Introduction to Skylighting in

eQUEST
Quick Energy Simulation Tool
an energydesignresources.com
Skylighting Design Tutorial
Why Consider Skylights? 2

• Inexpensive method of bringing daylight into

the core of low rise buildings
• Reliable form of energy savings
• SCE study found actual energy savings 98% of
predicted savings (3% of systems failed)
• Aesthetically pleasing
• Link to productivity and sales increases
• In general, people like daylight
Some of the largest retailers use skylights 3

• WalMart has
over 1,500 skylit
stores
• Building 250
more per year
• Dimming
fluorescent on
photocontrols
• Cost-effective
Skylights can be main source of light 4

• Primary source of light in this school library

• Note troffers in ceiling are turned off
Oak Ridge High School 5

Skylights balance light from windows

Sacramento Municipal Utility District 6

Skylights with splayed light well

Skylighting design principles 7

• Provide enough skylight area to provide

sufficient light for most day-time hours
• … while not providing too much area to cause
excessive heat gains and losses
• Skylights spaced close enough together to
provide reasonable uniformity
• Just like electric lighting design
• Energy savings accrue only if electric lighting
turned off!
• Thus the need for automatic daylighting
controls
eQUEST has the answers to … 8

• How much skylight area should I install?

• How much energy savings do I get from using
a “high performance” skylight?
• Which type of lighting controls yield the most
energy savings?
• What is the HVAC impact of skylighting?
• With and without photocontrols
• Will peak loads increase or decrease?
Design it right the first time! 9
Download eQUEST 10

• eQUEST is a free whole building energy

simulation tool
• Detailed simulation model with easy to use
graphical interface
• Available from energydesignresources.com
• eQUEST is listed under “software”
• This tutorial steps you through a skylighting
simulation
 eQUEST start-up screen 11

Start-up
screen
choices
 Start-up Options 12

• Two primary choices

• Simulate a new or
pre-existing
building model
• Multiple pages of
inputs
• Create a weather
file for the SkyCalc
skylighting
spreadsheet
• One page of
inputs
Generating weather files for SkyCalc3 13

• SkyCalc3 also
available at
www.energydesignresources.com

• Simple skylighting
spreadsheet
• Not the subject of
this tutorial
• Select climate file,
energy code, and roof
U-factor to generate a
SkyCalc Weather file
 Start eQUEST Schematic Design Wizard 14

• Select “Create a New Project Via the Wizard”

• Design
Overview
• Location
• Building Type
• Area
• Utility rates
• Heating and
cooling?

Select
Daylighting
Controls to “Yes”
Building Footprint 15

• Select floor to
floor & floor to
ceiling height
• Plenum and
suspended ceiling
assumed if Flr-to-
Flr > Flr-to-Ceil

NOTE: Unless Flr-to-

Flr height exceeds Flr-
to-Clg height by > 1.0
ft., no separate above
ceiling zone will be
modeled
Skylight Components 16

skylight
glazing

skylight frame
Dome-depth
curb

light
well roof
Light depth deck
Well
ceiling
Rule of Thumb for Spacing Skylights 17

• Daylit zone around skylights is

• 35° degree angle from edge of skylight opening
• Or 70% of ceiling height (skylight edges spaced no
more than 1.4 x ceiling height)
• Daylit area reduced by partitions

•Gap
•< 0.7 x Gap
•35°
•35°
•H

•Permanent
•> 0.7 x Gap
partition
•H x 0.7

•DAYLIT AREA
Adjust no. of skylights 18

• For uniform daylighting, skylights should be

spaced no further than 1.4 times the ceiling
height
• For our 20 ft. ceiling height, skylights should be
a minimum of 28 ft. apart from edge-to-edge.
• Using typical 4 ft x 8 ft skylights, this results in a
minimum requirement of 4 skylights or an SRR
of 2.5% for our case.
• If space below has partitions or shelving, space
skylights closer together for full daylighting
• In this example we choose 8 skylights or 5% SRR
 Adjust no. of skylights 19

• To adjust skylight spacing, change the “% Coverage” or

“Skylight Dimensions”
• In this example, 4 ft x
8 ft skylights and 5%
coverage result in 8
skylights
• Decrease skylight
size or increase %
coverage to increase
number of skylights
or vice-versa.
NOTE: If Core /
Perimeter zoning
pattern is used, %
coverage refers to zone
area not floor area.
Select Glazing Type 20

• “Category”
defines frame
and shape
(Dome vs. Flat)
Frames are ordered
in terms of their
conductivity
Metal – most
conductive
(low R-value)

Wood or vinyl least

conductive
(high R-value)
Select Skylight Properties 21

• “Type” defines
glazing visible
transmittance,
solar gain and
clarity
Ordered by visible
transmittance
Clear highest
Grey lowest

Clear skylights:
Clear, bronze, grey

Diffusing skylights:
Clear (crystal), White,
all acrylic/fiberglass
Select Skylight Properties 22

• Choose if
your skylights
are diffusing
or dome
shaped.

