The impact of daylight presence on cooling strategies: energy simulations of a test room in Austin, Texas, and Geneva, Switzerland

Abstract

Abstract In order to understand how to reduce energy consumption in buildings, all factors affecting occupant comfort and behavior must be considered. Previous work from EPFL has elucidated the influence of daylight on thermal perception and its resulting potential to reduce cooling loads in a controlled test space in Geneva, Switzerland with three different illumination levels (130 lux, 600 lux, and 1400 lux) and under three different indoor air temperature levels (19°C, 23°C, 27°C). Occupants perceived the temperature as up to 2°C cooler when exposed to daylight, leading to reduced cooling loads. For climates with high cooling loads for much of the year, such as Austin, Texas, this reduction could yield significant benefits for low-energy building design. Simulations show the total amount of energy saved from adopting this strategy in Austin, Texas.