Multiple-Criteria Decisions for Sizing a Window in a Direct-Gain Strategy

Abstract

An integrated-research approach was used to examine the multifold problem of sizing a window in a direct-gain passive solar strategy, where there is direct sunlight penetration into the living space. Solar-heating performance, glare from window and occupant appraisal of the luminous condition were the main attributes of the overall window performance considered in this study. The building occupant was used as the sole gauge against which glare and the luminous condition resulting from the direct penetration of sunlight were measured. Sunlight penetration, represented by the size of the sunspots within the room, was introduced as a novel way to deal with sunlight penetration. Compromises in design decisions are discussed based on the three perfor mance attributes which can make a particular direct-gain building design a success or a failure.

Keywords

Direct solar gain Daylighting Sunlight penetration Glare discomfort Affective response Mood

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Balcomb JD , Jones R. , Kosiewicz C. , Lazarus G. , McFarland R. , Wray W. : Passive Solar Design Handbook. Boulder, American Solar Energy Society, 1983, vol 3.

Wray WO : Design and Analysis of Direct Gain Solar Heated Buildings. Los Alamos, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory , 1981.

Ne'eman E. , Sweitzer G. , Vine E. : Office worker response to lighting and daylighting issues in workspace environments: A pilot survey. Energy Buildings 1984;6:159-171.

Balcomb JD , Barley D. , McFarland R. , Perry J. Jr., Wray W. , Noll S. : Passive Solar Design Handbook. Washington: US Department of Energy, 1980, vol 2: Passive Solar Design Analysis.

Ashrae : ASHRAE Handbook: Fundamentals I-P Edition. Atlanta, American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, 1989.

Petherbridge P. , Hopkinson RG : Discomfort glare and the lighting of buildings . IES Transcripts 1952;15(2):39-79.

Hopkinson RG : Architectural Physics: Lighting. London, HMSO, 1963.

Chauvel P. , Collins JB , Dogniaux R. : Glare from windows: Current views of the problem. Lighting Res Technol 1982;14:31-46.

Hopkinson RG : The psychophysics of sunlighting. Sunlighting In Buildings, Proc CIE Intersessional Conf, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Apr 1965, pp 13-26.

10.

Ne'eman E. , Cradock J. , Hopkinson RG : Sunlight requirements in buildings - I. Buildings Environ 1976;11:217-238.

11.

Ies : IES Lighting Handbook . New York, Illuminating Engineering Society, 1981.

12.

Boubekri M. : Thermal Performance, Glare Control, and Occupant Appraisal of an Office Window in a Direct Gain Strategy; PhD thesis Texas A&M University , 1990.

13.

Degelman LO : ENERCALC: A weather and building energy simulation model using fast hour-by-hour algorithms. Proc 4th Nat Conf on Microcomputer Appl in Energy, Tucson, Apr 1990.

14.

Einhorn HD : Glare from large-area sources. Light Lighting 1965;Mar:98-100.

15.

Ittelson WH : Environment perception and contemporary perceptual theory; in WH Ittelson (ed): Environment and Cognition . New York, Seminar, 1973 .

16.

Ittelson W. : Environmental perception and urban experience . Environ Behav 1978;10:193-213.

17.

Mehrabian A. , Russell JA : An Approach to Environmental Psychology . Cambridge, MIT Press, 1974.

18.

Russell JA : Affective space is bipolar. J Pers Soc Psychol 1979;37:345-356.

19.

Russell JA : A circumplex model of affect. J Pers Soc Psychol 1980;39:1161-1178.

20.

Russell JA , Pratt G. : A description of the affective quality attributed to environments . J Pers Soc Psychol 1980;38:311-322.

21.

Cary NC : SAS/AF User's guide, version 5 ed. SAS Institute, 1985.

22.

Nunnaly JC : Psychometric Theory, ed 2. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1978.

23.

Kim JO , Mueller CW : Introduction to Factor Analysis. Beverly Hills , Sage, 1978.

24.

Kim JO , Mueller CW : Factor Analysis - Statistical Methods and Practical Issues. Beverly Hills, Sage, 1978.