Daylighting Integration Flashcards
7 cards from real CLC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Daylighting Integration flashcards as text
A 'daylight redirection film' applied to window glazing works by:
Answer: Using microstructured optical elements to redirect incident sunlight toward the ceiling
Daylight redirection films contain microscopic prismatic or holographic structures that deflect incoming sunlight upward onto the ceiling, extending daylight depth without increasing glare at eye level.
In climate-based daylighting modeling, a TMY (Typical Meteorological Year) file is used because:
Answer: It provides statistically representative hourly weather data to simulate realistic annual daylight performance
A TMY file synthesizes hourly weather data representative of long-term average conditions, enabling annual daylight simulations that reflect typical rather than extreme performance.
Which ASHRAE standard provides energy code requirements that indirectly drive daylighting control installations in commercial buildings?
Answer: ASHRAE 90.1
ASHRAE 90.1 mandates automatic daylighting controls (photosensors with dimming or switching) in daylit zones of commercial buildings above a certain size, directly influencing daylighting system design.
A designer evaluating a tubular daylighting device (TDD) should consider which critical performance metric?
Answer: System transmittance (the ratio of delivered lumens at the diffuser to incident lumens at the dome)
System transmittance captures all optical losses through the dome, tube reflections, and diffuser, making it the key metric for comparing TDD performance across products and installation lengths.
Occupant-operable interior blinds in a daylit office most commonly result in:
Answer: Blinds being closed most of the time, significantly reducing daylight benefit
Research consistently shows that occupants tend to close interior blinds when direct sun causes discomfort and rarely reopen them, negating much of the planned daylighting benefit.
Which of the following best explains why south-facing windows (Northern Hemisphere) are easier to shade than east- or west-facing windows?
Answer: The high solar altitude angles from the south allow simple horizontal overhangs to block direct sun
The sun travels at relatively high altitude angles when it is in the southern sky (Northern Hemisphere), so a properly sized horizontal overhang can effectively block direct beam radiation.
In a daylighting post-occupancy evaluation, which measurement approach best verifies the performance of an installed photosensor dimming system?
Answer: Spot-checking illuminance levels with a calibrated photometer under known daylight conditions and comparing to system setpoints
Direct illuminance measurements with a calibrated meter under known sky conditions allow the evaluator to verify that the photosensor is dimming electric light appropriately relative to available daylight.