Visual Comfort Research Articles

Comparison of Road Luminance Data Estimated by Fuzzy Logic and ANN, A Case study of Kocaeli Sakıp Sabancı Caddesi

Road lighting constitutes the most important part of city lighting. While correct road lighting solves the chaos in transportation, it also paves the way for smooth urban traffic flow. It also allows people to have a comfortable and safe journey. In order to reduce accidents in the evening hours, safe driving and visual comfort must be provided to drivers. Just like inadequate road lighting, excessive lighting also causes accidents and waste of electrical energy. Good visibility of objects on the road and visual comfort for drivers is possible by ensuring an equal brightness distribution on the road surface. In this article, a prediction model was created with Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Fuzzy Logic (FL) methods to find the luminance values of the road in Sakıp Sabancı street in Kocaeli province. When the predictions obtained by ANN and FL were compared, the results were seen to be accurate and compatible. When the estimation results obtained as a result of the application were examined, it was observed that the estimation of luminance values in good and qualified road lighting could be achieved with these methods.

Parallax of Head-Up Displays and Visual Safety for Driving

Head-up displays (HUDs), a novel form of virtual display, are characterized by their optical structure as a typical binocular virtual display system. This structure exhibits the effect of binocular parallax on visual perception, especially when diverse depth information is displayed on a screen, which makes the eyes switch between different parallax conditions, and easily affects visual tasks, and induces visual fatigue. Augmented reality HUDs (AR-HUDs) have a wider field of view and are more susceptible to parallax effects. In this study, to determine the acceptable parallax threshold in a two-dimensional virtual display system for HUDs, especially for adjacent positions, and to provide a reference for HUD design, visual comfort and task performance were experimentally evaluated by simulating the overall parallax effect and with step changes on the screen. Specifically, the effects of overall and stepped horizontal and vertical parallaxes on visual fatigue and task performance were evaluated under different conditions. The results showed that the overall horizontal and vertical parallaxes had no significant effect on visual fatigue and task performance. However, stepped horizontal parallax had a significant effect on task performance (p < 0.05), with a parallax value of 3.31 mrad between adjacent positions serving as an acceptable threshold for stepped horizontal parallax as a reference. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in the concentration and fluctuation ratios of the results caused by vertical stepped parallax were found, and an acceptable stepped parallax threshold of 2.24 mrad was obtained. Further, experiments revealed that stepped vertical parallax was more likely to lead to reading misalignments, halos, and distortions. In addition, an exponentially varying relationship between stepped parallax and the error rate of visual performance was observed, and a model was built to predict the degree of influence on visual performance caused by horizontal stepped parallax in virtual displays. This study provides a reference for parallax control between neighboring display icons in AR-HUDs.

Optimizing hybrid ventilation and daylight-linked dimming control for carbon reduction and thermal comfort in a subtropical high-rise office building

The dominant contributors to electricity consumption in existing buildings are air-conditioning and lighting systems. This study aims to optimize hybrid ventilation and daylight-linked dimming control in a subtropical high-rise office building. The objective is to reduce carbon emissions while ensuring thermal and visual comfort. These two strategies can be retrofitted in a typical curtain wall system with vertical windows without encountering any technical limitations. EnergyPlus is used to analyze the impact of these strategies on enhancing thermal comfort and illuminance while achieving electricity savings in the high-rise office building. Based on the typical meteorological year of Hong Kong, using natural ventilation in perimeter zones can reduce the energy use intensity (EUI) by 2.6 to 3.41 % for 30.09 to 34.97 % of total operating hours, depending on window-to-wall ratios (WWRs). Furthermore, daylight-linked dimming control in perimeter zones can reduce EUI by 18.91 % to 21.9 % in the HVAC portion and 8.09 % to 12.25 % in the lighting portion during 91.39 % to 98.28 % of total operating hours. Using daylighting with a high WWR helps reduce 6.31 to 9.21 % in total greenhouse gas emissions. The study also develops a logistic regression model using three climatic variables to predict the natural ventilation status. Overall, the use of daylighting greatly improves the percentage of acceptable predicted mean vote (PMV), with the greatest improvements observed in perimeter zones facing east and west on the middle floors. However, the combined application of both strategies results in a tempered improvement. The novelty of this study lies in providing guidance on suitable WWRs for implementing both strategies to achieve carbon reduction. Moreover, the significance lies in providing a quantitative assessment of how enhanced ventilation and lighting controls contribute to lower carbon emissions while improving thermal comfort.

