C. F. Reinhart, M. Morrison
Year:
2003
Bibliographic info:
BUILDING SIMULATION, 8, 2003, Eindhoven, Netherlands, p. 1093-1100

A web-based, non-expert daylighting analysis tool has been developed to support daylighting-related design decisions in peripheral private offices during an early design stage. The tool offers a comparative, reliable, and fast analysis of the annual amount of daylight in the  offices (daylight factor and daylight autonomy) and the lighting energy performance of automated lighting controls (occupancy sensors, photocells) compared to standard on/off switches. Blinds are either manually or automatically controlled. During a simulation run, pre-calculated, RADIANCE-based daylight coefficients for over 600 office designs are coupled with weather data from 285 sites in  North  America to yield  annual daylight illuminance profiles. The annual electric lighting energy use is subsequently predicted via a model that mimics occupancy and manual lighting and blinds control in private offices. A simulation run takes between 30 seconds to 3 minutes and yields a detailed report of the annual daylight availability and lighting energy use in the investigated office.