Daylight Analysis Research Articles

Application of Building Information Modelling (BIM) Six Dimension (6D) in Green Buildings: A Case Study of Sunshine and Daylight Analysis

Although a considerable amount of research has been focused on how building information modeling (BIM) helps improve sustainable construction, BIM(6D) model validation and efficient data analysis methods are still lacking. This study aims to provide the more effective research method and analytical method. The Greenjiansville Sunshine analysis software Sun2020 and daylight analysis software Dali2020 were used for 6D modeling and simulation and real simulation of a building outside the daylight range and time. The daylight coefficients, outdoor visual field observation rate, and daylight quality were calculated for the rooms inside the building. The results show that single the daylight statistics and analysis color map can not accurately analyze whether the actual daylighting meets the demand, but combined with Power BI comprehensive analysis can get fast and accurate results. This paper provides important guidance for building researchers and practitioners to better align BIM development with green building development in the future.

Impact of Window Design on Dynamic Daylight Performance in an Office Building in Iran

Window design affects the building's appearance. Besides, it has a significant impact on daylight performance and the visual comfort of interior spaces. Therefore, choosing the shape and position of windows can be a challenge for architects. This research aims to investigate the impact of window design on dynamic daylight performance to enhance visual comfort. The research examines five common window shapes that are located in two different positions on the southern-facing side. The most common dynamic daylight metrics of LEED v4.1 were used to investigate the spatial daylight autonomy (sDA), and annual sunlight exposure (ASE). Furthermore, useful daylight illuminance (UDI) was considered a complementary approach to assess useful daylight levels. The metrics are examined in three cities including Mashhad, Isfahan, and Bandar Abbas, which are located in the northeast, center, and south of Iran, respectively. Thirty simulations in each city are conducted by Grasshopper Graphical editor as a parametric interface and its plugins, ladybug, and honeybee for dynamic daylight analysis. The results emphasize that window design has a significant impact on dynamic daylight performance. The square window meets the LEED needs in three cities by achieving maximum sDA and minimum ASE by up to 68.8% and 20% in both positions, respectively. Moreover, the centrally positioned square window presents the lowest ASE level of 14.4% among other cases. However, the windows in a higher position, especially horizontal windows obtain the highest values of sDA, UDI, and ASE by up to 77%, 59%, and 30%, respectively. Therefore, the ASE rates deteriorate by increasing the sill height and head height of windows. This paper can provide window design recommendations based on the comparison of dynamic daylight metrics for five common window shapes.

BR209: Site layout planning for daylight and sunlight : A guide to good practice, third edition 2022 — a review

Following the UK implementation of European Standard EN 17037:2018 ‘Daylight in Buildings’ in May 2019, and the subsequent withdrawal of British Standard BS 8206–2:2008, the BRE’s 2011 publication ‘Site layout planning for daylight and sunlight: A guide to good practice, second edition (BR209), which is widely regarded as the leading authority on all matters relating to daylight and sunlight at design and planning stage, suddenly became outdated. The industry has since been left in a state of uncertainty when tasked with evaluating the amenity provision of daylight and sunlight within new developments, torn between the tried-and-tested BR209 methodology from the now withdrawn BS 8206 and the newer but more complex British Standard methodology — until now. The eagerly anticipated revised addition of BR209 has now been published, but will it provide clarity on common issues relating to current daylight and sunlight analysis and evaluation methods that are prohibitive to achieving planning permission for higher-density development delivering much-needed housing, or will it only prove to compound these issues? This paper explores the new guidance and reviews the recommended methodology to understand what the changes will mean for developers and neighbours alike.

Implementing natural ventilation and daylighting strategies for thermal comfort and energy efficiency in office buildings in Burkina Faso