NATURAL LIGHT INTENSITY AND VISUAL COMFORT THROUGH ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF THE CURTAIN OPENING

The type of activity, room area, and light intensity influence the visual comfort level of room users. In educational buildings, visual comfort influences the level of performance during the teaching and learning process of students. Students of the Bachelor of Architecture Study Program, FTSP, Trisakti University, use the Studio on the 6th floor (C.608-609) with 85% curtained glass window walls on the North and West, and 10% uncurtained bouvenlight windows on the South. It is estimated that the availability of natural light sources with such capacity is sufficient for the Studio learning process, but in fact users still turn on artificial lighting when working during the day. The hope is that by using curtained windows, students can regulate natural lighting needs to reduce the use of artificial lighting. Until this research was conducted, it was not known how high curtains met visual comfort standards. This research aims to create contour simulation of room’s natural light intensity C.608-609 using dialux kw06-288 software, in relation to adjust of curtains on windows with heights of 30 cm, 60 cm, 90 cm and 120 cm, and their impact on the user's feelings of visual comfort or discomfort. The results show that the distribution of natural light entering the room is not even and varied. According to SNI 03-6575-2001, the light intensity for a studio is 500-750 lux, but the measurement results show that at a curtain opening height of 120 cm, the light reach to the room with the furthest depth of 16.8m is not reached, so to achieve visual comfort the assistance of artificial lighting is needed, especially in the east-south of studio. Meanwhile, the area around the light source causes glare. Keywords: Light Intensity, Visual Comfort, Curtain Opening Height

Design and Development of a Visual Comfort Questionnaire (VCQ) for Employees in the Workplace

Background and Objectives: Visual comfort is an important and influential factor on safety, mental health, sleep quality, and musculoskeletal disorders of employees in the workplace. This study aimed to design and develop a questionnaire to assess the visual comfort of employees in the workplace.
 Methods: The study was performed on 101 participants (88 men and 13 women) in the food industry. First, the available lighting questionnaires in the field of lighting were reviewed, and a question bank was set up. Twenty questions were considered in two sections of natural and artificial lighting (10 questions in each section) based on the opinion of 10 experts in this field. The validity of the questionnaire was assessed using the content validity index (CVI) based on the comments of experts. To validate the questionnaire in the workplace, The lighting of employees' workstations was evaluated according to the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) standards and compared with the results of the questionnaire.
 Results: The Cronbach's alpha of natural and artificial lighting visual comfort questionnaire was 0.858 and 0.922, respectively. The total CVI of the questionnaire was 1. There was a significant positive relationship between the score of the visual comfort questionnaire and the workstations' illumination (P = 0.001). More than 97% of employees who had workstations with the desired lighting reported excellent levels of visual comfort.
 Conclusion: The visual comfort questionnaire had good and acceptable reliability and validity. This tool is recommended for the use of visual comfort asessments of employees in work environments given the fewer number of and simplicity of sentences.

Effect of myopia management contact lens design on accommodative microfluctuations and eye movements during reading

BackgroundSoft contact lenses have been developed and licensed for reducing myopia progression. These lenses have different designs, such as extended depth of focus (EDOF) and dual focus (DF). In this prospective, double-masked, cross-over study, different lens designs were investigated to see whether these had impact on accommodative microfluctuations and eye movements during reading. MethodsParticipants were fitted with three lenses in a randomised order; a single vision (SV) design (Omafilcon A2; Proclear), a DF design (Omafilcon A2; MiSight), and an EDOF lens design (Etafilcon A; NaturalVue),. Accommodative microfluctuations were measured at 25 cm for at least 60s in each lens, using a Shin-Nippon SRW-5000 autorefractor adapted to continuously record accommodation at 22Hz. Eye movement data was collected with the Thomson Clinical Eye Tracker incorporating a Tobii Eye bar. Eye movements include fixations per row, fixations per minute, mean regressions per row, total number of regressions, and total rightward saccades. Accommodation data was analysed using power spectrum analysis. Differences between the lenses were compared using a related sample two-way Friedman test. ResultsTwenty-three participants (18–29 years) were recruited to take part. The average mean spherical error was −2.65D ± 1.42DS, with an average age of 23.4 ± 3.5 years. No significant difference for accommodative microfluctuations was found. Significant differences were found for fixations per row (P = 0.03), fixations per minute (P = 0.008), mean regressions per row (P = 0.002), and total number of regressions (P = 0.002), but not total rightward saccades (P = 0.10). Post-hoc analysis indicated the EDOF lens results were significantly different from the other lenses, with more regressive eye movements observed. ConclusionsRegressive saccades appear to increase when wearing EDOF lens designs, which may impact visual comfort. Further studies in children, over a longer period of adaptation are necessary to assess the potential impact of this finding on daily reading activities in children.

