Daylighting Myth #5 – Daylighting Will Fade My Carpets And Furniture

Direct solar rays and their destruction of property was a huge concern for the Guggenheim Museum. In a building full of priceless paintings, sculptures and artistry, sun damage of any level was not acceptable. The daylighting design not only eliminated harsh, direct light, but reduced the effects of the solar rays to very nearly zero.

 

At the Guggenheim, light and airiness have made the completed building a world class destination. Its innovative features and design was considered risky when it was planned, and it was bashed by some architects who labeled the design as “atrocious” but proved to be a smashing success with the art world and visitors alike. The green features of daylighting did not go unnoticed by visitors as well, creating a lot of positive buzz about the museum and its ambiance.

 

The materials available to daylighting designers and implementers are widely varied to meet the needs of various climates and geographical challenges. Additionally, the innovative design and materials add interest to buildings, benefiting company image and increasing the perception of companies showing concern for fiscal and environmental prudence. Because daylighting is indirect, rooms are well lighted and the sun’s harsh rays don’t reach art, furniture or carpets.

 

Further, daylighting’s designs can utilize products that incorporate state of the art technology including special glazes and louvers on all light allowing surfaces. Additionally an array of attached to photo sensors monitor and cut the amount of light allowed in to the building during the brightest hours and permit more light in low light conditions. The continuous, pleasant glow does not contain the harsh spectrum of sunlight that causes thousands of dollars in damage to interior furniture, carpets and artwork annually.

 

The success of the Guggenheim is largely attributed to the pleasant ambience created by daylighting designs incorporation there and the lofty, airy feeling that the light brings to the building. The indirect lighting feature of daylighting design allows artwork, photos, furniture and carpets to be installed and utilized without fear of sun damage.

 

For more information about “Going Green” with daylighting, please contact Ken Petersen, America’s Daylighting Specialist, at www.innovativeskylightsofca.com, or  661-940-0981

Daylighting Myth #4 – Daylighting Causes Glare

• The harsh glare of the skylights installed in the by well-intentioned businesses and homeowners of the 80’s are a thing of the past. Properly implemented daylighting design utilizes redirected light, filtered by products designed to cut the harsh glare associated with old style sky lights. Gone are the glaring bright spots of direct light that blinded so many while trying to find their way through a building, or the pain of trying to work in an office that certain times of the day was as bright as the surface of the sun.

   

  The products available to daylighting designers are varied from special glazes on light allowing surfaces to high-tech remote controlled marvels, with more innovations appearing constantly. Further, daylighting designed buildings utilize environmental features such as limiting the window area on north or south facing walls and natural light blockers such as trees and surrounding mountains to reduce glare.

   

  When utilized in the initial building design daylighting actually drastically lowers window surface area, and will incorporate reduced window areas in buildings redesigned to incorporate daylighting. Occupants repeatedly report up to 95% less glare than is associated with conventionally designed exterior walls equipped with common commercial windows, even when tinted.

   

  Daylighting design intentionally reduces clear window surface areas, cutting glare immensely and limits bright light areas to rooms that need it such as break rooms, recreation rooms and entry portals. All areas in a daylighted building can easily be manually darkened by the occupants, reducing glare quickly and efficiently.  The light that enters through specially equipped and photo sensitive glazed windows utilized by daylighting designs produce a pleasing glow, not a harsh glare.

   

  Additionally, sensors automatically adjust ambient lighting according to the brightness desired for each room, area or office. The products are designed and placed to convert harsh sun light into pleasing ambient light. This pleasant light allows building occupants and visitors to work and meet in pleasantly lighted spaces without the headaches and eye strain caused by most commercially available lighting.

   

  For more information about “Going Green” with daylighting, please contact Ken Petersen, America’s Daylighting Specialist, at www.innovativeskylightsofca.com, or  661-940-0981

Daylighting Myth #3 – Daylighting Is Too Confusing

In the Harmony Library in Fort Collins, Colorado daylighting was used to create a warm, inviting environment in its stacks. Patrons repeatedly reported that they found the lighting to be a real improvement over the normal blue/white light normally present in libraries. When studies were later analyzed, they further found that patrons perceived it as “easier to find their way around”.

 

There are myriad resources available for incorporating daylighting design into your building and experts available to reduce the confusion normally associated with design changes. Daylighting designed buildings cost savings and the benefits far exceed the energy and time needed to incorporate daylighting design. In Colorado, librarians found the building to be a very pleasant environment to work in and had overheard comments from patrons that the library was, “inviting” and “not oppressive”.[i]

 

Far from confusing, multiple studies conducted of the effects daylighting designed buildings have shown the lack of harsh glare has very positive effect both on occupants and visitors. In studies, daylighted buildings are routinely reported to be perceived as “more pleasant” and “not overbearing”, attributes associated with calmness rather than confusion. In surveys performed in daylighted buildings comments such as “open and airy”, “calming” and “comforting” were repeatedly recorded.

