Daylight utilization potentials of highly glazed individual office spaces in Belgrade climate condition

Abstract

Office buildings have high standards for lighting requirements, which greatly contribute to high lighting energy consumption. Daylight utilization is one of the means to reduce it. The goal of this paper is to evaluate daylight utilization potentials in Belgrade climate in order to generate initial design guideline for highly glazed small, individual office spaces. Daylight availability and its lighting energy implications are analyzed using computer simulation tool DIVA for Rhino. Selected individual office space is modelled as a narrow rectangular space, sidelit and highly glazed. Parametric analysis was carried out for: four different glazing ratios (50, 60, 70, and 85%), four glazing types with different visible transmittance properties (80, 72, 62, and 54%), and four different major orientations. Since this analysis is evaluating daylight utilization potentials, no shades or external obstructions were considered. The major results of this study indicate high potential for daylight utilization in office buildings in Belgrade. Daylight utilization in single offices is reaching its maximum in model with 70% window-to-wall ratio for all office orientations except north orientation, where daylight utilization is reaching its maximum at maximum window-to-wall ratio. Also, north orientated spaces have highest benefits from utilization of useful diffuse daylight. Direct sunlight and size and shape of facade aperture above working plane are determining factors for utilization of daylight in office spaces.