In recent years, efforts to lessen the environmental impact of the building sector have focused more on passive strategies to develop eco-friendly buildings that reduce energy use and improve thermal comfort. To reduce the construction sector’s resource use, particularly in fast-urbanizing sub-Saharan countries, a paradigm shift is needed. Although integrated daylighting and natural ventilation solutions in building design and construction are still under development in sub-Saharan Africa, their scientific contributions to the construction industry are growing. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate natural ventilation and daylighting improvements in Burkina Faso office buildings to maximize thermal comfort and energy efficiency. The country’s meteorological data from 2004 to 2018 was examined for climatic analysis and utilized in Integrated Environmental Solutions Virtual Environment (IESVE) for natural ventilation and daylight simulations and in Design-Builder (DB) for thermal comfort and energy consumption simulations. 4 simulation rounds were conducted in order to determine respectively from round 1 to 4 the effects of building shape, glazing type, window shading type, and window-to-wall ratio on the daylighting and natural ventilation office building model performances. The findings indicated that on a south–north axis orientation, a ”H”-shaped structure with blue-tinted glass, horizontal louvers for shading, and 30% window-to-wall ratio, is the best option. The best overall option reduced annual energy demand, cooling energy demand, and solar gains by 14.9%, 25.3%, and 68.3% respectively. Hourly average airflow increased by 64.8% and 2% in hot and cold seasons respectively. Indoor air temperature decreased by 3.4 °C in the hot season and increased by 0.4 °C in the cold season. The daylighting analysis results demonstrated benefits with measurements that did not reflect too much light, implying reduced glare and discomfort with Useful Daylight Illuminance (500-2500lux): 56%, Spatial Daylight autonomy (50%): 44.7%, Annual Sunlight Exposure: 12%. This research laid the groundwork for a sustainable, bioclimatic office building model in a landlocked developing nation like Burkina Faso by integrating Climate Based Design Modeling (CBDM) and natural ventilation parameters into the design process.

Virtual Light Sensing Technology for Fast Calculation of Daylight Autonomy Metrics.

Virtual sensing technology uses mathematical calculations instead of natural measurements when the latter are too difficult or expensive. Nowadays, application of virtual light sensing technology becomes almost mandatory for daylight analysis at the stage of architectural project development. Daylight Autonomy metrics should be calculated multiple times during the project. A properly designed building can reduce the necessity of artificial lighting, thus saving energy. There are two main daylight performance metrics: Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA) and Annual Sunlight Exposure (ASE). To obtain their values, we have to simulate global illumination for every hour of the year. A light simulation method should therefore be as efficient as possible for processing complex building models. In this paper we present a method for fast calculation of Daylight Autonomy metrics, allowing them to be calculated within a reasonable timescale. We compared our method with straightforward calculations and other existing solutions. This comparison demonstrates good agreement; this proves sufficient accuracy and higher efficiency of the method. Our method also contains an original algorithm for the automatic setting of the sensing area. The sDA metric is calculated considering blinds control, which should open or close them depending on overexposure to direct sunlight. Thus, we developed an optimization procedure to determine the blinds configuration at any time.

A Study on the Optimization of Atrium Daylight and Energy Performance through Skylight and Shading Design in Commercial Buildings in Cold Zones

Atriums play an irreplaceable role within the plan of modern commercial buildings. However, the presence of skylights makes the atrium suffer from unfavorable conditions such as overheating, high energy consumption, and glare, which can be partially reduced by the sun-shading design of skylights. In this paper, we conducted a field test and questionnaire survey on the daylight quality of commercial buildings in cold zones in China to find out the current problems of daylight quality in atriums and to establish a model of commercial atrium. After the dynamic daylight and energy consumption simulation, the sensitivity analysis of daylight and energy performance is performed for the skylight and shading (SAS) design parameters under three shading types. Finally, the Pareto front solution set of optimized commercial atrium daylight, visual comfort, and energy performance for the three shading types has been obtained using a multi-objective search tool. The results show that SRR has the greatest effect on sDA, DGP, and EUI in all shading cases; while SGT has a greater effect on EUI than on daylight quality; FC has a greater effect on EUI than FV on EUI; and LS and LI have a more significant influence on daylight and visual comfort. The optimal SAS values of no shading, fabric shading and louvered shading were screened as SRR is 0.4–0.5, SGT is Double silver Low-E insulating glass; SRR is 0.5–0.6, SGT is Double silver Low-E insulating glass, FV is 0.5–0.7, FC is 0.5–0.6; SRR is 0.6–0.7, SGT is Double silver Low-E insulating glass, LS is 100 mm/125 mm, and LI is 60–70°. It is expected that this study will provide some information and reference for the design of commercial atriums in cold zones in the future.

