ensuring safety and performance both indoors and outdoors has become a key discipline, engaged in a wide range of areas and having a profound impact on our daily lives. In this paper, a case study of a modern public library building will be addressed, with the main purpose of discussing energy efficiency related to light. Three parallel routes will be demonstrated to improve energy efficiency. The first is the integration of solar systems (PV) and the replacement of artificial lighting systems. The second is a change of building materials, internally and externally, to nanomaterials, and the third is through including an innovative anidolic lighting system, designed and applied in order to enhance the amount of daylight inside the library in a controlled manner. The inclusion of a vertical lighting system allows the optimization of solar energy resources, preserving the library’s style in a simple way. The system includes a collector light system, compounded by a truncated and double compound parabolic collector (PCPC) to capture natural light from outside over a wide angular range (180°) without a tracking system, preserving the building design and saving on costs and maintenance. These parallel routes, based on solar energy and lighting, can make a positive impact with minimum changes in the Alexandria library, providing environmental improvement and protecting buildings and human health in order to achieve a more sustainable example of architecture.