Examining the effect of vertical skylight design in buildings on the indoor daylight illumination level

Rapid population growth and urbanization have led to an increase in energy demand and, accordingly, a tendency to deplete energy resources. In buildings that have a large share in total energy consumption, lighting constitutes a significant percentage of consumption. One of the effective ways to reduce artificial lighting-based energy consumption is the efficient and effective use of daylight in buildings. Daylight illumination in buildings can be provided with the help of light coming from windows and roofs. However, even if daylight does not encounter any obstacles, it may not reach the farthest points of a building. As the depth and height of the interior spaces in buildings increases, the daylight entering through the windows and the roof loses its effect as it moves deeper into the spaces, and the brightness level may become insufficient. As a result, energy consumption due to artificial lighting increases and indoor comfort decreases. However, low light levels can also cause physical and psychological health problems such as depression and body clock disturbance in the user. In the first stage of this study, it was aimed to examine the effects of vertical skylights, which are one of the daylight lighting methods, on indoor visual comfort and daylight performance. In addition, it is aimed to measure the effect of vertical skylight features on the interior brightness level in achieving sufficient visual comfort and daylight brightness level. In line with these goals, first of all, the limit values in the Planned Areas Zoning Regulations were taken into account for the necessary criteria regarding skylight dimensions. A sample floor plan was created consisting of spaces at different depths that benefit from skylights. The effect of the number of floors on the amount of daylight provided by the skylight to the space, the brightness level and visual comfort was measured through the Design Builder simulation program and evaluated according to the TS EN 17037 Daylight in Buildings standard. In the second stage, suggestion improvement scenarios were developed for each natural lighting element in cases where daylight was insufficient. As a result of the study, it was seen that the skylight space with the limit values in the Planned Areas Zoning Regulation cannot provide the required daylight illuminance level on the ground floors when the number of floors increases, up to the maximum number of spaces specified in the relevant regulation. In the developed improvement scenarios, it has been determined that changing physical space data (skylight size, window size, etc.) and material properties (reflection, absorption, etc.) significantly increases the daylight illuminance level in spaces, and suggestions have been made for spaces with insufficient daylight. Considering that natural and artificial lighting design should be addressed starting from the project phase of the building in order to use daylight efficiently and effectively, it has been pointed out that studies on the limit values of the regulations that play an active role in the project phase should be carried out.