FONTELARA, PAULA FAYE

LIGHTING
BS ARCHITECTURE
3A

TROPICAL ARCHITECTURE

Natural Light

Natural light is a dynamic and ephemeral tool for expressing the quality of space. Whether
its used in the diffuse illumination of a museum gallery or as a dramatic and variable figure within an
enclosed space, the formal and architectural intentions of daylight should be directly associated with
the evaluation of its quality. As a compliment to more traditional avenues of lighting research that
assess performance in terms of quantitative illuminance goals and discomfort caused by glare, my
thesis aims at identifying the importance of annual light variability and contrast as finely tuned
architectural effect. Under the rapidly growing context of energy conscious research, my thesis
attempts to re balance our definition of performance to include those perceptual and aesthetic
aspects of light that are often disregarded by the world of green building simulation. If it can be
determined that contrast is important to the definition of space, then it becomes essential to
understand how architecture is enhanced and transformed over time by the dynamic and variable
source of daylight.
Through an analysis of contemporary architecture from around the world, Ive developed a lighting
taxonomy that categorizes architectural space in terms of contrast and light variation over time.
Lighting simulation programs such as ECOTECT identify light in terms of quantity across a
hypothetical section of space. Although this information is useful in analyzing whether we achieve
illuminance goals, it tells us nothing about the quality of space as a product of light-driven visual
effect. RADIANCE can render light over a single snapshot of time or across a window of time, but
what if we want to know how space is affected by changing light levels across the course of a year.
What if we want to know how variable the contrast of a space is under different sky conditions and
what time of day it changes from low to high contrast as a result of geometry and the incident angle
of sunlight. My thesis will use a rendered set of images under sunny sky conditions across the year

to create a holistic analysis of the changing effects of contrast and light variation through a series of
architectural spaces. The production of this thesis relies on renderings produced through RADIANCE
and analysis scripts run through MATLAB to evaluate and plot the data present within the renderings.

The Benefits of Natural Light

In the practice of architecture, daylighting refers to the use of natural light, be it
brilliant sunlight or muted overcast light, to support the visual demands of building
occupants. In Daylight Dialect, which I wrote for Architectural Lighting in March 2008, I
noted that daylighting purists argue that for a space to be considered daylit, it must use
natural light as the primary source of daytime illumination, create a visually and
thermally comfortable place connected to outdoor phenomena, and persistently
maximize electric lighting energy savings while minimizing peak energy demand. The
rest of us, however, might consider a space daylit if it simply has a window with a view.
Daylighting, Efficiency, and Productivity
Daylighting has been touted for its many aesthetic and health benefits by designers and
researchers alike. Scientists at the Lighting Research Center (LRC), in Troy, N.Y., for
example, have reported that daylit environments increase occupant productivity and
comfort, and provide the mental and visual stimulation necessary to regulate human
circadian rhythms.
Utilizing natural light can lead to substantial energy savings. Electric lighting in buildings
consumes more than 15 percent of all electricity generated in the United States,
according to the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Energy Information
Administration. Spaces outfitted with daylight-sensing controls can reduce the energy
used for electric lighting by 20 percent to 60 percent, according to the studies
Photoelectric Control: The Effectiveness of Techniques to Reduce Switching
Frequency (2001) and Summertime Performance of an Automated Lighting and Blinds
Control System (2002), both of which are published in the journal Lighting Research &
Technology; and The New York Times Headquarters Daylighting Mockup: Monitored
Performance of the Daylighting Control System (2006), which was published in the
journal Energy and Buildings. Independent field studies published in the past two
decades have also shown a range of results, from outperforming predicted savings by
56 percent to experiencing an uptick in energy usage due to increased voltage of some
dimming ballasts or lights left powered on after hours even though they were daylight
controlled to an off setting. Given these findings, as well as the known thermal
interdependencies associated with daylight glazing, a strategy to integrate daylight into
a building can reduce or increase its total energy consumption.
Daylight can also be too much of a good thing, says Joseph Park, national sales
manager for the commercial window treatments division at Lutron Electronics,

