Optimization design of light shelf for visual

comfort and energy savings in an office

space
Yaseri Dahlia Apritasari
Architecture Program
Podomoro University
Indonesia
[email protected]

Kewords Introduction
energy savings, light shelf, visual comfort Visual comfort is an important requirement for office building
occupants. Criteria of visual comfort accordance with the type
of activity, and visual sensory perception of the environment.
Abstract The influence factor of visual comfort is light intensity, direc-
Visual comfort is important for the building occupants’ wellbe- tion of the light source, the reflection from the surface, surface
ing. Visual comfort can be filled with natural lighting (daylight- texture, and activities. For activity in the office, visual comfort
ing) and artificial lighting. Efforts to optimize natural lighting must be fulfilled to achieve optimize worker productivity. Usu-
can be achieved through façade design, and percentage area of ally, the fulfilment of visual comfort with artificial lighting, but
window. However, the problem of the visual comfort is high must be considered, it affects the artificial lighting energy con-
light intensity and glare at some places. Light shelf is a passive sumption in the building. It is necessary to design strategies to
strategy to minimize glare, expanding the area of daylighting fulfil visual comfort and energy saving.
and increase the time that meet the visual comfort. Building energy consumption in Indonesia is approxi-
This paper discusses the light shelf design that can fulfill the mately 55 % of total energy consumption, and for lighting
optimal visual comfort and lighting energy savings for an office energy consumption is 22 %. (Indonesian National Standard,
space with the case studies Prasetiya Mulya office. The method- 2010). Specially for office building energy consumption has
ology of research used is quantitative research with simulation IKE (index of energy consumption) value: 220 kWh/m2/year.
modeling (DIALUX 4.13, 2016). Through following steps; (1) (Indonesian National Standard, 2000). Then energy lighting
Making a model of office space based on case studies: Prasetiya consumption for office building approximately 48.4 kWh/m2/
Mulya office, Jakarta; (2). Making three models with different year. To reduce the use of energy for lighting, one of strategy
light shelf dimension; (3) Simulating and analyzing the light is reducing indoor artificial lighting and optimize daylighting.
intensity value for each model that meet office visual comfort Strategy used to optimize daylighting with use of windows
standard: 350 Lux (Indonesia National Standard, 2010), glare design and light shelves. The use of light shelves will lead to
value and optimal energy saving. more natural lighting (day lighting) in the building, reducing
The result show that light shelf design can meet optimal visu- glare and expanding the area of daylighting that meets oc-
al comfort and save energy for artificial lighting. With right de- cupant’s visual comfort.
sign of light shelves, we can expand daylighting area that meet The aim of this work is to find an optimal width of light
visual comfort, minimize glare and increasing energy saving shelves for an office while meeting the visual comfort require-
in the office. ments. Another aim is to quantify the reduction of energy con-
sumption.

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AC System minimizing the imbalance of light that disturb visual comfort

12% (eyes full accommodation), due to lack or excess of light inten-
6% sity standard visual comfort of the building users. Reflection
Lighting
of the light that flowing deeper into the room will expand the
area of daylighting that meets the standards of office occupant’s
22% Building Transport visual comfort. The light shelf system can be divide into exter-
60%
(lift, escalator) nal type, internal type and mixed type.
Others
DIALUX SIMULATION METHODS
Figure 1. Percentage of Building energy consumption. Source: This research aims to find the optimal width light shelves that
Indonesia National Standard, 2010. meet visual comfort in the room and optimize energy saving.
Methodology of research used is quantitative research with
simulation modeling (DIALUX, 2016).

• First, making a model of office space based on case studies:

Prasetiya Mulya office, Jakarta using climatic conditions and
locations in Jakarta.

• Second, making three models with variable of light shelf

dimension differences; 0.3 m, 0.6 m, and 0.9 m and using
aluminum material with white coating.

• Third, simulating and analyzing the light intensity value

every model that meet office visual comfort standard:
350 Lux (Indonesia National Standard, 2010), glare value
and energy saving value.

• Fourth, defining conclusion of which light shelves width

will best produce a light intensity that meets the office visual
Figure 2. The principle of the shelf system of light.
comfort and energy saving.

