Characterization of Distinct Solar Shading Devices by their Thermal and Lighting Performance
Abstract
The aim of this work is to analyze the impact of adding solar shading devices on the lighting and total energy consumption of office rooms. This analysis was done for the climate of Sao Carlos, a city located in the state of Sao Paulo, in Brazil. Distinct combinations of solar shading, window and room dimensions for each façade orientation were simulated using two complementary programs: Troplux, for the lighting simulation and EnergyPlus, for the thermal/energy simulation. The results show that the total energy consumption always decreases due to added shading. The results are discussed in terms of the most effective solutions to reduce the energy consumption without creating much impact on the natural light availability.