Implementing a Digital Solution for Architectural Daylight Analysis in BIM Based Projects by developing a new plugin

To achieve a successful architectural project, it is essential for architects to truly understand and collaborate with other designers and engineers during the whole project. Regarding daylight analysis, what architects decide about the fenestration types, sizes, and their placements, interior layout design, interior or exterior materials, and finally the outer shape of the buildings may change the quantity and quality of natural light in the interiors. Moreover, such decisions about room configurations, fenestration, and materials can also directly or indirectly affect thermal comfort which is needed to be checked and confirmed by energy experts in the project. In this paper, a newly developed digital solution, and a new plugin called AftabRad is introduced. Its main goal is to export the 3D model from the BIM Modeling software to Radiance, as its daylight simulation core, and present the results back to the BIM software. This plugin can help daylight specialists to be fully or partially involved in any projects to assist architects or urban designers to easily calculate different types of static or dynamic daylight metrics by themselves. However, daylight specialists can do daylight calculations in the final stage or the project if it is needed. In such a project, since most of the daylight analyses for different types of alternatives can be done by architects, and regarding the nature of BIM-based project, by having direct dialogs with energy experts, the probability of achieving a well-daylit space, being thermally and visually comfortable, and fulfilling the daylight requirements can be much higher in comparison with doing daylight simulation just at the end of a project.

Retrofitting measures for climate resilience: Enhancing the solar performance of Malaysian school buildings with passive design concepts

Climate-sensitive school buildings can enhance students’ learning performance and reduce the building’s overall energy consumption. This paper reports on a post-occupancy study of contemporary school buildings in Malaysia, assessing problems of solar heat gain. The research aims to propose retrofitting measures based on passive design principles adapted specifically for the Malaysian tropical climate to strengthen the resilience of local school buildings in a global climate emergency. On-site measurements in two different schools provided the empirical basis for the design modifications. The monitoring procedure included site observations, extended temperature and humidity measurements, and daylight analysis. A virtual classroom model was generated based on the on-site measurements, and a parametric simulation study was conducted to evaluate the proposed retrofit measures’ effectiveness. The model variables were evaluated and compared to identify the passive design elements that significantly impact heat gains and thermal comfort. The results showed that increasing roof overhangs to 1500 mm for additional shading, sensitive selection of roof materials and colours of white-painted zinc roof, and reduction of window-to-wall ratio by 30% to the operable windows helps to reduce solar gains by 6% to improve comfort conditions within the classrooms. Overall, the study provided evidence of how passive solar building design would benefit the climate resilience of Malaysian schools.

Energy analysis studying the effect of solar shading on daylight factors and cooling hours in an extreme weather

Solar heat gains contribute widely to the overheating in buildings, specifically in extreme climates. Climates which require large amounts of cooling energy during summer as well as heating energy during winter need to be carefully designed. Reducing solar transmittance through windows and improving building details/types can help minimize surface heat transfer. The use of shading to minimize solar transmission and heat gains through glazed and opaque surfaces is a strong method to reduce solar gains and can be an appropriate method to also improve thermal comfort in such extreme weathers. In the following paper, a method was followed in order to ensure thermal comfort without compromising the daylight factors inside. IESVE was used for the energy and daylighting analysis. Initially, a selected case study of a school building in Minneapolis was analyzed. Afterwards, a study was conducted using climate consultant to select the appropriate shading systems to be adopted. Next, selected classrooms were analyzed for the average daylight factor and solar heat gains pre and post applying the shading systems. The cooling hours were compared after the strategies were applied, a reduction up to 4% of cooling hours was seen post applying the shading devices. The correct study and application of shading devices can help reduce energy needs in summer, without increasing the heating loads in winter.

Evaluation of Daylight and Glare Quality of Office Spaces with Flat and Dynamic Shading System Facades in Hot Arid Climate

There has been an increasing awareness in recent years about the evaluation of daylight and glare quality in buildings. In the study, an office space with a flat and a dynamic shading system facade (triangular cell facade) is discussed in the province of Mardin, which is in a hot and arid climate zone. Observing two different facade types in a single office space allows the study to be carried out in detail, and their suitability can be checked by producing quick design alternatives. The analysis and evaluation of daylight and glare quality over office spaces with two different facade types aims to develop an innovative approach. This objective is designed to respond to climatic conditions and contribute to the development of climate-sensitive designs. The study was parametrically simulated with the Grasshopper plugin and daylight plugin ClimateStudio tools in Rhino, an office space with both a flat facade and a dynamic shading system facade located in a hot-arid climate. As a result of the analysis, the dynamic shading system, which can transform according to the position of the sun, shows outputs in accordance with the LEEDv4 standard, minimizing the ASE value of the facade's annual sunlight exposure by up to 10%, while maximizing the spatial daylight autonomy sDA value by 60% or more. In addition, Daylight Glare Probability (DGP) values of 0.38 keep the visual quality affective. As a result, the office space with a dynamic shading system facade showed that it can significantly improve the flexibility of shading to control daylight measurements and glare, achieving the maximum level of visual comfort based on the LEEDv4 certificate.