Extraction of effective cycles on reducing patients’ depression in the design of treatment spaces

PurposeThe most common reaction to an acute physical illness is anxiety, which may be followed by depression. In patients with chronic diseases, the prevalence of anxiety disorders and depression is almost twice as high as in other diseases. This study aims to extract prominent components in the design of treatment spaces on reducing hospitalized patients’ depression from both experts and patients/users’ point of views. A final model is also presented based on the findings.Design/methodology/approachThis research used an exploratory mixed method. The effective components were extracted through the administration of two Likert-scale researcher-made questionnaires in two phases. Q factor analysis was conducted to reach the components. A total of 205 patients were admitted to Namazi Hospital in Shiraz, and 20 architecture and psychology experts participated in the survey. Final modeling of the data was done through path analysis.FindingsSix factors were found to be effective by experts in reducing depression in therapeutic spaces: nature-oriented space, targeted social space, diverse space, visual comfort, logical process and safe space. On the part of patients, seven components were deemed to be effective: visual perception, naturalism, functionalism, physical security, logical process, psychological safety and diversity. Also, four main cycles were extracted from the final model with the direct effect of diversity and the other five cycles were mediated by naturalism.Research limitations/implicationsA total of 15 interviews with architects and psychologists, who were available at the time of the study, were conducted in January 2018. The only general question during interviews was “In your opinion, what factors are effective in reducing the level of depression of patients in the design of treatment spaces?” This may have limited the range of factors that could be surveyed in the study. After collecting the effective factors from the aforementioned expert’s points of view, the questionnaire of experts was designed (Appendix). The expert questionnaires were distributed and edited in two stages in January 2019 among 20 architect experts who were available at the time of the study. The one-year interval between designing and administering the questionnaires occurred because of the limitations posed by the COVID-19 pandemic situation. However, the interval did not pose methodological obstacles for the study.Originality/valueEvidence-based investigation of the effectiveness of proper design components of therapeutic spaces in reducing the symptoms of patients with chronic secondary depression has received little attention in the literature. Using a “conceptual model,” the present study brought the issue into its focus so as to find effective components in the design of treatment spaces that can alleviate depression symptoms in chronically hospitalized patients.

Optimizing building solutions in a changing climate: parameter-based analysis of embodied and operational environmental impacts

Abstract Buildings contribute significantly to global energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Climate change affects building performance, particularly heating and cooling demands. While current policies focus on improving energy performance and reducing operational emissions, the embodied emissions from building materials become more significant in energy-efficient buildings. This study aims to investigate optimal building solutions considering both operational and embodied environmental impact in the context of climate change in the Belgian context. The research questions address the influence of building characteristics on environmental impact and the contribution of embodied and operational emissions to optimal design. The study employs parametric life cycle assessment and dynamic building energy simulation to explore design strategies for a medium-sized office building. The results reveal the trade-offs between operational and embodied impacts. Buildings with better energy performance exhibit higher embodied emissions, highlighting the importance of considering both aspects. Pareto optimal buildings are identified, minimizing total life cycle environmental cost and operational environmental cost. Insulation levels, solar shading, and orientation are key factors in achieving optimal design. HVAC systems and electricity mixes also significantly influence optimal solutions. Lightweight and heavyweight buildings have distinct characteristics affecting heating and cooling demands. Variations in electricity mixes impact energy consumption and environmental costs of different HVAC system scenarios. The study emphasizes the need for a holistic life cycle approach and considering both operational and embodied impacts in building design. It underscores the importance of optimizing building characteristics while addressing climate change challenges. Further research should explore additional factors such as night cooling, HVAC system performance under climate change, and the inclusion of financial costs and visual comfort in the analysis.