Research Theory and Methods Results and Discussion

RESEARCH THEORY BUILDING DESCRIPTION

Existing building: Prasetiya Mulya Office Space

Daylighting
Prasetya Mulya Office space is an open plan office. Material
Daylighting is the sun lighting that supplement or replaces ar-
façade is glass expose, without shade. It is for the aesthetics
tificial lighting in the building during the day. Daylighting have
aspect of the building, and giving modern and futuristic style.
function as lighting, aesthetics, health and also to save energy
The glass material used was grey laminated, 12 mm thickness,
in buildings. The architectural designs to optimize daylighting
while for the color of the walls and ceiling are white. For more
in buildings have several ways:
detail see building description in the Table 1.
• Atrium
Setup of Light Shelf
• Court yard
Light shelf selected in this research is light shelves internal type
• Window with continuous design along the window. This type is selected
so that the façade of the building has not changed, still expose
• Light shelf
glass. The Variables are width light shelves: 0.3 m, 0.6 m and
Some building owner do not use atrium and court yard design, 0.9 m. These variables must adjust width of light shelves on the
because limited land and economically factor more advanta- market. Material light shelf is aluminum with white coating.
geous for the leased space. Then to optimize daylighting prefer The white color chosen because it can reduce the maximum
to use design using light shelves. glare. The variables of light shelf for performance evaluation is
Light Shelf is a horizontal reflective surface that functions shown in Table 2.
extend indirect lighting from the outdoor to indoor. In clear The simulation was performed on the location of Jakarta,
sky conditions range of lighting on the South side could extend with -6.22 latitude and longitude 106.8. The selected month is
the reach to a depth of 7.62 m (www.lrc.rpi.edu). October, time: 12:00–14:00. Choosing October month, because
the sky condition in this month is the cloudy sky. Based on
Light Shelf System Ramli (2000), research shows that although Indonesia is locat-
Light shelf has a function to protect directly lighting into the ed on the equator, are clear sky conditions: 97 times, intermedi-
room and give the reflection of light deeper into the room. ate sky: 179 times and overcast sky: 44 times. It shows the sky
Light shelf also serves to reduce glare due to direct light and condition dominant is intermediate sky (cloudy sky).

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Table 1. Prasetiya Mulya Office Space Description.

Area 770 Sqm

Width 36 m
Depth 22.85
Height 3.10 m
Reflectivity Ceiling: 74.99 %, Wall: 70 %
Glass material Grey laminated with 12 mm thickness, penetration ratio 75 %, reflection
Light Shelf Without light shelf (0)

Figure 3. Open Plan Office.

Table 2. Setup of Light Shelf.

Height from floor 1.9 m Angle 0

Width 0.3 m, 0.6 m, 0.9 m Reflectivity 75
Height of light shelf 0.05 m Material Aluminium in white
coating

DAYLIGHTING ANALYSIS

Simulation 1: based on case study

Result of simulation showed that the existing condition without
light shelves: the percentage of the area above 350 Lux is 42 %.
This means that 42 % of area office area do not require artificial
lighting. The area of 1–3 meters from the window has a high
light intensity value: 1,000–1,500 Lux. This over lighting cause
glare on that area. It is mean, this area should be covered with
vertical blind and be used artificial lighting. Then all of office Figure 4. Detail of light shelf.
area need to use artificial lighting
Light shelves 0.3 m simulation showed that the percentage
of the area above 350 Lux increased 10% (42 % to 52 %). And
the glare area decreased ranged 1–1.5 meters from the window
(15 %). No glare in north side and it use daylighting. In this
case 78 % of the office area needs to use artificial lighting. (see
Figure 7 and 8). Light shelves 0.6 m simulation showed that

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Figure 5. Light Intensity isoline for existing building: Prasetiya Figure 6. Isometri section light Intensity for existing building:
Mulya office area. Source: Dialux analyzation result. Prasetiya Mulya office area.

Figure 7. Light Intensity isoline for Light shelf 0.3 m. Source: Figure 8. Isometric section light Intensity for Light shelf 0.3 m.
Dialux analyzation result.

the percentage of the area above 350 Lux are 52 %, which is ENERGY ANALYSIS
the same value as with light shelves 0.3 m. For the glare area Artificial lighting is used in the office area, during working
decreased approximately 10. No glare for North and South side, hours: 08:00–17:00. In existing condition, 42 % of the office
there daylighting can be used. In this case 55 % of the office space area is fulfilled for daylighting conditions, but it is direct
space area need to use artificial lighting (see Figure 9 and 10). lighting and have high light intensity, causing glare by 20 % in
Light shelves 0.9 m simulation showed that the percentage the area close to the window. Therefore, artificial lighting need
of the area above 350 Lux are 52 %, which is the same value to be used in the whole area. By using a light shelf, not only the
as with light shelves 0.3 m. and 0.6 m. There is no glare in the daylighting area that meet visual comfort is expanding, but the
South and North side area and the glare effect in east side areas light shelf is also reducing glare. Adding light shelves width can
decreased. In this case 50 % of the office space area need to use reduce the use of artificial lighting and energy lighting con-
artificial lighting (see Figure 11 and 12). sumption. For the details see Table 3.
The DIALUX simulation results showed that the addition
light shelves could provide expansion area to meets office oc-
cupant’s visual comfort approximately 10 %. But the addition of Conclusion
light shelves width from 0.3 m to 0.6 m, and up to 0.9 m did not This research to establish the basic sources for designing light
provide the addition of areas that meet visual comfort. While shelves, which are fulfil office occupant’s visual comfort. Con-
the addition of light shelves and the width difference of light ducted performance analyzation of light shelves depending on
shelves showed decrease of the glare area. It showed the wider width the light shelves, area visual comfort and energy saving:
light shelves, the more extensive daylighting areas that meet the The existing condition that meets the visual comfort area is
office’s occupant visual comfort (see Table 3). 42 % of the total office space. But the glare area is large and cov-