Methodology for visual comfort analysis in intermediate open spaces of residential areas, case study: Nagpur, India

ABSTRACT Researchers often use daylight and glare analysis to measure visual comfort for daytime inside a built space. However, residential environments include both built and unbuilt spaces. Recently, unbuilt open spaces like courts are gaining equal importance in architectural designs. The literature review revealed very little research on visual comfort analysis in these intermediate open spaces. Therefore, this study proposes a method to analyze visual comfort in identified intermediate open-to-sky courts of clustered residential development. First, by conducting the point-in-time analysis, the study compares field measurements against simulation results to validate the software’s ability to simulate accurate daylight and glare values in these courts. Later, the study analyses visual comfort in identified courts by conducting an annual glare analysis using the calibrated simulation model. The outcome confirms the use of annual and point-in-time glare analysis for visual comfort analysis in courts of residential areas. The results exhibited visually uncomfortable views at the corresponding time. Additionally, simulation experiments highlight the importance of such spaces’ shape, size, and orientation in visual comfort analysis. These outcomes will help future visual comfort research of intermediate open spaces in low to mid-rise residential environments with tropical climatic conditions.

Calculation of energy saving potential for lighting with DIALux evo

This short communication reports on the implementation and validation of the three-phase method for daylight calculations in the freely available software DIALux evo. Compared to the previous approach to daylight calculation in DIALux, the 3-phase method allows for a faster calculation of yearly daylight illuminance without sacrificing accuracy. DIALux is one of the most widespread software among electric lighting designers. By implementing simple, accurate, and fast analysis, this new version of DIALux makes daylight analysis easily available to electric lighting designers. This can unleash the potential of properly integrated daylighting and electric lighting design, for better and more efficient lighting projects.

Integration of life-cycle assessment in a multimodal building design approach

Decades of rapid and widespread digitization of our living and working environments have not yet brought about a comprehensive qualitative improvement of our built environment in terms of sustainability and functional and aesthetic performance. The designs of the future must be much more consistently concerned with optimizing the multimodal performance of human spaces. This paper presents a design approach to implement and combine life-cycle assessment with different simulation methods such as energy efficiency, daylight analysis, acoustics, noise insulation, structural analysis and fire protection in order to provide the designer with tools to evaluate how architectural decisions affect the building performance and its environmental impacts. This approach was applied by the architecture students of a master course at the Universität der Künste Berlin. They were given the program of a building to be constructed in the Siemensstadt in Berlin and they implemented this methodology to come up with different sustainable designs. This paper also discusses the results of this course and empathizes how the implementation of simulation tools does not constrain the possibilities of the design process, but it enriches it and leads to a more sustainable built environment.

Multi-criteria decision making for adaptive façade optimal design in varied climates: Energy, daylight, occupants’ comfort, and outdoor view analysis

Adaptive façades can enhance interior environmental quality and reduce building energy expenditure. To this end, counterbalancing numerous objectives must be considered during the early stage. However, there remain challenges in this high-performance access, leading to difficulties in obtaining the final design solution. Therefore, this study aims to establish a robust design decision-making process for adaptive façade systems in actual commercial building scales. Firstly, the parametric simulation was implemented in varied climates, simultaneously integrating daylight, energy, and occupants' view analysis. Five comprehensive objectives of maximising daylighting and view quality whilst minimising energy use, thermal discomfort, and visual discomfort were assessed, in which the most challenging criterion, outdoor view, was built precisely upon three all-inclusive facets: view context, view access, and view clarity. Then, the robust multi-criteria decision-making framework was applied to determine the unique optimal design for each selected region with preferences sensitivity analysis. Simulation results revealed that climatic conditions, materials, and configurations significantly impact adaptive façade performance. Meanwhile, optimal design results showed that building energy can save as much as 17% compared to the average design values. Although daylighting and outdoor view criteria meet current building standards, it suggested proper architectural layouts to accomplish the most occupants’ comfort. • The parametric simulation was integrated for adaptive façades in varied climates. • Maximising daylight and view whilst minimising energy use and occupants' discomfort. • The proposed outdoor view factor comprised view context, access, and clarity. • Multi-criteria decision making was investigated by preferences sensitivity analysis. • The optimal designs found complied with current building performance standards.

