Daylighting Research and Standards

Over the years, we have been actively engaged in a variety of daylighting-related research and standard development efforts. We provide research services related to developing daylighting performance metrics, simulation, and design methods and techniques, photosensor and control modeling, material measurement and modeling, and optical daylighting product evaluation techniques. We have also been involved in developing a number of daylighting metrics and standards for use in codes, building rating systems, and design guidelines.

  • A colorful 3D sphere with green on top transitioning to yellow and orange on the sides.

    Annual Sky Modeling

    We’ve developed innovative ways to analyze annual, climate-based skies and effectively use them to analyze and guide the design.

  • Two sets of 3D voxel grids, with the top row showing colored cubes representing data values in different color scales and the bottom row showing blue cubes indicating the number of unique spaces within the grid.

    Whole Building Daylight Profiler

    Whole building simulation requires innovative techniques to ensure accuracy and to give tangible feedback to improve the design.

  • A comparison table showing metrics for MaSC settings across four categories: Daylight Autonomy, Daylight Saturation, Daylight Excess, and Useful Daylight Illuminance Support. Rows compare No Action, Total User Needed, Average User Source, Passive User, and No Action (Always Closed), with color-coded heatmaps indicating data intensity.

    Shade Control Algorithms

    Window treatments can make a big difference in daylighting performance, so innovative shade control algorithms help ensure fair comparisons and accurate design guidance.

  • Line graph comparing metric value versus window-to-wall ratio (WWR) for different daylighting metrics, including LEED sDA, SPOT DS thresholds, and UDIc, with threshold lines indicating UDIc, LEED 2pt, and 3pt, and SPOT DE.

    Daylighting Metrics

    Innovative daylight metrics help guide a design to ensure optimal indoor environmental quality and energy efficiency.

  • Screenshot of a photometric sensor generator interface showing a 3D diagram of a room with sensor placement, a lighting plan graph, and a table for manual input of sensor details.

    Photosensor Placement Optimization Algorithms

    Built into the SPOT software, we’ve developed tools to analyze the lumuinous environment of a space under both daylight and electric lighting and optimize the location of photosensor controls.

  • Color-coded scientific image of the Earth's atmosphere showing different temperature or density regions, with a bright central area and a temperature scale on the left.

    Optical Daylighting Device Validation and Simulation Methods

    Using measured skies, we can validate daylighting device performance and create models for use in simulation and analysis.

  • Photonsensor Analyzer interface showing data tables, graphs, and configurations for luminaires, sensors, and illumination performance analysis.

    Closed-loop Photosensor Control Algorithms

    Integrated into the SPOT photosensor analysis tools, algorithms determine the interaction between various closed-loop control zones and help optimize settings to avoid ‘flicker’ issues and optimize savings.