headquartered in Coopersburg, Pa. A building that has aggressive daylighting goals but
is poorly operated will likely use more energy and might subject its occupants to
excessive glare and thermal stress. On the other hand, Lisa Heschong, managing
principal at TRC Companieswhich acquired Heschongs namesake California-based
consulting firm, Heschong Mahone Group (HMG), in January 2013says that when she
interviews workers in daylit retail, commercial, and education spaces, they consistently
report how they love working there, and hope they never have to transfer elsewhere.
Along with happier workers, substantial financial and human-performance benefits have
been associated with increased daylight. In 2003s The Benefits of Daylight Through
Windows, LRC researchers discussed anecdotal evidence that commercial real estate
with no windows leases for about 20 percent lessor $2 to $4 per square foot less
than spaces with windows. The 1999 study Skylighting and Retail Sales: An
Investigation Into the Relationship Between Daylighting and Human Performance and
the 2002 study Daylighting Impacts on Retail Sales Performance, both by HMG, are
arguably two of the most robust investigations into daylight and its effects on retail sales
to date. The studies concluded that the presence of skylights was the third-mostimportant criteria of five observed and statistically significant factors in increasing sales
volume; the first and second were hours of operation per week and years since the last
retrofit, respectively. In the 1984 Science article View through a Window may Influence
Recovery from Surgery, Roger Ulrich, now a professor of architecture as well as a cofounding director of the Center for Health Systems and Design at Texas A&M University,
reported that surgery patients in rooms that had windows facing trees recovered 8.5
percent faster and took fewer analgesics than did those patients whose view was a
brick wall. Subsequent research by others has substantiated the results for patients who
stayed in general hospital rooms. In a 1999 study Daylighting in Schools: An
Investigation into the Relationship between Daylighting and Human
Performance, commissioned by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, HMG found a
high correlation between schools that reported improvements in student test scores
upwards of 10 percentand those that reported increased daylight in the classroom.
The findings sparked discussion on the influence attributable to daylighting, or the
daylighting effect size. HMG attempted to pinpoint the relationship in a look-back
paper Daylighting Impacts on Human Performance in School, published inLeukos, the
Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society in 2002. Though HMG and research
collaborator RLW Analytics found a statistically significant relationship between lighting
conditions and student test scores, they could not definitively explain the effect. Peter
Boyce, LRCs head of the human factors program, likewise cautioned against
prematurely drawing scientific relationships in his 2005 Leukos article,Reflections on
Relationships in Behavioral Lighting Research.
For its part, HMG could not replicate exactly the results of its 1999 study in a 2003
follow-up, but they still found evidence that an ample and pleasant view out of a
window, that includes vegetation or human activity and objects in the far distance,
support better outcomes of student learning.
As Lutrons Park notes, poorly daylit and glaring spaces can have detrimental effects.
While these decreases in performance have yet to be quantified, I have found in the
course of my doctoral research that occupants in environments they describe as having

just uncomfortable glare rather than the most preferred conditions did report a 10
percent decrease in their own perceived productivity.
Despite all the research mentioned, a quantitative relationship between daylighting and
human health and productivity remains elusive. Productivity is incredibly difficult to
quantify in terms of time and money, Park says. Yet, it is the factor that decisionmakers most often value when choosing whether to include daylight and advanced
controls for lighting and blinds. A belief that daylighting is beneficial does exist, but hard
evidence is still scarce. This is due, in large part, to the difficulty in conducting research
tied to the dynamic nature of daylight, along with the myriad other variables that are
difficult to control in the field. Is it the amount of light that matters, or is it the variability,
the view, or the connection to nature?
Overall, the available research suggests that a successful daylighting designone that
factors in taming glare and solar heat gainis likely to improve worker satisfaction,
mood, and productivity. The right balance can be achieved through the use of active
daylighting control strategies, [such as] automated shades, as well as passive
strategies, [such as] light shelves or louvers, Park says. The markets for automated
shades, light shelves, and dynamic glazing are increasing rapidly within the industry.
These technologies mitigate the dynamic movement of direct sunlight while admitting
diffuse daylight inside the space.
Recent research has underscored the effect of daylight on human health and biological
functions. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, humans in modern
cities spend upwards of 90 percent of their lives indoors. If they are occupying statically,
perhaps stagnantly, lit environments, they can become disassociated with the natural
outdoor cycles and variation of illuminance levels.