Integrated energy, daylighting, comfort and environmental performance analysis of window systems in patient rooms

This study investigates the influence of window system configurations on the energy use/cost, access to daylight and view, visual comfort and environmental performance in a one-bed hospital patient room located in a temperate climate. The methodology combines dynamic energy simulations, visual comfort and daylight analysis in a life cycle assessment study of window systems, covering a wide range of environmental indicators. In this study, multi-criteria evaluation approach is used to analyse the different design alternatives. A graphical optimization method was elaborated to filter the solutions and select the most appropriate window design based on project objectives and architectural preferences. The results show that glazing with ‘0.30 < g-values≤0.50’ and ‘0.50 < Tvis < 0.75’ have lower energy use and/or cost, lower environmental impacts while maintaining sufficient daylight levels (sDA > 55%) and showing higher quality for visual comfort. These type of glazing allows for using bigger windows which leads to a higher percentage of the outside view.

Façade Integrated Photovoltaics design for high-rise buildings with balconies, balancing daylight, aesthetic and energy productivity performance

Façade Integrated Photovoltaics (FIPV) is a promising strategy to deploy solar energy in the built environment and to achieve the carbon-neutral goals of society. As standing out areas of façade, cantilevered balconies are ideal for FIPV application. However, the balcony shadings can also influence the solar potential on other parts of facades and the interior daylight performance. There is an urgent need for systematic architectural studies to promote FIPV application for buildings with balconies. This research aims to develop a holistic architectural method supporting the integrative design of FIPV for residential high-rise buildings. Firstly, balcony prototypes and position arrangements (aligned, staggered and side) for high-rises were proposed, with Trondheim city in Norway as a case study. Then daylight and solar radiation analysis were conducted through a series of simulations. Based on aesthetic strategies, coloured FIPV designs were proposed subsequently and tested in an online survey. Finally, theoretical energy productivity calculations were conducted. The results showed that side balconies arrangement could provide the best performance in interior daylight and solar energy harvest aspects, and FIPV designs with partial balcony railing areas in complementary hues were the most aesthetically preferred type. The estimated annual energy generated by FIPV together with roof-integrated PV (black) can cover up to 60% of household energy consumption of an 11-floor high-rise. The study provided a novel integrative design method supporting the FIPV application for high-rise with balconies from architectural perspectives, which can balance the performance in aspects of façade aesthetic, interior daylight, and energy productivity.

Machine learning-based real-time daylight analysis in buildings

Daylight analysis is essential in building design to ensure indoor environment quality, including health and thermal comfort vis-à-vis energy. It is a repeating and time-consuming process of design options. Several studies conducted machine learning models to accurately predict daylight performance in particular design situations. Therefore, developing an AI-based real-time daylight analysis platform becomes more promising. However, buildings can be designed with arbitrary shapes, creating a real challenge for the AI to recognize any building layout. From that perspective, the idea of finding the design variables that characterize all the building layouts becomes the key solution. To unlock this challenge, we promote a novel method of creating design variables and building a machine learning model that can efficiently forecast daylight performance with different building layouts. The daylight metric was Useful Daylight Illuminance with four ranges, and the case studies were assumed medium-sized buildings located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. All the data for training and predicting were created by the simulation DIVA tool. Obtained results showed the excellent performance of the proposed approach, which brings more promising in developing a data-driven machine learning platform for real-time daylight validation. Moreover, the present framework can adapt to any specific machine learning model or daylight simulation tool and daylight metrics.

URBAN LAYOUT FOR BUILDING SOLAR OPTIMIZATION AND OUTDOOR COMFORT BALANCE: NEIGHBORHOOD STRATEGY IN MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE

The urban configuration in the Mediterranean area, which has noticeable solar radiation and significant thermal oscillation, is one of the factors that affect the microclimate and the urban heat island phenomenon of the cities located in that zone. To contribute to the improvement of urban comfort, this work presents an experimental methodological proposal for the analysis and multicriteria optimization of performance indicators using a parametric workflow through Grasshopper. This workflow can lead to the development of a set of environmental design criteria as support tools in the design of the urban configuration. The methodology is based on the quantification of two parameters on the analysis and management of daylight in interior spaces by means of dynamic metrics and, on the other hand, on the evaluation of hygrothermal conditions and the urban heat island effect, which affect both the daytime comfort of passersby and the nighttime comfort of dwellings. This study considers the most typical variables of urban layout, both morphological and material. The case study analyzed is located in the city of Seville (Spain), which has a significant percentage of its contemporary buildings without a suitable adaptation to local climate conditions. The results obtained from the case study prove the potential of the proposed methodology to evaluate and optimize lighting and thermal performance at the neighbourhood scale. Thus, it provides urban planners with a powerful decision support tool for both urban expansion and urban renewal.

