Natural Daylighting Research Articles

Sustainable Logistics: Synergizing Passive Design and PV–Battery Systems for Carbon Footprint Reduction

As more companies strive for net-zero emissions, mitigating indirect greenhouse gas emissions embedded in value chains—especially in logistics activities—has become a critical priority. In the European logistics sector, sustainability and energy efficiency are receiving growing attention, given the sector’s intersectional role in both transportation and construction. This transition toward low-carbon logistics design not only reduces carbon emissions but also yields financial benefits, including operational cost savings and new market opportunities. This study examines the impact of passive design strategies and low-carbon technologies in a Swedish logistics center, assessed using the low-carbon design criteria from the BREEAM International standard, version 6. The findings show that passive energy-efficient measures, such as the installation of 47 skylights for natural daylighting, reduced light power density in accordance with AHSHARE 90.1-2019 and the integration of free night flushing, contribute to a 23% reduction in total energy consumption. In addition, the integration of 600 PV panels and 480 batteries with a capacity of 268 ampere-hours and 13.5 kWh storage, operating at 50 volts, delivers a further 56% reduction in carbon emissions. By optimizing the interaction between passive design and active low-carbon technologies, this research presents a comprehensive feasibility analysis that promotes sustainable logistics practices while ensuring a future-proof, low-carbon operational model.

Comparing the Effectiveness of Dynamic Facades for Natural Daylight and Energy Usage in Buildings

Abstract In this research, we explore the integration of dynamic facades to enhance both aesthetics and energy efficiency in buildings. The study introduces two dynamic facade designs, one employing a triangular shape and the other inspired by origami folds, aiming to compare their effectiveness in optimising natural daylight and overall energy usage. The triangular facade features movable wings that dynamically regulate natural light, balancing visual appeal and practical functionality. Similarly, the origami-inspired design adapts to external conditions, creating a symbiotic relationship between form and function. The research employs Python and Rhino 7 with Honeybee and Pollination plug-ins for a comparative analysis. The evaluation includes Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA300,50) exceeding 55%, Annual Sunlight Exposure (ASE1000,250) no more than 10%-20%, and optimal facade opening angles based on daylight factor (df) values. The dynamic facades are examined for their impact on energy efficiency, encompassing factors like natural daylight, and operational energy. Through this analysis, the study aims to determine which dynamic facade design, triangular or origami-inspired, proves superior in optimising natural daylighting and overall energy usage. This research contributes valuable insights into the balance of innovative architectural designs and sustainable energy practices, potentially influencing future building designs.

Passive Design Strategy of Vertical Housing for Optimizing Energy Efficiency

Abstract Passive design is crucial for sustainable building, maximizing comfort while minimizing energy use and environmental impact. It optimizes heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting through natural energy sources like sunlight and wind, promoting responsible energy consumption. As the Indonesian economy continues to grow, urbanization rates in major cities are rapidly increasing, leading to urban sprawl. One proposed solution is densification through vertical housing construction. However, a concern with vertical housing is the energy consumption for thermal and lighting comfort, particularly in Indonesia’s tropical climate. Passive design presents an effective energy efficient solution for optimizing comfort in vertical housing. This study explores various passive design strategies based on six basic principle. Firstly, it presents local climatic conditions. Then, it discusses lessons learned from traditional buildings and modern buildings. Finally, it introduces a passive design method for high-rise housing, focusing on six points: massing and orientation, building envelope, passive cooling, thermal mass storage, natural air circulation and daylighting. The study presents results and potential recommendations for passive design to optimize energy efficiency.

Study of Natural Daylighting Houses in Coastal Area (Case Study: Pasar Bengkulu Village)

Abstract Sunlight is an important thing that humans need to see, recognize and learn certain things in their environment. Sunlight helps humans carry out daily activities indoors. The aim of this research is to examine the intensity of natural lighting in houses in the coastal area of the case study RT 3, Pasar Bengkulu Village. This research is quantitative research by obtaining data from observations and Dialux software simulations. The measurement data will be compared with the lighting standards set out in SNI No. 03-2396-2001. From the simulation results, it was found that there were several rooms that had not reached natural lighting standards, namely, there were 3 rooms in house A, 2 rooms in house B and 3 rooms in house C. Simulation of the optimal light intensity value in house A in room 1 was 508 lux, room 2 is 217 lux and room 3 is 235 lux. At house BThe average value is 220 lux in room 1, the value is 230 lux in room 2, 229 lux in room 3, 235 lux in room 4 and room 5 gets a value of 213 lux. Meanwhile, in house C there is room 1 with a value of 141 lux, room 2 with a value of 197 lux, room 3 with a value of 163 lux, room 4 with a value of 292 lux and room 5 with a value of 242 lux.