Influence of window recess on solar loads, heat loss and external condensation

The current architectural preference for the recess of windows is in line with the forefront of the building facade. The recess of a window has consequences for: solar loads, heat loss, and risk of outside condensation. This paper presents an analysis of these issues in relation to variations in recess depth and differences in orientation of the window. The solar load in buildings is highly influenced by the depth of the window recess, depending on the orientation. Solar gains both contribute to heating the building during the heating season, but also to overheating in other periods. The latter being especially important for other buildings than residential buildings. This is analysed for different window orientations and size (height and width) as wells as the recess depth. Recess depth also influences the overall heat loss though the facade and window and is analysed through detailed calculations. Last, but not least, condensation on the external face of modern low energy windows causes a serious issue regarding visual comfort in the mornings during periods with clear weather and low outdoor temperatures. Analyses of the recess depth influence on the outside condensation risk is presented. The issues regarding the recess depth for facade windows is analysed using dynamic simulations of different window and recess depths in different orientations in combination with 2D static calculations of the overall heat loss coefficient for the total window and facade construction in typical highly insulated facade constructions.

A glare predictive control strategy for split-pane electrochromic windows: Visual comfort and energy-saving assessment

A glare predictive control strategy for split-pane electrochromic windows: Visual comfort and energy-saving assessment

A Critical Review of Lighting Design and Asset Management Strategies. Illuminating Practices and Lessons Learned for Swedish Public Libraries

Most lighting is only designed to meet the visual needs in most public library environments in Sweden. Although lighting-related impacts are relevant to six Unite Nations sustainability goals, some important lighting considerations, such as circadian phase disruption, mode and productivity impact, and energy-efficient operation, are missing in current lighting operating practices. Moreover, most of the current lighting asset management practice in public buildings remains “fix it if only it breaks”. With respect to people-centric health factors, visual index, and lighting asset energy-efficient operation, this study sublimates lighting into a new perspective. Finally, the suggested comprehensive lighting operating strategies integrating digital twins can help designers and operators in defining the optimal design/control strategy in public-built environments, like public library. Digital twin-based decision-making is expected to be applied to lighting design and control in public spaces that improves visual acuity and comfort, positively impact mood and productivity, and provides recommendations on engagement principles under Environment Social Governance (ESG) framework to asset manager/operators.

QUANTITATIVE APPROACHES IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FOR USER-ORIENTED INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

ABSTRACT Understanding indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and integrating indoor data into architectural design is a critical component of green building design for building occupants’ comfort and health. With a growing emphasis on creating healthy and comfortable indoor environments in green buildings, indoor data in architectural design has increasingly incorporated quantitative methods to analyze and optimize indoor environmental quality parameters. Data-driven design in architecture has been used as a decision-making approach to the green building design process; it has implications for the building occupants to voluntarily enhance their indoor environments and comfort. A higher degree of personal control for indoor environmental quality (IEQ) leads to higher satisfaction, energy savings, and productivity in work environments. IEQ data access related to thermal, visual, and acoustic comforts and indoor air enables occupants to acquire ownership of indoor controls, contributing to their comfort and task productivity. Undergraduate architecture students carried out a series of data-driven designs for IEQ monitoring and design integrations by conducting a field study, data collection, data analysis, and visualization, and linking findings to architectural proposals. Participating groups were requested to i) theoretically understand IEQ data parameters for four primary indoor environments, ii) experimentally conduct a field survey of target spaces, iii) numerically predict IEQ conditions by using diverse simulation tools and measurement devices, iv) graphically visualize IEQ findings, and v) finally integrate findings into the architectural design as a solutional proposal. The findings highlight that the potential of quantitative approaches in architectural design enhances students’ understanding of environmental contributors and design solutions for occupants’ comfort and health.

Research on Lighting Environment Design Strategies in Obstetric Spaces Based on the Whole Process of Natural Childbirth: A Case Study of Labour, Delivery, and Recovery Rooms in Xiamen Lotus Hospital

This study is based on the analysis of the behaviour and emotional characteristics of parturient women during the natural delivery stage. It also combines on-site lighting environment investigations and questionnaire interviews with postpartum women in the maternity ward of Xiamen Lotus Hospital. Based on the results, it proposes indoor lighting environment renovation design plans, as well as parameter suggestions for different scenarios (pre-delivery mode, delivery mode, delivery completion mode, postpartum mode). Finally, it summarizes the lighting design strategies for LDR delivery rooms based on the entire process of natural childbirth for parturient women. These strategies include pre-delivery lighting to meet visual comfort, emotional lighting to promote delivery, and soothinglighting environment for postpartum recovery, also aiming to provide references for lighting design in other obstetric spaces.

