A mini-scale modeling approach to natural daylight utilization in building design

This paper purposes on shading devices as natural daylight utilization component for building design. It was proved that a proper setting for shading device could conspicuously promote the room lighting performance. Natural daylight which includes directional sunlight, diffused skylight and reflected light can also exert as a perspective of energy conservation in buildings. In order to verify a simple approach can also be workable, a mini-scale model (1:20) is employed in this study. It reveals that when a suitable altitude and azimuth is maintained, in regards to the vertical shading device and the sun position, not only is shading achieved, but the area of the daylight zone can also be substantially increased. The experiment investigated and analyzed the details of this modeling data and subsequently proposed relevant design criterion for vertical shading devices that both users and designers can apply. Namely, it proved that a mini-scale model could also assist in natural daylight utilization and building energy-conservation design. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.