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Figure 9. Light Intensity isoline for Light shelf 0.6 m. Source: Figure 10. Isometric section light Intensity for Light shelf 0.6 m.
Dialux analyzation result.

Figure 11. Light Intensity isoline for Light shelf 0.9 m. Source: Figure 12. Isometric section light Intensity for Light shelf 0.6 m.
Dialux analyzation result.

Table 3. Daylighting Light Intensity Result.

Light Shelf Office Area >350 lux Percentage Glare Area E Av E min E max E min/
Width (m) (sqm) area (sqm) Office Area [%] Emax[lx]
>350 lux
(lx) [lx] [lx]

0 770 324 42 % 20 % 544 129 1,813 0.071

30 770 401.76 52 % 15 % 509 129 1,724 0.075
60 770 403.38 52 % 10 % 484 126 1,732 0.073
90 770 403.38 52 % 5% 447 132 1,066 0.123

Source: Dialux analyzation result.

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Table 4. Energy Calculation Result.

Light Shelf Office Area >350 lux area Percentage Artificial Lighting Energy Percentage
Width (m) [Sqm] [Sqm] Artificial Lighting Area [kWh/m2/Year] of Energy
Lighting Area [Sqm] Reduction
[%] [%]

0 770 324 100 % 770 48.4 0%

30 770 401.76 78 % 600.6 37.8 22 %
60 770 403.38 55 % 423.5 26.6 45 %
90 770 403.38 50 % 385 24.2 50 %

ers 1–3 meters from the window. This gives the occupant a ten- DIALux v.4.13. (2016). Germany: DIAL GmbH.
dency to close the windows and use artificial lighting. Depend Indonesia National Standard; (2000), Konservasi Energi Pada
on energy calculation; the building used 48.4 kWh/m2/Year. Sistem Pencahayaan (Energy Conservation of Lighting
To add light shelves width 0.3 m continuous on the window, System), SNI 03-6197-2000. Jakarta: Badan Standardisasi
increasing the office occupant’s visual comfort area about 10 % Nasional.
(42 % to 52 %). Thus, glare area decreased significant, and light- Indonesia National Standard; (2010), Konservasi Energi
ing energy consumption decreased to: 37.8 kWh/m2/Year. To Selubung Bangunan Pada Bangunan Gedung (Energy
add light shelves 0.6 m and 0.9 m continuous on the windows, Conservation of Building Envelope), RSNI PTEB 03-6389-
showing that visual comfort area fixed at 52 %. But there is no 2000. Jakarta: Badan Standarisasi Nasional.
glare area on the north and south sides. While the East side Indonesia National Standart; (2000), Tata Cara Perancangan
decreased glare, and lighting energy consumption decreased Sistem Pencahayaan Buatan Pada Bangunan Gedung
approximately to 26.6 kWh/m2/Year and 24.2 kWh/m2/Year. (Procedures for Artificial Lighting System Design on
To add width of light shelf from 0 meter to 0.6 meter, will The Building), SNI 03-6575-2001 Badan Standardisasi
give a significant increase in energy saving (average 22 %). But Nasional.
to add width of light shelf of 0.9 m, only give 5 % increase en- Nicklas, Michael; (2008), Daylighting Strategies That Maximize
ergy saving, compared to 0.6 m for optimal light shelves this Benefits, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and
research recommended is 0.6 m, because this result showed the Air-Conditioning Engineers, New York, High Performing
optimize increased of energy saving, average 22.5 %. Buildings.
Based on this research, it needs further research with vari- Oh,Sangwon, Lee, Heangwoo, Kim, Yongseong; (2014), A
able light shelves material to reduce glare. In addition vari- Study on Daylighting Performance Evaluation of Light Shelf
able, we can consider solar sell as material light shelves. Which Based on The Spatial Form of Inclined Ceiling, Interna-
serves not only reduce glare but also produce renewable energy tional Journal of Smart Home, 8 (4), 1–14.
source. Oh,Sangwon, Lee, Heangwoo, Kim, Yongseong; (2014),
Basic Research on Performance Evaluation of Light Shelf
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