High Performing Buildings - Spring 2008 - (Page 38) light. However, like north-facing roof monitors, it is necessary to increase the glass area to achieve the same contribution as south-facing lightshelves. When optimizing north-facing transom glazing: • Don’t use lightshelves. Because of the lack of direct beam light on the north side, lightshelves do not provide any benefit and should not be used. Use high, sloped ceilings. Place the glazing high in the room, with the ceiling plane starting at the window head and sloping to the opposite wall, to enhance performance. Use high glass instead of view windows. High, horizontally placed glass is, from a daylighting perspective, superior to low view windows. Provide proper glass-to-floor area ratios. Eliminate direct beam light by bouncing, redirecting and filtering sunlight. • • • Human Factors Understanding human nature is essential to designing good daylighting solutions. Quality, energyefficient daylighting cannot be accomplished by installing many uncontrolled windows. For example, if direct beam light enters a space, it quickly will irritate occupants, leading them to block the light, negating the daylighting strategy. • Eliminate direct beam light. A key component of good daylighting, which essentially eliminates commonly used view windows, is the elimination of uncontrolled, direct beam light. In all spaces where light quality is critical, the The south-facing monitors with baffles provide daylight to the gymnasium. 38
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