Performance of secondary skin on optimizing the distribution of natural lighting in building

The high intensity of sunlight in Bangka Belitung Islands has a potential to get natural lighting throughout the day. Previous research found that facades with wide glass dimensions in the Asian Region with a tropical climate, on average, are not equipped with shading devices. This causes an uneven distribution of sunlight in the room and makes users feel visual discomfort. Natural lighting should be able to work optimally utilizing secondary skin on building facades. The secondary skin can be more optimal in energy use compared to a single skin to control the entry of direct sunlight. This plays a role in creating visual comfort. The secondary skin can also work in an aesthetic part to give an attractive image, such as an element of the locality. This study aims to obtain optimal secondary skin modules. The method used is a quantitative experiment to see the daylight uniformity in the lecturer’s workspace through the application of patterns on secondary skin and simulation software Velux Daylight Visualizer 3.1 and doing descriptive analysis to get the optimal module to achieve uniformity. Through this research, it was found that the percentage of different modules affects the distribution of light entering the building.

A study of spatial rationality in the architectural design of senior citizen apartments in terms of calculation and biological effects

Abstract This paper is based on the photobiological effect of the role of the collation of different light colors under the elderly pupil change and the luminance level function of the relationship between the equation so as to use this for the rationality of the design of the elderly housing. The non-visual direct response (nvRD) model is also used to predict the relative non-visual response to light and to compare the relative effectiveness of different light modes in providing potential health benefits to humans. The effects of different light illumination on mood affectivity and visual comfort were calculated using the modified spatial contrast (mSC) model and the preliminary gaze response light drive (GRL) model. Finally, the effects of different light intensities and situations on the physical heart rate and cardiovascular indexes of the elderly were examined using the experimental design of photobiological effects. The results showed that the T-wave time under green light increased by 4.008 ms on average, and the QT band interval under red light and green light had a more obvious increase, with an average increase of 5.131 ms for red light and 7.238 ms for green light, while the ventricular rate under blue light showed signs of acceleration, with an average increase of 2.352 beats. The rational design of space in elderly apartments is supported by theoretical reference and data basis in this paper.

Lens Checking: How Eye Care Practitioners Verify and Inspect Rigid Contact Lenses

Purpose. The primary focus of this article is to explore the critical aspects of verifying and inspecting RGP contact lens parameters in clinical practice. The verification process is essential to ensure that patients receive lenses with accurate and optimal parameters, thus improving their visual experi- ence and comfort. The article delves into the methods and instruments available to eye care practitioners for verifying key parameters, including back surface radii, total lens diam- eter, lens power, lens thickness, blends, and surface quality. Material and Methods. The discussion centers on the tech- niques and tools employed in the verification and inspection of RGP contact lens parameters. It emphasizes the signifi- cance of maintaining a clean and controlled environment for these assessments. Calibration and error minimization strate- gies are highlighted to enhance measurement accuracy. The article provides insights into device-specific measurements and the importance of averaging measurements to mitigate deviations. Results. The article outlines various procedures for verifying the essential parameters of RGP contact lenses. It covers methods for checking back surface radii, including the use of radiuscopes, keratometers, and corneal topographers. Verifi- cation of lens diameter is detailed with V-shaped measuring gauges, measuring magnifiers, and projection magnifiers. Lens power verification is explored through lensmeters and specialized lensmeter calibration techniques. Finally, the measurement of lens thickness, the inspection of lens edges, and the evaluation of surface quality and blends between different lens zones are addressed. Conclusion. This article underscores the significance of thorough verification and inspection of RGP contact lens parameters in clinical practice. These essential steps ensure that patients receive lenses that meet their specific needs, contributing to improved visual acuity, comfort, and overall ocular health. Eye care practitioners should check their pa- tients’ RGP contact lenses according to the ordered param- eters. By following the described methods and employing appropriate instruments, the fitting and prescribing of rigid gas-permeable contact lenses can be enhanced. Keywords Rigid gas-permeable contact lenses, RGP contact lenses, specifications and tolerances for rigid contact lens parameters, verification and inspection of RGP contact lenses, lens checking

ANALISIS EFEKTIVITAS PENGGUNAAN MATERIAL DINDING PADA PEMBANGUNAN GEDUNG BERTINGKAT

The development of science, especially in the field of construction, has produced various innovations, one of which is on wall materials that can support the effectiveness of work, especially in the construction of multi-storey buildings. It is realized that wall material can affect acoustic, thermal, and visual comfort levels. The choice of wall material has a direct impact on the environment where the use of environmentally friendly materials can reduce carbon footprint and construction waste. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the use of wall materials such as red brick, adobe and lightweight brick in terms of structural strength, cost and service life of the structure. To compare various alternatives, an assessment of each alternative consequence is carried out using a decision-making system. The results of the analysis showed that alternative 3 using lightweight brick obtained the highest value so that alternative 3 became the top priority of other alternatives to optimize the construction of high-rise buildings.

