Review of Active and Passive Daylighting Technologies for Sustainable Building

Abstract

According to the International Energy Agency, nearly 20% of worldwide electricity is used up by lighting. This is equal to the total electricity nuclear power generates. Thus, it is needy to explore new technologies for direct use of sunlight via integrating daylight system to the building, which is cost-saving, environment-friendly, and a green solution rather than indirect conversion of electricity to lighting even from renewable sources. In this paper, we present a review on the existing technologies of daylighting systems up to date and how they can provide lighting in a building interior via collection and distribution of sunlight. Our review is a comprehensive study to embrace both passive daylighting system with stationary design and active daylighting system equipped with sun tracking. The economic feasibility, general challenges, and prospects of daylighting systems are also discussed to understand the existing problems that hinder the extensive deployment of daylighting systems. In conclusion, more research works are needed in improving the technological development of a daylighting system so that it is more affordable, environment-friendly, less energy-intensive, and easy to install and gives uniform illumination for the effective application in both commercial building and residential houses.

Curve Optimization for the Anidolic Daylight System Counterbalancing Energy Saving, Indoor Visual and Thermal Comfort for Sydney Dwellings

“…Daylight penetration significantly affects building thermal-daylighting performance [3] since daylighting and heat are highly correlated [4]. Daylighting is an invaluable tool that provides a natural, pleasant environment in terms of the quality and source of energy saving in buildings which does not need deteriorating natural resources without energy conversion loss.…”

“…Daylighting is an invaluable tool that provides a natural, pleasant environment in terms of the quality and source of energy saving in buildings which does not need deteriorating natural resources without energy conversion loss. Therefore, penetration serves a dual function of permitting sunlight and creating a pleasant indoor environment [4,5], which positively affects occupants' health [6,7]. Fixed shading devices need a complex design for the given site to avoid excessive blocking of daylight which could consequently increase artificial lighting [8].…”

“…Almost 20% of global electricity and 40% of annual building energy consumption is consumed for lighting [4]. Daylighting can reduce artificial lighting energy by 50-80% annually [9].…”

“…Especially during the cooling season, when the sun is high, deep rooms experience uneven daylight distribution that identifies additional artificial lighting which leads to the overuse of electricity [11]. Passive daylighting systems which are affordable and require minimum maintenance can provide indoor daylight and ventilation simultaneously [4] and increase daylight homogeneity. A compound shading-redistributing system can alleviate the problem of daylight over-provision near the window and under-provision in the rear part of the room.…”

“…Light pipes and anidolic integrated ceilings are the most frequently used systems in buildings [11]. Anidolic collectors, which are effective for daylight collection and redistribution [13], by redirecting sunlight towards the back of the room by reflecting the sun rays from the ceiling underside [4,14], can increase daylight illuminance level. At the same time, the reflection can cause glare [15].…”