Design Strategies

Top Daylighting Controls

When top daylighting, it is important to integrate shading elements, such as louvers and baffles, to diffuse the direct sunlight, reduce glare and create uniform daylighting inside the space.

Top Daylighting

Skylights and clerestories are a source of top daylighting which admit additional daylight and solar energy inside a building.

Thermal Storage Wall

A thermal storage wall is a masonry wall placed behind the glazing facing the equator that will absorb and store sunlight (heat) during the daytime and release it back at night for space heating.

Stack Ventilation

Stack ventilation can be used to increase ventilation when the breeze is not sufficient.

Solar Shading

Solar shading refers to the shading systems used to control the amount of solar radiation and sunlight admitted from the sun into a building.

Solar Greenhouse

Solar greenhouses are designed to capture heat from the sun’s rays and are typically used to keep plants warm during cold weather.

Side Daylighting Controls

Horizontal louvers and light shelves are very useful for daylighting since they can block direct sunlight and reflect light up to the ceiling optimizing daylight and views without glare.

Side Daylighting

Windows and wall openings allow daylight and solar energy along the perimeter of a building.

Shading Devices

Shading devices, such as overhangs and vertical fins, are necessary to decrease heat gain from solar radiation during the summer.

Night ventilation is a passive cooling strategy that uses outdoor diurnal temperature swings during the summer and the building’s thermal mass to cool down the interior space through increased outdoor airflow at night, providing cool indoor surfaces and temperatures during the day.