Daylighting in Educational Buildings: Its Effects on Students and How to Maximize Its Performance in the Architectural Engineering Department of the University of Sharjah

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to study the impact of daylighting in educational buildings and consequently, maximize the daylighting performance in the Architectural Engineering Department, (M8 Building), of the University of Sharjah. The academic, psychological, and physiological effects of daylighting on students in addition to the effects of decreasing the artificial light consumption on the environment and economy were intensively researched. Then, for a practical implementation, classrooms in AE Department were studied in terms of daylighting. To maximize the daylight intake in the best possible way, four scenarios were prepared for simulation using Revit and Ecotect, which propose different possible ways to bring in natural light. Accordingly, the four scenarios in Ecotect were analyzed and the best one was chosen in terms of daylight intake. After that, the authors calculated and compared the energy consumed (due to artificial light) in each case and chose the one with the least energy consumption.