Letting the Sunshine In

The sun provides light and heat. However, until recently, it has been very difficult to get the former without the latter. Glazing systems incorporating aerogel - an insulating material - now make it possible to bring daylight into building interiors with minimal loss of thermal efficiency. This provides opportunities for owners, designers, and specifiers seeking both energy conservation and the benefits of natural daylighting. Daylighting is the art of efficiently using diffuse skylight to supplement or replace artificial illumination inside buildings. Numerous studies have found daylighting is beneficial for building occupants, according to Sandra Goodman, PhD, a design research analyst who specializes in post-occupancy evaluations.