Multi-objective optimization of rural residential envelopes in cold regions of China based on performance and economic efficiency

Building envelope renovation solutions are critical to building performance and post-renovation economics. Building renovation is easier to carry out if the impacts of building envelope renovation solutions on building performance and post-renovation economic efficiency can be foreseen and a more sustainable and efficient renovation design can be achieved. This paper explores the optimal design of building envelope renovation using genetic optimization algorithms and statistical analysis methods, taking the performance of the renovated building and the economic efficiency of the renovation solution as the starting points. In Qingdao, a cold region of China, a survey was carried out on typical rural areas in seven regions. The selected design variables include the external wall and roof insulation material type(TWall, TRoof), external wall and roof insulation thickness(δWall, δRoof), type of window construction(TWc), and area radio of the window to the wall(WWR). Minimization of total building energy consumption(E) and renovation cost(COSTRE) and after renovation maximization of the combined incremental cost-benefit ratio over a 20-year life cycle(CICBR20-year life-cycle), effective natural daylighting illuminance(UDI), and percentage of time spent in indoor comfort(PTC) were considered in the optimization of the envelope. The results show that in cold regions, different envelope renovation solutions affect the optimization objectives to different degrees; changing the south-facing window-to-wall ratio(S_WWR) has a bigger effect on E, PTC, and UDI; and choosing different TRoof has a bigger effect on COSTRE and CICBR20-year life-cycle. Renovation of the selected typical rural residence with the optimal solution results in an energy-saving rate(Re) of 53.08 %, an increase of 940.86 h/year in annual indoor comfort hours(HIC) and 377.00 h/year in annual effective natural lighting hours(HUDI).

Application of net zero energy concepts in mid-rise apartments-numerical and analytical study

Abstract The rapid increase in population has raised the need for housing, resulting in increasing overall energy consumption by its inhabitants. The idea of green cities and Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) has evolved to address this problem. NZEBs are buildings that produce as much energy as they need, primarily from renewable resources, reducing carbon emissions in the process. This paper focuses on the design of a Chennai mid-rise multifamily apartment that aims to attain energy self-sufficiency while providing indoor comfort for its residents. The methodology involves a pilot study to gather necessary data and validate the simulation results, followed by the design and evaluation of the NZEB model. The design approach incorporates passive design strategies such as natural ventilation and daylighting, as well as active strategies such as energy-efficient equipment and renewable energy sources. For the NZEB model, a load match index of 100.41% was attained. In addition, the paper covers the idea of NZEBs, previous research, case studies, and the use of net metering in the projects.

Design optimization of floor plan for public housing buildings in Hong Kong with consideration of natural ventilation, noise, and daylighting

Indoor environmental quality plays a crucial role in determining the overall quality of life. This study aims to develop a design optimization approach for the floor plan of public housing buildings with modular flat design in Hong Kong, with focus on enhancing natural ventilation, reducing noise levels, and improve daylighting conditions. The evaluation of these environmental factors was conducted using deep neural network models and a mathematically based Calculation of Road Traffic Noise model. A general floor plan representation was developed for three- and four-winged structures of public housing buildings. An optimization approach utilizing Bayesian optimization was applied to three studied cases: Hung Shing House, Hung Hei House, and Cheung Tai House. The optimization process resulted in an average 41.5 % improvement in average natural ventilation rate. The optimized building shapes effectively served as noise barriers, leading to an average reduction of 20 % in average noise levels. The existing window configurations of each unit type under the modular flat design already provided sufficient daylighting, resulting in only a minor improvement from the optimization process.

