A review of daylighting calculation metrics, variables and methods in evaluating the daylight performance of a residential building

• Main Authors: Kalaimathy, Kamaraj, Priya, Radhakrishnan Shanthi, Rajagopal, Prashanthini, Pradeepa, Chandramouli
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Architecture; Daylight; Empirical analysis; Illuminance; Indoor environments; Performance evaluation; Residential buildings; Shading devices; Simulation; Software; Virtual environments
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0156987

Daylighting has been an integral and fundamental aspect of architecture. Researchers began by using empirical methods, which over the years have evolved to include highly intricate computational simulation tools, like developing handheld applications to record the lux values, studying angle of penetration using online tools to directly simulating indoor environments with Velux, Design Builder, and IES-Virtual Environment. Integration of these calculations tool and based on the usage of different daylight calculation metrics like Daylight Factor, Average Daylight Autonomy, Annual Sunlight Exposure and Useful Daylight Illuminance we can investigate the daylighting performance of a building. However, downfalls of using such techniques are irrefutable and prevalent such as the limitations in calculations corresponding to value findings. So, the challenge is to find the effective calculation method, daylight metric and study on parameters like external obstruction, shading device, angle of penetration, and orientation for daylight evaluation. As mentioned, though there can be various metrics and technologies, the basic usage of such tools, generally require a high level of skill and expertise which is lacking, resulting in a major drawback even though efforts can be put to achieve the minimum required daylight inside the building. Thus, purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of the existing studies on methods of calculation like simulation, experimental or empirical method, and the various metrics involved in study like Daylight factor, Useful Daylight Illuminance, and the variables like window wall ratio, latitude, orientation. The data offered helps to address gaps in research and unambiguously guides designers and architects toward a better knowledge of daylighting.