Daylight performance in rooms with East facing windows considering occupant influence
Daylight performance, fenestration systems, occupant behavior.
This work evaluates the daylight potential in office rooms with fenestration systems oriented to East considering occupant behavior. Despite the benefits and great availability of solar irradiance in low-latitude zones, it is common to underuse daylight due to the relationship between fenestration systems and occupant behavior. The glare and VDT contrast leads occupants to close the blinds, generating insufficient daylight, obstructed outside view and increasing energy consumption. The shaded systems are determined by shading masks with parametrical variation of window size and visible sky factor (VSF), and are simulated for performance analysis on Rhinoceros/Grasshopper/DIVA platform. The occupant behavior is identified through field research with application of questionnaires, and it is categorized as active, passive and intermediate. The daylight performance considering occupant behavior is evalueted through spreadsheets and the results are translated into simplified design recommendations. There is a potential use of daylight and less influence of occupant behavior for the cases with large windows and mobile external devices. It is recommended to increase the window size and reduce the VSF to fixed shading devices, associated with active users to increase daylight depth. Systems with no shading devices, small windows and high VSF should be avoided.