Optimizing the indoor thermal environment and daylight performance of buildings with PCM glazing

With the development of energy efficient technologies for glass envelopes, using thermal storage techniques to improve their thermal inertia has become a trend in research. In the present study, the heat transfer and day-lighting models of a building with PCM glazing curtain wall (PGC) were developed. Multiple parameters such as glazing internal surface temperature, PCM liquid phase rate, indoor temperature, natural illumination, and daylighting coefficient were quantitatively analyzed to evaluate their indoor thermal environment and daylighting performance. The results show that the application of PGC can significantly improve indoor temperature uniformity and indoor thermal comfort compared to silica aerogel glass curtain wall (SGC) and hollow glass curtain wall (HGC). By filling 10 mm thick PCM, the temperature fluctuation of the inner surface of the glass and the midpoint temperature of the room can be reduced by 35 %, the peak temperature of the inner surface of the glass can be delayed by 0.89 h, and the average indoor natural light value and indoor daylight factor are satisfactory at 453.26 lx and 9.63 %, respectively. However, as the thickness of the PCM increases to 15 and 20 mm, the liquid fraction of the PCM and the energy storage performance of the PGC are greatly reduced, and natural daylighting does not meet the GB/t-50033-2013 limit.

Enhancing Energy Conservation, Visual and Thermal Comfort in Small Houses of Karachi

The significance of housing in developing cities cannot be overstated, as individuals strive to acquire and own physical assets throughout their lives, even in the case of small plots as modest as 80 square yards. In urban areas such as Karachi, smaller houses ranging from 80 to 240 square yards mostly are predominantly constructed by contractors or by owners themselves. This is to avoid additional fees charged by architects who may tailor the design to suit the context and specific requirements. Consequently, these houses tend to exhibit a similar layout, maximizing the utilization of allowable space as stipulated by the bylaws. However, this approach often leads to limited natural ventilation and daylighting, resulting in increased energy consumption for thermal and visual comfort. Hence, the current research underscores the urgency of addressing the prevailing lack of natural ventilation and daylighting in these houses. To address these concerns, it presents a comprehensive framework of passive strategies aimed at enhancing the thermal and visual comfort of occupants. Firstly, an archival study was conducted, encompassing a comprehensive literature review, which served as a foundation to understand the subject matter. Secondly, a comparative study was undertaken to examine conventional small house typical plans prevalent in Karachi. This study was followed by the formulation of proposals for improved planning. Various secondary resources were utilized to support the comparative analysis of two typical house plans in Karachi, in conjunction with the proposed passive strategies. Through the application of these strategies, occupants can benefit from improved comfort, reduced energy consumption, and heightened well-being.

Case Study on the Re-use Potential of Insulated Glass Units

Glass is an energy intensive material that is essential to buildings and their energy consumption. Its transparency allows for natural daylighting and the use of solar heat gains. In the context of the refurbishment politics of the EU as a result of the Paris Agreement on climate goals, significant amounts of glass waste in form of windows and façades are to be expected. In order to minimize the environmental impact of glass by preserving the embodied carbon and substitute newly produced glasses, the Re-use of glass is considered to be of highest potential. When reusing panes, energy and raw material can be saved that otherwise would be consumed for the production of new glass. This way, the common principles of sustainability - sufficiency, efficiency and consistency - can be realized for the life cycle of flat building glass. The following case study estimates the potential of different scenarios for circular waste treatment of glass panes by applying the 9R Framework to insulating glass units (IGUs). The scenarios are defined and presented. A life cycle assessment (LCA) using identical system boundaries for these scenarios was executed and the results are compared to producing IGUs entirely with new glass. Finally, the feasibility of the strategies is evaluated and recommendations for the processing of glass in stock are derived.

