Efficacy of Light Shelves: Passive, Dynamic, and Automatic Devices Related to Light and Thermal Behavior

This paper presents two assessment experiments carried out with light shelves and shading devices. Under hot climate conditions, they are representative of many results obtained from experiments focused on determining the contribution of natural light and heat gain, comparing performances of passive, dynamic and automatic oriented devices. This study classifies the performance of opaque materials applied to light shelves. The light shelves assessment, carried out in a region of hot, tropical climate (near the Tropic of Capricorn), was carefully conducted in test cells, in order to evaluate the amount of heat that accompanies the contribution of natural direct and diffuse light, due to the spectral composition situated in the regions of long and short infrared waves.

Presented at Thermal Performance of Exterior Envelopes of Whole Buildings X – December 2007

Units: SI