DAYLIGHTING Meaning and
Definition
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Daylighting refers to the intentional use of natural sunlight to illuminate the interior spaces of buildings, reducing the need for artificial lighting during daytime hours. It involves incorporating design strategies and architectural elements that maximize the amount of natural light entering a space, providing occupants with a more pleasant, healthy, and sustainable environment.
Daylighting techniques often involve the strategic placement of windows, skylights, light shelves, and other transparent or translucent materials to capture and distribute daylight evenly throughout a building. By harnessing natural light, daylighting offers a multitude of benefits. First and foremost, it reduces the reliance on electric lighting, resulting in significant energy savings and decreased electricity costs. Additionally, it can improve the visual aesthetics of a space, as natural light provides a warm and inviting atmosphere. Daylighting has also been linked to improved productivity and well-being, as exposure to natural light has been shown to enhance mood, increase alertness, and reduce eye strain.
Successful daylighting design requires careful consideration of various factors, such as building orientation, window size and positioning, glare control, and the use of shading devices. Additionally, the use of materials with high light transmittance and proper architectural detailing play crucial roles in maximizing the benefits of daylighting. Overall, daylighting represents a sustainable and highly desirable approach to interior illumination, offering numerous environmental, economic, and human health benefits.
Etymology of DAYLIGHTING
The word "daylighting" originates from the combination of the terms "day" and "light". The etymology of "day" can be traced back to the Old English word "dæg", which meant "the period of light between sunrise and sunset". It further has roots in the Proto-Germanic word "dagaz" and the Proto-Indo-European word "dʰegʷʰ", both denoting the concept of daylight. As for "light", it comes from the Old English word "lēoht", which similarly has counterparts in other Germanic languages, such as the Old High German "liht" and the Gothic "leihts". Combining these elements, "daylighting" was coined to refer to the act or process of utilizing natural daylight to illuminate buildings or spaces.