The impact of facade geometry on visual comfort and energy consumption in an office building in different climates

In recent years, there has been a heightened emphasis improving visual comfort and energy efficiency. Various solutions have been explored to achieve high-performance design. Shading devices play a crucial role in enhancing building performance by redusing solar gains, excessive daylight, and improving both energy efficiency and occupants' visual comfort. This research aims to investigate the effect of facade geometry on visual comfort and energy consumption in four different climates of Iran and categorize each variable based on effectiveness for each location. Parametric office modeling was done by using Grasshopper and Rhino software. Then, the effect of the facade on the interior lighting and energy consumption was analyzed by Radiance, Daysim, and EnergyPlus calculation engines. The Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II) was selected to optimize solutions, minimize energy consumption, maximize useful daylight illuminance, and view quality. In addition, the methodology was used to explore the framework for optimizing office facade design in Iran's diverse climatic zones. The simulation results indicate that window-to-wall ratio and inclined wall were essential for balancing daylighting performance and energy consumption. This research stated that using a self-shading design could increase the quality of view up to 75% while reducing energy consumption and the risk of glare. Results proposed a design framework to improve visual comfort and save energy. The rotating façade's wall 10°-30° reduced cooling energy demand and energy usage intensity in selected models. So, an inclined wall could be an efficient shading device to improve building's performance in Iran.

Parametric control of multiple blinds to enhance daylighting performance in the dome building: Case study of a mosque building in Saudi Arabia

Clerestory windows encircling the dome are a common feature in mosque architecture. They serve the purpose of allowing daylight to penetrate the spacious interior from all directions through smaller windows compared to side-lit windows. However, maintaining the required uniform daylighting coverage throughout the day in buildings with different directions remains a challenge. The integration of advanced daylighting systems with dome geometry, coupled with parametric control, can significantly enhance daylighting performance. In this research, a novel approach and simplified integrated method for parametrically controlling a multiple blinds system with incremental slat angle in a mosque dome's drum are developed, whereby the blinds in each direction respond independently and parametrically to the sun's movement. Parametrically controlled blinds are installed on the windows around the mosque’s dome to maximize the utilization of daylight while preventing direct penetration of solar radiation. Then, the daylighting performance of parametrically controlled multiple blinds was compared to that of conventional blinds and unshaded windows in a typical Mosque in Saudi Arabia during the noon prayer time. The study found that the parametrically controlled blinds can dramatically enhance the daylight coverage inside the mosque from around 38% to 88% for an illuminance range of 150–500 lx, while protecting users from direct sunlight. Promisingly, the system revealed that it can protect worshippers from direct sunlight, minimize potential glare and provide visual comfort.

Shape-Stabilized PEGylated Silica Aerogel-Composite as an Energy Saving Building Material.

Balancing thermal and visual comfort in buildings necessitates effective insulation to counteract heat loss and gain, especially with temperature variances. One promising approach is to combine phase change materials, such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), with high-performance insulators like silica aerogel (Siag). To bolster opto-thermal performance in building envelopes, we introduce a smart insulation composite material through PEG integration, i.e., PEGalyation with Siag. Central to this thermal behavior is the PEG's phase change properties, which foster a shape-stabilized framework with Siag through their porous confinement. Preliminary observations indicate notable capabilities of obstructing near-infrared light while preserving satisfactory visible transparency. An optimized Siag@PEG composite with 5% loading of PEG has the visible range transmission of ∼92%, a decrease of ∼72% in thermal conductivity which is lower than pure glass and PEG, leading to a temperature dependent switchable hydrophobic to hydrophilic wettability characteristics. As a prototype window, the thermal performance evaluation of the synthesized composite, through experimental and computational studies, shows a decrease in indoor temperature of ∼20% with a higher temperature difference of ∼20 °C between outdoor and indoor weather conditions. This lightweight composite can act as sponge media to fill inside the double-paned window and for retrofitting existing glazing to boost the energy efficiency of buildings with facile manufacturing and scalability.