Artificial lighting
Artificial light sources are other sources of light which developed to compensate for or assist

the natural light. It will have different frequencies and wavelengths that determine the light
color.
First :Artificial light sources
Artificial light sources are categorized by the technology used to produce the light. There's
dozens of sources, with a few common in household applications and others more suitable for
industrial uses. The five most common light sources are as follows:

1.

Incandescent lamp.

4.

Discharge lamps.

2.

Compact fluorescent lamp.

5.

Light Emitting Diode (LED).

3.

Fluorescent tube.

6.
1- Incandescent lamp:

7.
8.

Incandescent lamp
9.
Until recently the most common electric
light source was the incandescent lamp.
This is still widely used, although its
relatively low energy efficiency is leading to
its replacement by other more efficient
lamps such as the CFL.
The connection to a light fitting is either by
screw thread or bayonet. A large variety of
shapes, sizes and power is available, as well
as different colour ranges. Typical lamps for
household use range from about 40 to 100
W, giving a light output of 420 to 1360lm at

the typical lamp efficiency of about 12%.

10.
11.

12. 2- Compact fluorescent lamp:

13.
14.

Compact fluorescent lamp

15.
The compact fluorescent lamp (CFL)
was designed as a more efficient
replacement for incandescent lamp. It is
supplied with the same fixing system
(screw or bayonet), and can be used in
many light fittings designed for
incandescent lamps.

Power ratings of CFLs that can provide

approximately the equivalent light output to incandescent lamps are shown in the
table below, together with their efficacy ratings.

3- Fluorescent tube:

16.
17.

Fluorescent tube

18.
Fluorescent tubes are the main form of lighting for offices and commercial buildings.
They are a form of gas discharge lamp, and are formed in a long thin glass cylinder
with contacts at either end that secure them to the fitting (or luminaire) and provide
the electrical connection.
The tube contains mercury vapour at low pressure, and the inner wall of the glass is
coated with a phosphor that reacts to ultra-violet radiation. When electricity is passed
through the vapour it emits UV radiation that is converted by the phosphor to visible

light.
The most efficient fluorescent tubes are the T5. With a smaller diameter (16mm) than
earlier tubes, these can achieve a luminous efficacy of up to 104lm/

19. 4- Discharge lamps:

20.
21.

Discharge lamps

22.
Discharge lamps work by striking an electrical arc
between two electrodes, causing a filler gas to give
off light.
Different metals and filler gasses can be used to
provide a range of colour and brightness.
Discharge lamps provide high luminous efficacy
combined with long life, resulting in the most
economical light source available
Types of gas-discharge lamps:
The gas discharge lamps have three types as follows:
A- Low pressure discharge lamps:
Low-pressure lamps have working pressure much less than atmospheric pressure. For
example common fluorescent lamps operate at a pressure of about 0.3% of
atmospheric pressure.
- Compact fluorescent lamp,
- Fluorescent lamps,
- Low pressure sodium lamps: the most efficient gas-discharge lamp type, producing
up to 200 lumens per watt, but at the expense of very poor color rendering. The
almost monochromatic yellow light is only acceptable for street lighting and similar
applications.
B- High pressure discharge lamps:
High-pressure lamps have a discharge that takes place in gas under slightly less to
greater than atmospheric pressure. For example, a high pressure sodium lamp has an
arc tube under 100 to 200 torr pressure, about 14% to 28% of atmospheric pressure;
some automotive HID headlamps have up to 50 bar or fifty times atmospheric
pressure.

- Metal halide lamps: These lamps produce almost white light, and attain 100 lumen
per watt light output. Applications include indoor lighting of high buildings, parking
lots, shops, sport terrains.
- High pressure sodium lamps: producing up to 150 lumens per watt. These lamps
produce a broader light spectrum than the low pressure sodium lamps. Also used for
street lighting, and for artificial photoassimilation for growing plants
- High pressure mercury-vapor lamps: This lamp type is the oldest high pressure lamp
type, being replaced in most applications by the metal halide lamp and the high
pressure sodium lamp.
C- High-intensity discharge lamps:
A high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp is a type of electrical lamp which produces light
by means of an electric arc between tungsten electrodes housed inside a translucent
or transparent fused quartz or fused alumina arc tube. Compared to other lamp types,
relatively high arc power exists for the arc length. Examples of HID lamps include:

Mercury-vapor lamps.