 

Getting all necessary parties involved in daylighting design and on the same page with the design and construction specifications takes some effort, but the resources and tax advantages available now ease the effort involved.  Further, according to comments from daylighted designed buildings visitors when surveyed, the “greenness” of the designed increased the perception that the building was a very positive addition to the community. The designs are more open and airy than conventionally lighted buildings and ensure the long term appeal to both the occupants, visitors and community surrounding the building.

 

Rather than confusion, the design aspects of many forms of daylighting add architectural interest and a feeling of lightness and openness to your building. The glare saved with daylighting also reduces confusion for those with sensitive eyes or conditions such as macular degeneration, making it easier for employees, customers and visitors to successfully navigate their way in the building. The comforting ambient light further increases the positive impression associated with visits to the building. The calm, ambient atmosphere is much more inviting and pleasant to work in and visit.

 

For more information about “Going Green” with daylighting, please contact Ken Petersen, America’s Daylighting Specialist, at www.innovativeskylightsofca.com, or  661-940-0981.

 

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[i] Daylight dividends Case Study © 2004 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Daylighting Myth #2 – Daylighting Allows In Too Much Heat

By utilizing indirect lighting and the reduction of glass surface areas, daylighting dramatically cuts heat allowed into the building. Factored in to daylighting’s design are materials designed to specifications that utilize the best and most efficient materials to allow far less heat into the building than standard lighting would generate. Commonly used commercial lighting generates significant amounts of heat that must be compensated for by a larger and more expensive HVAC system requiring not only raising initial construction costs but ongoing energy costs.

 

Additionally, photo sensors mounted in strategic places measure available external light and activate darkening of light inlets through either glaze darkening or louver dampening, resulting in far less heat being allowed into the building. Manual controls are available for all light dampening sources as well, to allow bright light areas such as break rooms and meeting rooms to be darkened and lightened as necessary for heat or light reduction or presentations during meetings, etc.

 

Daylighting design factors in environmental, seasonal and operational requirements for each building. Daylighting designed buildings have proven successful in all climate areas where large public buildings are located. The design varies the surface area of light sources according to climate, exposures of the building and availability of shade, all environmental factors are taken into account. Reducing the heat allowed into the building further enhances the comfort and ambiance of the building. In one daylighting designed building, a beautiful stand of aged redwoods was taken into account and utilized for its shading and cooling properties in the buildings climate and greatly enhanced the buildings architectural appeal.

 

In studies conducted for Pacific Gas & Electric, it was found that when utilized in single story buildings, daylighting allowed in up to 80% less heat than commercially lighted single story buildings of similar sizes in the same area reducing energy costs by an average of 22%. Building occupants and visitors consistently reported more comfortable temperatures in the daylighted buildings, as the HVAC systems don’t have to work nearly as hard, reducing the cold and hot zones associated with conventionally lighted buildings.

 

For more information about “Going Green” with daylighting, please contact Ken Petersen, America’s Daylighting Specialist, at www.innovativeskylightsofca.com, or  661-940-0981.

 

Daylighting Myth #1 – Daylighting Is Too Expensive

Despite commonly held beliefs, the expense of design modifications required to utilize daylighting in a building’s design are minimal and usually completely offset by savings in the initial building costs. There is an initial reduction of costs in other areas of the building, along with the long term financial and tax benefits of greener construction. Additionally, the reduction of internal heat generation normally caused by conventional interior lighting will be ongoing and the savings will accumulate as time progresses. The reduction in internal heat generated also allows for adjustments in the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system initially installed, thus reducing HVAC system costs.

Construction modifications are easily implemented; the plans and methods have been utilized and proven successful in multiple building formats including residential, commercial and educational venues. The impact on total construction costs of the building is easily offset by the positive public relations and goodwill gained in building a greener building in the community. The green aspects of the building can be emphasized in advertising campaigns and highlighted in investor and visitor tours The goodwill generated often pays off in additional investment and sponsorship sources.

Tax savings and carbon credits available in most states will also offset the long terms costs resulting in an advanced return on investment for most companies. Additionally, daylighting has been shown to increase sales by as much as 49% in and 18 month study of 108 stores. In stores where only part of the building had daylighting a significant increase in sales was shown in areas on the daylight portion of the building over the commercially lighted parts of the same building. The return on investment is significant, savings of up to 20% have been reported, reducing operational costs on daylighting designed buildings over conventional buildings of the same size in the same area. The additional positive perception of building or converting to a daylighted building is very valuable in reducing the buildings carbon footprint and creating “green” goodwill throughout the community and in your industry.

For more information about “Going Green” with daylighting, please contact Ken Petersen, America’s Daylighting Specialist, at www.innovativeskylightsofca.com, or 661-940-0981.

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