A Generative Design Approach to Improving the Environmental Performance of Educational Buildings in Hot Arid Climates. (Assiut National University as a Case Study)

The architectural design process is complex, involving diverse objectives that may be contradictory, and on which orientation exerts significant influence. The artificial intelligence application, Generative Design facilitates solving multi-objective design dilemmas through the creation and evaluation of numerous design alternatives. However, its exploration in educational buildings in hot arid climates remains limited. Given the impact of spaces’ function distribution, this study aims to optimize it in the typical plans of educational buildings. Employing a multi-objective design approach to enhance environmental performance. The study is conducted and evaluated in national universities in Egypt as a case study, specifically in Assiut City. The results revealed that the optimum design for a certain objective has not equated to optimal performance for other goals, highlighting an inherent contradiction between them. Among 26,334 possible alternatives for spaces’ function distribution, the difference between the optimal scenario and the least favourable one is significant for the parameters related to study spaces: natural daylighting, and visual comfort, ranging from 10% to 24%, besides around 1% difference for parameters related to the whole building, including energy consumption, thermal comfort, and carbon emission. This research offers a framework applicable to various building types. Additionally, it encourages decision-makers to adopt a no-cost sustainable design approach.

Using building information modelling to optimise design quality of natural lighting in Iraqi school buildings

Abstract One of the most important aspects directly affecting a building’s performance is the design quality of the natural day-lighting. The present research evaluates the effectiveness of daylight in school buildings in the city of Baghdad. It aims to ascertain how the characteristics of building windows affect the quality of day-lighting, the objective of this exercise being to improve educational processes in schools by making improvements in relation to the aspect of provision of satisfactory day-lighting levels. A building simulation approach was adopted, and using Autodesk Revit 2018 (Insight plug-in), a daylight analysis was conducted under the aegis of the Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology. For the case study, we selected the modern design of a 24-classrooms school building, which is part of a plan for the construction of 1,000 Iraqi schools. Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED v4) simulation was conducted on the school building design to provide the results, which were measured and analysed according to LEED v4 standards. The results demonstrated that opening dimensions and direction have an essential impact on natural day-lighting. The research concluded that using BIM simulation tools enhances the design quality of the natural lighting in such a way that compliance with LEED v4 requirements is achieved. The present study will assist in identification and assessment of the problems concerned with natural lighting levels in Iraqi school buildings as well as resolving these at an early design stage.

Thermal performance regulation and optimization for rooms of residential buildings via using radiative cooling and solar heating system

Window system aways has the worst performance in terms of the building energy saving, which needs to be optimized. In this work, a radiative cooling and heating system was proposed, comprising of a cooling device covered with the radiative cooling film, and a heating device with an enclosed air layer. The proposed system was integrated into the window of a room in the residential building, aiming at improving the indoor thermal comfort. The indoor thermal regulation by the proposed system is a two-step process, to reduce the energy consumption requirements. In the step 1, the proposed system could create an air temperature buffer zone for the window system, to mitigate the indoor air temperature change. In the step 2, the cooling device and the iron blades in the heating device could provide shadings for the window. Although the heating energy demand at the daytime in winter was increased via installing a louver in the heating device, the iron blades with black color were conducive to gaining more solar heat and adjusting the indoor natural daylighting. Furthermore, the heating device covered the window was helpful for increase in the thermal isolation performance of the glazing envelope. Based on the thermal and daylighting regulations by the proposed system, a total annual energy consumption difference of 795 kW h between the original room and the novel room was realized, leading to an energy saving rate of 16.3%.

Performance evaluation of semitransparent PV window systems employing periodic thermal model

A conventional window system can be replaced by a semitransparent PV window system, which generates electrical energy, provides natural daylighting, and improves the building's overall energy efficiency. The present study evaluates the performance of three different types of PV window systems, namely, STPV (Semitransparent Photovoltaic), SAG (Semitransparent-photovoltaic-Airgap-Glass), and VSAG (Ventilated Semitransparent-photovoltaic-Airgap-Glass) operating in heating and cooling mode, for the climatic conditions of Calgary, Canada. Periodic mathematical thermal models based on the energy balance equations of the window systems are developed to evaluate the systems' performance under the shading and non-shading effects of a curtain. The results indicate that the VSAG window system can be operated in heating mode to increase the room air temperature and in cooling mode to decrease the room temperature. Additionally, the curtain's transmissivity, PV modules' packing factor, and airflow rates could be used as a controlling measure to keep the room temperature within a comfortable range in different climatic conditions. Reducing the transmissivity of the curtains by 20% lowers the room temperature by 2.5 °C while decreasing the packing factor by 10% increases the room temperature by 4.8 °C.

