Daylighting in Home on the Range

One of the biggest energy sinks in a commercial building is the lighting. By some estimates, lighting uses more than 40% the source energy in buildings. By using north-facing clerestories, sky lights and lightshelves, along with windows on all sides of the building, we are bringing in comfortable daylight to the entire building. Clerestories are windows on the roof that face north, bringing in natural light without letting in harsh direct sunlight that causes glare and can heat a building. We also have a few sky lights over our conference rooms. Lightshelves on the windows are so simple, and work so well, it’s surprising that more offices don’t incorporate them!