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| | Maximize Daylight Penetration | |
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Problem / Situation
To take maximun benefit of available light, buildings should be designed to maximize how far daylight penetrates into the interior of the building.
Solution
As a rule of thumb, daylight generally penetrates into a building a distance of 1.5x the height of the top of the windows.
A variety of patterns, listed below, can be applied to maximize how far daylight effectively penetrates.
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Supporting Patterns Clerestory windows, placed at ceiling level around the edge of a room are very effective ways of bringing natural light into a room without sacrificing privacy. They result in an enclosed feeling space, while giving a hint at the world outside.
Like skylights, clerestory windows also allow people to see the sky, creating a connection with the outside world without sacrificing privacy. |
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How much light a surface reflects back into the room, as opposed to absorbing, will affect how far daylight effectively penetrates into a room.
To maximize daylight penetration into a room, ensure that surfaces have at least the following reflectance values: Ceilings: 80% (.8) Walls: 50% - 70% (.5 - .8) Floors: 20% - 40% (.2 - .4) Furniture: 25% - 45% (.25 - .45)Reflectances for ... |
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 | To allow daylight to penetrate as deeply as possible into a building, extend windows to the ceiling.
Placing windows continuous will wall/ceiling edges also creates a glow rather than a dark edge between light and shadow. |
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Light shelves can increase daylight penetration into a building from the typical 1.5x the height of the top of windows up to 2.5x.
Light shelves are surfaces with reflective upper sides, located near the top of windows. They allow light to penetrate further into a building by reflecting some of the light onto the ceiling, which in turn reflects that light further back into the room.
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 | When a building must be very wide, or when privacy, structure or other concerns prevent adequate daylight penetration from windows, skylights may be an excellent alternative. |
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