A study on practical problems and process of apartment design BIM for safety environment review

건설과정에 디지털화 수준을 높임으로서 낮은 생산성의 건설산업 문제를 극복하려는 방법으로 BIM 프로세스를 적용한 방법이 제시되고 있으며, 이를 위해 건설과정 첫 단계인 건축설계단계 생성 정보부터 3차원 기반 디지털 데이터로 구축하고 있다. 건축설계 BIM적용은 도서정합성 향상과 물량산출, 복잡부위에 대한 시각화 등으로 활용되어 효과를 예상할 수 있다. 특히 향후 공동주택설계에서 범죄예방분석 및 일조분석 등 안전한 환경을 사전에 검토 가능하도록 BIM 모델을 구축하는 것이 중요한 과제일 것으로 보인다. 하지만 증가되는 BIM프로젝트 실적 대비, 직접 BIM기반 설계 실적은 증가되지 못하고 있다. 본 연구는 적용 효과가 예상되지만 실제 직접 BIM기반 설계가 진행되지 못하는 요인을 분석하기 위해 건축설계 환경적 측면과 ‘D’사 공동주택 설계BIM 프로젝트 프로세스 분석을 진행하였다. 이를 통해 건축설계단계에서 추가되는 업무와 대가 관계를 확인하였다. 그리고 BIM설계 프로젝트는 발주되지만2D기반 방식에 초점이 맞춰진 일정과 프로세스를 확인할 수 있었다. 더불어BIM기반 프로젝트 참여자 즉, 설계자와 발주자의 BIM 설계 특성 이해 부족도영향을 미치고 있었다. 이런 문제점 개선을 위해 공종별 특히, 건축 설계인원이 직접 활용할 수 있는 프로세스와 건축설계 정보 생성 성과물에 대한 제도적 보완이 필요할 것으로 추론되었다.A method of applying the BIM process is being proposed as a way to overcome the problem of low productivity in the construction industry by increasing the level of digitalization in the construction process. For this, from the design phase, the first stage of the construction process, the creating of information of the building design is being built with 3D-based digital data. Architectural design BIM application can be used to improve drawing consistency, quantity calculation, and visualization of complex building parts, and these could be effective. Also, it seems to be an important to build a BIM model so that safe environments such as crime prevention analysis and daylight analysis can be reviewed in advance in apartment housing design. However, compared to the increasing BIM project list, the direct BIM-based design performance has not increased yet. This study is to analyze the factors that prevent direct BIM-based design from proceeding, and the architectural design environmental aspects and the BIM project process for D company s apartment house design were analyzed. Through this, the relationship between additional work scopes and fees in the design phase was confirmed. And although the BIM design project was ordered, the schedule and process focused on the 2D-based method could be confirmed. In addition, the lack of understanding of BIM design characteristics of project participants, that is, designers and clients, was also having an impact. In order to improve this issue, it was inferred that institutional supplementation for each type of work, especially the process and architectural design information creation results that can be directly utilized by architectural designers, is necessary.

Subdivided venetian blind control strategies considering visual satisfaction of occupants, daylight metrics, and energy analyses

Thermal and lighting performance in buildings depend on their facade characteristics, and are important factors to achieve environmental sustainability. Application of an integrated model that balances these two performance indices would help optimise window and shading configurations by considering the comfort of occupants. As occupants infrequently operate shadings in shared spaces, the energy efficiency and visual comfort could be improved by planning appropriate shading strategies in initial design process. Thus, this paper presents a multi-stage study on the control strategies of venetian blinds by considering visual comfort and daylight metrics, and through energy analyses. First, the case study was performed in a south-oriented daylit office room. 30 people were interviewed via a survey about working on a laptop considering three different times of a day, five blind types, and three positions. The impact of daylight on their visual comfort was surveyed at different illuminance levels which were measured by daylight loggers. The useful daylight illuminance (UDI), Daylight Availability (DAv), spatial daylight autonomy (sDA), annual sunlight exposure (ASE), and simplified daylight glare probability (DGPs) were used to evaluate the results. Finally, the window and blinds were modelled for different window to wall ratios (WWRs) for long-term energy and daylight analysis, by considering bi-directional scattering distribution function (BSDF) materials and using the five-phase matrix method.Therefore, the positions of the occupants and their activities were determined to be important parameters in deciding the most suitable blind strategy. According to occupants’ working place and daytime, subdivided shadings are recommended, particularly in 90% WWR considering both energy efficiency (40% savings) and satisfaction of occupants.