Bending Light
Sustainable Architecture and Environment
Description and aims
The Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development offers advice on the design of low energy buildings to improve the overall building performance, reduce energy costs and reduce environmental impact. This includes Passive Ventilation, the maximisation of Natural Lighting, Building Comfort and Climate Control Preparation and Profile.
The following example includes work on the validation and application of lighting simulation to predict absolute measures of luminance and irradiation.
About Bending Light
Bending Light is an optical technology business that exploits its patented technology in the design and manufacture of optically variable devices (OVDs). OVDs consist of a series of micro-prismatic structures that literally bend light.
How the project is being undertaken
The Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development carried out an analysis of the luminance benefit that would result from either replacing standard glazing with Serraglaze, or adding Serraglaze as an exterior, projecting “awning” to the existing glazing. The setting was a generic period office building examined on three levels in a moderately obstructed environment. The analysis was founded on climate-based computer simulation of daylight luminances.
The luminance across the workplane was predicted for all 36 combinations of: three floor levels (i.e. semi-basement, ground floor and first floor), three glazing configurations (i.e. standard clear 4mm glazing, vertical Serraglaze and projecting Serraglaze combined with standard glazing) and four building orientations (i.e. North, East, South and West).
Impacts and benefits
Both vertical and projecting Serraglaze generally increase the provision of daylight at the back of the office space compared to standard glazing. When high-angle direct sun is present (i.e. for South facing glazing), vertical Serraglaze additionally reduces the level of direct sun exposure at the front of the offices
University
Academic Lead
Dr John Mardaljevic
Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development