Quantifying the quality of natural light – Controlling solar heat gains
Well day-lit spaces within a sustainable building contribute to significant lighting energy savings and are essential for occupants and pedestrians’ comfort and well-being. Therefore, improving daylight availability is directly related to a positive perception of the local environment and the property value.
Novasim’s daylight and sunlight availability studies will provide the designers with detailed information quantifying the quality of natural light received by a development, and its impact on the natural light of surrounding developments and public spaces. As an example, derived daylight and sunlight indexes for all window within the proposed development will inform designer’s decision on where to place and on how to size windows and openings in order to maximize daylight availability.
Moreover, by quantifying any adverse impact (e.g. the effects of shading by the proposed development upon another buildings), these studies will support compliance application with local planning departments.
However, when maximizing the daylight availability, it is necessary to control contemporaneously adverse effects, such as excessive solar heat gains and glare.
Through the daylight and sunlight numerical simulations, solar heat load may be calculated and used to determine thermal comfort indices within the development. When required, our specialists will then propose and assess different mitigation measures to control solar heat gain according to the needs related to the seasonal differences.
