Chapter 01 · Climate & transitionEnergy & Transition
Daylighting (building design)
Definition
Daylighting is the architectural practice of admitting and distributing natural light within a building to displace electric lighting while controlling glare and heat gain. Because electric lighting accounts for roughly 35–50 per cent of commercial-building electricity, effective daylighting — with daylight-responsive controls — can cut lighting energy substantially, reduce cooling loads by around 10–20 per cent, and contribute to total building energy savings of up to one-third.
References
energy shares and savings ranges
practice benefits
Overview
What it means
A passive design strategy that treats sunlight as a building service, with documented benefits for energy use and occupant wellbeing.
How it is used
Designers use orientation, glazing, shading, light shelves and atria; daylighting credits feature in green-building certifications and energy codes.
Why it matters
Daylighting addresses energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality simultaneously — a canonical win-win in sustainable building design.