Best Practices

Daylight sensors and other daylight controls should be added to commissioned systems for lighting for EAp1: Fundamental Commissioning.

During the value engineering process, ensure that components critical to the daylight design, such as high-performance glazing and internal shading devices, are not removed from the project.

Coupling daylight modeling with energy modeling can help project teams make effective decisions about daylighting as it relates to other strategies like thermal massing, window area, window efficiency, and shading.

Glare can hinder the use of a space and be unpleasant for occupants. Daylight modeling can help project teams anticipate problem areas due to sun angles as they interact with the architecture. Exterior and interior shading along with associated controls can greatly reduce the effects of glare.

Interior finishes can enhance or hinder daylight levels. Specify light-colored ceiling and wall paint to bounce light further into the room.

Consider designing spaces with narrow floor plates so that most spaces are near windows and have access to daylight.

Set daylighting goals at the initial goal-setting workshop and incorporate them into the Owners Project Requirements document required for EAc1: Fundamental Commissioning.

To reduce cooling loads, use overhangs, lightshelves or fins, courtyards, and lightwells to block high-angle summer sun and low-angle morning and afternoon sun. These strategies also reduce glare and can improve daylighting by reflecting it deeper into the building.

To reduce heating loads, use daylighting strategies in tandem with passive solar heating strategies, such as using materials with greater thermal mass and orienting the building for maximum solar gain.

When selecting windows for maximizing views, consider also using operable windows for natural ventilation. This can contribute to credits EQp1: Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance and EQc2: Increased Ventilation.