Numerical Simulations and Empirical Data for the Evaluation of Daylight Factors in Existing Buildings in Sweden

Sara Eriksson, Lovisa Waldenström, Max Tillberg, Magnus Österbring and Angela Sasic Kalagasidis
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Sara Eriksson: Bengt Dahlgren AB, Krokslätts Fabriker 52, 431 37 Gothenburg, Sweden
Lovisa Waldenström: Bengt Dahlgren AB, Krokslätts Fabriker 52, 431 37 Gothenburg, Sweden
Max Tillberg: Bengt Dahlgren AB, Krokslätts Fabriker 52, 431 37 Gothenburg, Sweden
Magnus Österbring: NCC Sweden, Gullbergs Strandgata 2, 411 04 Gothenburg, Sweden
Angela Sasic Kalagasidis: Chalmers University of Technology, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Sven Hultins gata 6, SE-41296 Gothenburg, Sweden

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-24

Abstract: Point Daylight Factor (DF P ) has been used for daylighting design in Sweden for more than 40 years. Progressive densification of urban environments, in combination with stricter regulations on energy performance and indoor environmental quality of buildings, creates complex daylight design challenges that cannot be adequately solved with DF P . To support a development of the current and future daylight indicators in the Swedish context, the authors have developed a comprehensive methodology for the evaluation of daylight levels in existing buildings. The methodology comprises sample buildings of various use and their digital replicas in 3D, detailed numerical simulations and correlations of diverse DF metrics in existing buildings, a field investigation on residents’ satisfaction with available daylight levels in their homes, and a comparison between the numerical and experimental data. The study was deliberately limited to the evaluation of DF metrics for their intuitive understanding and easy evaluation in real design projects. The sample buildings represent typical architectural styles and building technologies between 1887 and 2013 in Gothenburg and include eight residential buildings, two office buildings, two schools, two student apartment buildings, and two hospitals. Although the simulated DF P is 1.4% on average, i.e., above the required 1%, large variations have been found between the studied 1200 rooms. The empirical data generally support the findings from the numerical simulations, but also bring unique insights in the residences’ preferences for rooms with good daylight. The most remarkable result is related to kitchens, typically the spaces with the lowest DF values, based on simulations, while the residents wish them to be the spaces with the most daylight. Finally, the work introduces a new DF metric, denoted DF W , which allows daylighting design in early stages when only limited data on the building shape and windows’ arrangement are available.

Keywords: daylight; existing buildings; daylight factor; daylight simulations; daylight survey (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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