Practical Application

1. Survey site building(s) to identify spaces where daylighting makes sense. On an overcast day, turn off the ambient (ceiling) lights in each space and with meters, and objectively, determine whether there is enough light from windows and skylights to perform the types of tasks that typically occur in the space (see Energy: Lighting Equipment and Lamps).
2. Consider moving enclosed offices to the building’s interior and open office areas to the perimeter, to maximize daylight penetration. 
3. Reconfigure open office workstations to support effective daylighting. Lower tall and opaque workstation components, such as overhead cabinets, or orient perpendicular to the window wall(s) to maximize daylight penetration into the space.
4. Contact an expert engineer to perform a daylight simulation to determine whether the space would benefit from the installation of light shelves, external building shades, or daylight harvesting controls.
5. Analyze the cost and benefit of installing manual or automatic window blinds or shades to reduce solar gain and provide glare control.
6. Educate occupants about how daylighting systems work. Consider a user’s manual that can be shared with staff and used to orient posts’ new employees.

Figure 7: Building section, showing components of a well daylit space

Image Source: U.S. Department of Energy