Analysis of the Influence of Office Building Operating Characteristics on Carbon Emissions in Cold Regions

Reducing buildings’ operational carbon dioxide emissions has become a crucial element in China’s efforts to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality targets. This study focus on the influence of office building operating characteristics on carbon emissions in cold regions. By utilizing DesignBuilder v7.0.0.096 to conduct numerical simulations of 10 different operating conditions for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) and lighting systems, this study solves the problems in the past of poor comfort and high energy consumption with manual management and achieves a win-win situation for health and environmental protection. The study shows that by implementing a mixed mode of mechanical ventilation and natural ventilation based on outdoor climate conditions and design requirements, unsatisfied hours can be reduced by 202 h compared to the traditional air condition heating operation mode for both winter and summer seasons. Furthermore, compared to a year-round HVAC operation mode, the air-conditioning energy consumption can be reduced by 19%, resulting in a carbon emissions reduction of 1.45 kg CO2/(m2·a). Additionally, for every 2 °C increase in the outdoor temperature, the cooling energy consumption decreases by 2–5%. In terms of lighting, the intelligent lighting mode can reduce energy consumption by 31.04%, leading to a carbon emissions reduction of 3.04 kg CO2/(m2·a). The coupling operation characteristics of mixed mode, intelligent lighting, and energy-saving lamps can achieve a maximum saving of 83.46 MWh of electricity and approximately CNY 72,000 every year, with a static payback period of approximately 2.7 years. This operational strategy, which fully considers the utilization of natural ventilation and daylighting in conjunction with traditional design approaches, improves indoor air quality and ventilation conditions, while also maximizing the energy-saving and carbon reduction potential. The study results provide valuable design and operational guidance for new and existing office buildings in cold regions, to effectively reduce carbon emissions, while offering significant investment returns.

Students’ Perception of the Natural Daylighting in Higher Education Design Studios

An energy-efficient and environmentally friendly building are key to establishing green buildings. Both key concepts are predominantly significant in today's sustainable development concept. Higher education institutions have started their green and sustainable campaign to meet the government's initiative to reduce energy consumption. Energy consumption is increasing annually, whereby for the past 10 years, energy usage in government buildings has increased from 50,000 GW to 109,000 GW per year. The electricity bills increased due to the extensive use of artificial light. Artificial lighting is used extensively during the daytime in higher education buildings due to poor passive daylighting strategies in many buildings. Therefore, this paper intends to present the findings of a comprehensive and systematic analysis of students’ perceptions of natural daylight in design studios in higher education buildings. Survey-based investigations were conducted to analyse the student's perception of natural daylight. 149 questionnaires were distributed to Interior Design students from higher educational institutions. The data is being analysed using statistical analysis with the use of SPSS as the tool for analysis. The research found that the respondents prefer brighter natural daylight to artificial lighting in the studio. However, their design studio receives a high glare and thermal heat. The high glare and thermal heat subsequently made the respondents feel inconvenienced and uncomfortable due to glare and heat gain. As this paper only provides students' perceptions about natural daylight in the design studio, further study is needed to identify types of daylight strategies used in the design studio.

Sudden column removal in tall buildings with flat slabs supported on core and perimeter columns

This paper focuses on robustness considerations of tall buildings with reinforced concrete flat slabs supported by a central core and one row of perimeter columns. This layout is commonly used in office and residential buildings to reduce storey height and maximise natural daylighting. The core and lateral bracing of tall buildings is generally less sensitive to local failure than the secondary load transfer system provided by the floors and perimeter columns, considering the high vulnerability of perimeter columns to accidental actions and punching of the slab around the supports. This paper analyses sudden corner and edge column removal situations in slab-core-perimeter column systems using dimensions and loading representative of current tall building design and construction, looking at potential punching at the connections and flexural failure in the slab. The dynamic punching model previously developed by the authors, was validated in this work for further cases of punching around edge columns and slabs with low amount of flexural reinforcement. The dynamic punching model is based on the Critical Shear Crack Theory for quasi-static punching and the Ductility-Centred Robustness Assessment method. A simplified level of approximation is proposed for a preliminary dynamic punching check during the conceptual design stage to optimise the position columns and level of flexural and punching reinforcement needed. The approaches proposed are consistent with Model Code 2010 and can be used to arrest the horizontal propagation of failure in the slab. The analyses of the case studies in this work showed that removal of an edge column adjacent to a corner column can be critical and alternative robustness design considerations are needed in this case.

