Simulating Physiological Potentials of Daylight Variables in Lighting Design

Mimi Ravn, Gabriela Mach, Ellen Kathrine Hansen and Georgios Triantafyllidis
Additional contact information
Mimi Ravn: Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology, Aalborg University, 1436 Copenhagen, Denmark
Gabriela Mach: Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology, Aalborg University, 1436 Copenhagen, Denmark
Ellen Kathrine Hansen: Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology, Aalborg University, 1436 Copenhagen, Denmark
Georgios Triantafyllidis: Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology, Aalborg University, 1436 Copenhagen, Denmark

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: A holistic approach to daylight dynamics in our built environment can have beneficial outcomes for both physiological and visual effects on humans. Simulations of how daylight variables affect light levels on the horizontal work plane are compared to their physiological effects, measured as melanopic EDI (Melanopic Equivalent Daylight Illuminance) on a vertical plane. The melanopic EDI levels were calculated in a simulated office space in ALFA software (Adaptive Lighting for Alertness) employing the daylight variables of orientation, time of day, season, sky conditions and spatial orientation. Results were analyzed for how daylight design can contribute to the physiological effects of dynamic light in office buildings. Daylight is shown to be a sufficient light source in the majority of cases to meet the recommended values of EDI and provide the suggested horizontal lx level according to the Danish Standards. A mapping of daylight conditions, focusing on the specific factors presented here, can provide guidelines in the design process and future smart building systems. The complex interrelationship between these parameters is important to acknowledge when working with daylight dynamics as a sustainable element in architecture and lighting design.

Keywords: daylight design; daylight variables; simulation melanopic EDI; lighting design; dynamic daylight design; physiological needs for lighting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/2/881/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/2/881/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:2:p:881-:d:723737

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().