Most of offices around the world operate in the day time. They usually start work at 7 AM and finish at 4 or 5 AM. Daylight is an essential resource that is readily available for all people– and will probably last for the foreseeable future. It also has the very special properties of having the capability to transform an internal space from a boring uniformity into a vivid and happy experience. The ability to both illuminate a place and to make it more attracting, is one of the main reasons that architects try to bring daylight to a building wherever possible and practical. Since employees in the offices mostly deal with papers or computer screens, a well-illuminated building seems to be necessary. A bright environment can stop staff from being bored and can be a good friend for their eyes. However, illuminating spacious places such as office building needs a lot of light sources which are now mostly powered by electricity. When the energy crisis happened in 1970, some of the leader countries of OPEC increased the oil price. Prior to this sharp increase in prices, energy consumption in buildings was partly ignored. The oil price crisis made countries think about using renewable energy sources. This was the starting point for using renewable energies in buildings. Considering the current energy crisis and high costs of electricity, using artificial light sources does not seem to help a sustainable design at all. In addition, the high cost of electricity can damage a company's profit margin seriously (Paolo Bertoldi, Bogdan Atanasiu, 2006). While some think that reducing lamps or using LEDs can bring about an energy efficient office, there is solution which offers using daylight. Since offices operate in the daytime and are mostl...
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...on. It is recommended to think of daylighting in the first stages of designing an office building. In this way, implementing advanced daylighting equipment is much easier in the future.
References :
1-M.S. Mayhoub , D.J. Carter (2011) The costs and benefits of using daylight guidance to light office buildings, Building and Environment, (Vol 46 ), p. 698-710.
2-Paolo Bertoldi, Bogdan Atanasiu (2006), Electricity Consumption and Efficiency Trends in the Enlarged European Union, Directorate-General Joint Research Centre.
3-Grozon Aktas, (2012) Sustainable Design Proposals in Shopping Center Public Interiors, International Journal of Energy and Environment, (vol, 6), p. 109-116.
4- M. Andersen, S. J. Gochenour and S. W. Lockley, (2013) Modeling 'non-visual' effects of daylighting in a residential environment, Building and Environment, (vol. 70), p. 138-149.
Lutron is worldwide known company to save energy by 60% and ease for residential and commercial customers. Their product line offers sensors in different sizes that will fit in the smaller spaces and automatically will turn off while room unoccupied. To increase productivity, while most commercial spaces are over-lit, leading to wasted energy usage and affect the productivity of employees, Lutron incorporate lighting based on task performance and providing personal control...
The design of projections; be these shelfs providing solar protection on the overlying storey which is based on a calculation of the vertical shadow angle in such a way as to ensure that the sun’s rays can enter the opening in winter but not in summer. More detailed sun control studies that also calculate the effects of solar radiation on indoor lighting conditions and heat gains can be useful for the
* Taking advantage of daylighting where possible to reduce the need for electric light is extremely useful. Also using light-emitting
It is considered as the “greenest” community in Manhattan and is the largest green neighborhood in the world7. The Verdesian design has been improved by engineers in comparison to The Solaire, which is the world’s first green residential building. Among the many improvements The Verdesian stands out as more of a modern building. It has floor to ceiling windows, which allows the building to have 33% more natural light.8 These windows are also energy efficient and thermally insulated. The glass for the windows are Low-E coated glass and along with the thermal insulated walls, which also uses a layer that is impervious to water vapor called vapor retarders allow the building to remain cool during the summer and warm in the winter. The Verdesian uses only energy star appliances, as well as custom solar shades and digital programmable thermostats.8 This Low-E coating works in respect to the climate. Thus, in hot climates only the visible lights are transmitted into the building and during the cold climates the near infrared are also transmitted allowing the atmosphere to be naturally warm (Class notes). This use of Low-E coated glass is very beneficial in reducing the amount of energy need for heating and cooling the building. Therefore, it is an environmental friendly strategy in using less energy. This allows the burning of less fossil fuels and decreases the amount of greenhouse gasses in the
With the advances in technology today, we are able to produce a variety of energy-efficient products, one of which is the compact fluorescent lamp (CFL). Having come a long way from the energy-absorbing incandescents, CFL is clearly the choice for the future. CFLs potentially could save nonrenewable energy resources and electricity expenses because they are so efficient. When we switch over to the CFL, we no longer have to constantly replace burnt out incandescents because a CFL will last “10 times [longer than] the average life of the longest-lived incandescents” (Petrowski, 1995). In addition, for only 13 to 15 watts of electricity, the CFL delivers the equivalent light of a 60 or 75 watt incandescent bulb, representing an energy savings of about 80% (Luoma, 1991). Therefore, we no longer have to drill more oil or mine more coal because if these energy efficient lights were installed in all U.S. homes over the next 20 years, “the savings in energy would equal the estimated energy content of Alaska’s entire North Slope oil fields” (Miller, 1997). Energy efficient lights could also save U.S. businesses $15-20 billion per year in electricity bills (Miller, 1997). It is evident that the potential benefit for the environment is enormous.
In the world of the twenty-first century, the result of our intention to use natural resources which is non-renewable had spew more unwanted substances and energy into the environment than the earth is capable of digesting, and this had thrown the entire global ecosystem out of balance. Even worse when architecture now have been considered due to their tremendous impact on the environment both during construction and through their operation. Moreover, most of the green architecture we seen today do not actually touch the sensitivity of community history, culture and identity, and therefore it is not well adapt to the community.
Inadequate lighting contributes to a high number of accidents each year. Accidents are higher in areas where the lighting is inadequate like a factory or plant. Poor lighting can also lead to many physical ailments, such as eye strain, headaches, bad mood, poor concentration, dissatisfaction, and absenteeism (Schultz & Schultz, 2016). Working under the wrong type of lighting can slow productivity and lead to more accidents. Employers need to take the initiative to have the lighting checked and changed on a monthly basis to ensure employee safety.
With the ever-growing need for more efficient energy means, the time has come to act upon our sustainability ideals. In today’s society, it is almost impossible to by the old incandescent bulbs, however, there are other energy saving types that need comparison as well- and the incandescent still need to be considered. In this report, with the aid of diagrams and visual aids- the three main types of lighting will be compared and explained.
Yan, J. & Plainiotis, S. (2006): Design for Sustainability. Beijing, China: Architecture and Building Press.
Americans spend more than 90% of their time indoors. Since Americans are indoors for more than 90% of their times, lighting should be a concern. 20% of the electric bill, which comes at the end of each month, has to deal with lighting. Humans are always trying to buy new things and try new things that will save them money is energy efficient. However, Light Emitting Diode (LED) and Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) fulfill these needs. LED bulbs have revolutionized and made life much easier.
In developing this contemporary and iconic building, the design focuses on practical attributes and optimises energy efficiency. The design strategy encapsulates four key aspects:
"Green Building: Advantages & Disadvantages." Green Building: Advantages & Disadvantages. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. .
The beginnings of today's green revolution can be traced back to the environmental awareness of the 1960s and European design. New construction techniques have lead to the development of innovative materials and design concepts. Green buildings are designed, constructed and commissioned to ensure they are healthy for their occupants. Successfully designed green projects can involve an extensive array of factors, ranging from the resourceful use of materials, to careful consideration of function, climate, and location.
During ‘rediscovered’ by 20th century architects, daylighting is a technical term as a common centuries-old, geography and culture independent design basic. People use glass walls and wrap-around windows in corners of building to achieve higher levels of light in workplace when England’s industrial revolution.