ANALYSIS OF NATURAL DAYLIGHTING AT GPIB BETHEL BANDUNG USING DIALUX EVO 10.1 SIMULATION

Natural daylighting comes from sunlight that is reflected from outside into the building and plays an important role for the building. One of the buildings that must have good natural lighting is the Church. Natural lighting is needed to support religious activities in the Church from a functional and architectural point of view by giving a certain meaning or aesthetic value. Based on the applicable standards, the church as a place of worship has a minimum requirement of 200 lux lighting (SNI) 03-6197-2000. This study aims to determine the suitability level of natural lighting in the church with applicable standards. The method used in this study is a quantitative method with data acquisition through direct observation and simulated using DIALux Evo 10.1 software. Simulation results data in the form of lux calculations and lighting distribution. Based on the simulation results, it was found that natural lighting at GPIB Bethel Bandung did not meet the applicable standards for two effective times. Therefore, a response is needed to overcome this by increasing the number and width of window openings.

BIM and ANN-based rapid prediction approach for natural daylighting inside library spaces

The issue of how to fully utilize natural daylighting of public buildings is one of the greatest practical objectives for lighting savings. The rapid and accurate prediction of the daylighting coefficient at the early design stage can provide a quantitative basis for energy-saving optimization. However, it is not comprehensive to determine the design parameters according to experience. The key problem that is still facing designers is the interoperability between building modeling and energy simulation tools. In this paper, an integrated approach using a dataset created by building information modeling and artificial neural network technology is developed for the fast optimal daylight factor prediction of large public spaces at the early design stage. According to this approach, the value of daylight factors is calculated for different windowsill heights, window heights and widths by Autodesk® Revit and Ecotect Analysis to form a dataset. With this dataset, an artificial neural network model is established using the backpropagation algorithm to predict the relevant design parameters. With their large interior spaces, the reading areas of the aboveground five floors in Chengdu University of Technology Library are selected to carry out the daylight factor experiment and rapid prediction. A total of 495 groups of experimental data are randomly divided into training and testing sets. The root mean squared errors are below 0.1, which indicates a high regression model fitting. A total of 225,369 groups of prepared data are used in the prediction model to obtain the optimal windowsill height (1.0 m), window height (2.4 m) and window width (2.1 m) for five floors in the case of the maximum daylighting coefficient. Finally, a smartphone app is designed to facilitate daylight factor prediction without any experience in modeling and simulation tools, which is simple and available to realize prediction visualization and historical result analysis.

Dynamic facade control systems for optimal daylighting, a case of Kerala

Natural daylighting of the building interiors contributes to better environmental quality and reduced energy consumption. Buildings in the tropical region require direct cut-off from irradiance to control internal thermal gain. More extensive fenestration may contribute towards more internal thermal gain because of an improper form of facade or shading systems, which may further contribute to the need for more cooling load in air conditioning. The commercial building sector consumes more energy due to the significance of aesthetics for interiors using artificial lighting techniques, especially during daytimes, and air conditioning due to increased thermal gains. This research intends to explore three basic types of dynamic facade systems, including folding, sliding and rotating types. The study is inclusive of the functional parameters, design and working mechanism of the selected systems, their impact on the illuminance and daylight factor, in the selected commercial building in Changanassery, Kerala, India. The authors calculated various angles of the selected location such as Solar Azimuth, Altitude, Horizontal Shadow Angle (HSA) and Vertical Shadow Angle (VSA), for further analysis. The tools used to do Building Information Modelling (BIM) of the prototype building, simulations of illuminance and daylight factor are Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Insight and Velux daylight visualizer respectively. The study concludes that the folding type of facade system is the most efficient type of dynamic facade system specific to the accurate prototype building location to ensure optimal daylighting while eliminating the undesirable effects of solar radiation.