Carbon Neutral Case Studies

Global Ecology Center, Stanford, California

Illumination - Daylighting and Artificial Lighting

Daylighting and Artificial Lighting

Daylighting is used in this building to achieve twofold benefits towards carbon neutrality. In the first instance, it reduces the amount of artificial (ie. electrical) lighting required for the space during the daytime hours. Thsi load reduction reduces the requirements for the generation of power. Secondly, the reduction in electricity can reduce heating loads in the summer months where cooling may be required.

The thin floor plate of the building form was chosen as it makes effective daylighting more viable as the distance from the exterior windows must be minimized to maintain an adequate daylight factor.

In the floor plans below, only the areas shaded in pink and grey are deemed out of range for effective daylighting.

Floor Plan - Level One - Ground Floor

Floor Plan - Level Two - Second Floor

Cross Section through Building

Average Hourly Illumination Admitted into Building per SF

Lab Interior - showing the use of light finishes for optimal reflectance

In the image above, the south side of the building is to the left. The light shelves on Window Type 1 are evident. The interior finishes are light, to achieve a very high reflectance, increasing the quality of the daylighting on the interior space. The furniture also uses light colors as a means to increase reflectance. No high partitions have been used, which helps to cut down on dark spots within the space, decreasing the need for electric task lighting.

Interior view at Lobby

Overall View of the Second Floor Showing Daylighting

The light finishes are maintained on the second floor to increase the general reflectance of the surfaces to enable light penetration. The clerestory windows provide for general lighting at the ceiling level. Although there are electric lights over the office area to provide for general illumination, these are not on during the daylit hours.

Plan of Level 1 - Ground Floor

Plan of Level 2 - Second Floor

View of the Lounge Area at the East End of the Building