An Attempt to Enhance Daylighting in Educational Buildings Using Interactive Facades

Abstract

Many educational buildings suffer from poor environmental conditions. As, they lack of appropriate daylighting performance as well as an uncomfortable thermal environment. The reason for this condition is usually considered due to a lack of an overall design solution. It is very important to take into account the variation of daylighting and thermal conditions throughout different periods of the year. Responsive architecture offers a solution depending on interactive façade systems that can operate upon the user's preference or independently using sensors manipulating the interactive system. The aspects upon which the façade can perform automatically are various, such as solar radiation, illumination and thermal comfort. The optimum solution could be a balanced switching between the natural daylighting and the electrical lighting for the spaces.  The integration of the two type of illumination will provide an energy efficient building that could create a comfortable space satisfying the users of the space by maintaining the required illumination levels for the various functions held in the spaces. By benefiting from a renewable source of light energy, this will help in minimizing the energy consumption as well as the carbon foot print for the building in order to enhance educational building energy performance.

Keywords: natural lighting, responsive facades, educational building, energy conservation, digital applications