Daylight performance of office buildings: architectural characterization and computational simulation, with reference to the city of São Paulo

• Grant number: 15/27015-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date until: May 01, 2016
• End date until: April 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Architecture and Town Planning - Architecture and Urbanism Technology
• Principal Investigator: Joana Carla Soares Gonçalves
• Grantee: Guilherme Reis Muri Cunha
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo (FAU). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project approaches office buildings built in the city the São Paulo since the early years of 2000. Architectural features of the majority of local examples of office buildings in Sao Paulo include deep floor plans, extensive glass areas, high dependency on artificial light and consequent high figures of energy demand. Facing a scenario of energy crises, with a annual growth around 4% in energy demand of commercial buildings and a national target of 10% reduction in energy consumption of commercial buildings until 2030, the adaptation of the traditional model of the office building disconnected from daylight is a urgent need.. In this context, the main objective of this research is the analysis of daylight performance in office buildings in São Paulo, built in the past decade. For that purpose, simulation models will be prepared based on the identification of current architectural parameters and specifications that directly affect daylight and the consequent energy demand of artificial lighting systems. Regarding the simulation studies, it is worth mentioning the integrated practice of computational tools of parametric analysis and environmental dynamic assessments. The main daylight criterion to be applied will be the concept of UDI - Useful Daylight Illuminance, proposed by Nabil and Mardaljevic (2006), considering the range of illuminances between 100 lux and 2.000 lux established also by Nabil & Mardaljevic (2006), as adequate or accepted.