The Use of Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI) to Test New Designs for Improving Daylight Performance of Office Buildings in Dubai-UAE
Loading...
Files
Date
2009-11
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The British University in Dubai (BUiD)
Abstract
Daylighting has often been recognized as a useful source of energy savings and visual comforts. There has been increasing interest in using daylight to save energy in buildings. In the recent years, particular concerns have been raised about offices buildings developments and energy consumption issues in UAE. Many studies have shown that proper daylight space can improve occupant's productivity and it would reduce electric demand about 20%- 30% of the total building energy load. The dynamic nature of daylight poses many challenges when considering metrics that define good and effective daylighting design.
In this research study, the main daylight characteristics and building parameters affecting daylight design are analyzed and discussed through simulations of the main indicators used to quantify what makes good daylighting design in order to refine the most applicable indicator to be used in Dubai's offices.
To achieve this, the study will conduct a series of computer simulations using 3D Max Design to first show the effects of each parameter on the internal daylight efficiency and then provides a simplified metric method for measuring indoor daylight performance. Whereupon many strategies will be suggested leadings to effective solutions meet the daylight requirements of the space, which can contribute reducing the electrical demand, and helps achieve environmentally sustainable building development.
The main outcomes results of this study are:-
Daylight illuminance falling on vertical surfaces, can be used to determin and evaluate the daylight performance of a building.
A comparative study to daylight evaluation metrics gave the preference for Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI) to be the most compatible metric with UAE climate conditions.
Statistical daylight analysis indicated that north oriented office performs better than other directions.
Some simple daylighting static systems such as overhangs and shading devices could be used to improve the daylighting efficiency in north and south oriented offices ,while solutions would be more complicated in east and west .
The effects due to nearby obstructions buildings strongly affect the daylight performance specially in the lower floors.
Building designers should take into consideration the external environment in order to achieve well preformed office designs.
The output of this study can be used as a pre-design tool to ensure that building spaces meet recommended daylight levels and protected from glare, reflections and direct sunlight. The results can be converted to suggested guidelines towards an effective management for offices regulation that could provide a strong outline for future offices design based not only on theoretical solutions, but also on practical simulations and evaluation tools.
Description
DISSERTATION WITH DISTINCTION
Keywords
Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI), daylight performance, office buildings, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), energy consumption, sustainable buildings, building design