Sodium vapor lamps.

Metal halide lamps.

Xenon arc lamps.

Ceramic discharge metal halide

Ultra-High Performance (UHP).

lamps.

HID lamps are typically used when high levels of light and energy efficiency are
desired.
5- Light Emitting Diode (LED):

Light Emitting Diode (LED)

LEDs use semi-conductors to convert electrical

energy directly into light. They are only recently
becoming available as a light source for lighting
purposes, and are highly efficient and long lasting.
LED torches are becoming very popular, as they
provide a far longer battery life than other types of
light source.

Second: Forms of Artificial lighting:

There are two forms for Artificial lighting as follows:

1.

Indoor lighting

2.

Outdoor lighting

1- Indoor lighting:
Indoor lighting is usually accomplished using light fixtures, and is a key part of interior
design, these light fixtures or light luminaires can be defined as follows:
Luminaire is a device that distributes filters or transforms the light emitted from one

or more lamps. The luminaire includes all the parts necessary for fixing and protecting
the lamps, except the lamps themselves. In some cases, luminaires also include the
necessary circuit auxiliaries, together with the means for connecting them to the
electric supply. The basic physical principles used in optical luminaire are reflection,
absorption, transmission and refraction.
Types of Indoor Light fixtures/luminaires:
Light fixtures/luminaires are classified according to the following:

1.

The light function.

2.

Lamp type.

3.

Installation method.

4.

The percentage of light output above and below the horizontal.

1- Types of Light fixtures according to light function:

There are five basic types of light fixtures according to the function or aim of using it
as follows:
Ambient (general lighting).
Task.
Accent.
Informational lighting/Guidance Lighting.
Decorative lighting.

A- Ambient lighting
Ambient lighting provides an area with overall illumination.
Also known as general lighting, it radiates a comfortable
level of brightness without glare and allows you to see and
walk about safely. Ambient lighting is often provided by
traditional pendant type fixtures, down lights, chandeliers,
or ceiling mounted fixtures etc. The general decor and
aspect of the room will affect the amount of general
lighting required. Having a central source of ambient light
in all rooms is fundamental to a good lighting plan

B- Task lighting

Task lighting, or directional lighting, is aimed at a specific

task; It is a way to provide more light on a specific area to
perform a task that requires more light than the ambient
fixtures can give. It can be provided by recessed and track
lighting, pendant lighting and undercabinet lighting, as well
as by portable floor and desk lamps.
Task lighting should be free of distracting glare and
shadows and should be bright enough to prevent eye
strain.


C- Accent lighting
Accent lighting is also a sort of a
directional lighting that adds drama to a
place by creating visual interest. As part
of an interior design scheme, it is used
to draw the eye to houseplants,
paintings, sculptures and other prized
possessions. It can also be used to
highlight the texture of a brick or stone
wall, window treatments or outdoor
landscaping.
To be effective, accent lighting requires as least three
times as much light on the focal point as the general
lighting surrounding it.
Accent lighting is usually provided by recessed and track lighting or wall-mounted
picture lights
D- Informational lighting (Guidance Lighting)
It is designed to help us see our way safely. The light in your closet, the light by your
doorbell, and night lights, as well as path lighting and motion lights, are all good
examples of informational lighting. The photo to the right is a typical night light with a
photosensor. Informational lighting can be beautiful as well as functional, and can
create dramatic statements. Lights inset on stairs can create pathways that enhance
architecture, while outdoor informational lighting can create
E- Decorative lighting


Light strips, pendants, chandeliers, and sconces are all examples of light fixtures that
draw attention to themselves and add character to the place being lighted. Many are
also used for general lighting.

References:

http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/store.php

http://www.motherearthliving.com/green-homes/design-withdaylight-natural-lighting.aspx?SlideShow=1