Different skylight
types default to
diffusing or domed,
based on typical
skylight
configurations
Define Light Well 23

• The default light

well depth =
plenum depth
• Choose inside
reflectivity

If no plenum, the
default size is 1 ft
which accounts for
depth of a generic
curb, and roof deck.
Skylight properties by NFRC ratings 24

• You can also

specify the NFRC
rated properties of
the skylight by
selecting “Specify
Properties” under
“Category”

Specify:
- U-factor
- SHGC
- Visible
Transmittance
Skylight properties by Window 4/5 25

• You can also specify

a skylight designed
in LBNL’s Window
software v. 4/5.
• See eQUEST help
for more details on
this method
Photosensor 26

• Define fraction
(%) of lights
controlled by
photosensor
• See example on
next slide
• Define your
desired light level
at the level of
your working
plane.
• Input height of
working plane
under “Height
Above Floor”
 Fraction of Lighting Controlled 27

Example: A 20’ tall space (14’ zones around

skylights)
Yellow – Skylit areas

Teal – Area not 14 ft

sufficiently daylit
14
Lighting in yellow ft
areas are controlled,
those in teal area are
uncontrolled.

24 lights controlled
11 lights uncontrolled

Fraction controlled
24/35 = 69%
Lighting Controls 28

Choose your lighting

control type from • Lighting
choices given here controls
determine
the method
of reducing
the lighting
in the space
when
sufficient
daylighting
is available.
Dimming and Switching Controls 29

• For a dimming
control, the
Minimum Power
and Minimum
Light inputs
determine the
lowest level of light
output and the
corresponding
power usage by the
electric lights when
sufficient daylight
is present.
Dimming Controls 30

10% min-light, 20% min-power

100%
Fraction Maximum Power

80%

60%

40%
10% min-light
20% min-power
20%

0%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Daylight illuminance (fc) / Lighting setpoint(fc)
When daylight is providing 90% or more design illuminance,
electric lighting is dimmed to 10% of light output,
while consuming 20% of rated power.
Switching Controls 31

• For a switching
control, the
number of control
steps determine
the stages between
on and off.
Switching Controls 32

1.2
Fraction of maximum power

0.8
1-step
0.6 2-step
3-step
0.4

0.2

0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Daylight illuminance(fc) / Design illuminance (fc)

Separate circuiting and separate setpoint required for each

step 3 steps = 100% power, 66% power, 33% power and
0% power (off)
Lighting Load 33

• Define lighting
load in Watts
per sq.ft. for
every area type.
Skylight Parametric Analysis 34

• This new feature helps you

determine the optimum
amount of skylights (SRR) for
your building
• By parametrically increasing
the amount of skylights, or
Skylight to Roof area Ratio
(SRR), this analysis feature
helps you identify the SRR that
will maximize savings.
Skylight Parametric Analysis 35

• The Parametric Runs

screen lets you choose
the number of
parametric runs.
• 0% - represents 0 SRR
or no skylights
• 100% - represents
design SRR, or the
number of skylights
Click on “Perform SRR Parametric currently specified in
Runs” to start the parametric runs. your model
Review results once all simulations are
done
Skylight Parametric Analysis 36

Energy and Cost Savings Report

• The result output from the analysis is a graph that

shows Total Annual Energy Savings, and Total Energy
Cost Savings.
• With these graphs it is easy to spot the optimum SRR
from maximum energy and cost savings
• Dashed lined in the graph represents design case
(shown here at 5%)
 Skylight Parametric Analysis 37

Daylight Illuminance Report

Light shaded
values show
Dark shaded values acceptable daylight
show lower than levels
acceptable daylight
levels

• This report shows the average daylight illuminance at

the reference point for each hour of the day (columns)
and each month of the year (rows)
Output Reports 38

• With Parametric Analysis, results from up to

ten cases can be compared on a single graph.
However, to view energy use by end use, for
any of the cases, you can use eQUEST’s
Results Output Mode.
• To view output reports select View| Results
Output Mode
Output Reports 39

Graphic results of
monthly electric and
gas energy
consumption

Breakdown of energy
use by end use, and
month.
 Comparing Output Reports 40

With 5% Skylights
Note that the
Y-axis gets re-
Cooling scaled for
energy use each run
increases
with
skylights
Space Heating
energy use
Electric increases with
Lighting skylights
energy use
decreases
with
skylights

Without Skylights
Example 1 – Conditioned Warehouse 41

• For this example we will consider:

• An air conditioned warehouse
• 50 ft x 100 ft in plan and with 20ft ceilings
• 5% Medium white, double glazed, domed
skylights (VT=0.5, U=1.14, SHGC=0.47)
• Lighting setpoint: 10 fc
• Lighting Power Density (LPD): 0.75 W/sf
• Space has racks: 15’ height, 8’aisle width
• Lighting controls: 2 level + Off
• Location: Riverside, CA (CA Climate Zone 10)
• Utility rates: $0.12/kWh and $0.90/therm
Example 1 – Conditioned Warehouse 42
Example 1 – Conditioned Warehouse 43

• Using the Skylight Parametric Analysis we

will identify the optimum Skylight area to
Roof area Ratio (SRR)
• We will also consider two other skylight
choices:
• Clear prismatic, double glazed, domed acrylic
skylights (VT=0.88, U=1.14, SHGC=0.78)
• Clear Low-E coating, double glazed, flat glass
skylights (VT=0.44, U=0.43, SHGC=0.39)

VT = visible light transmittance

SHGC = solar heat gain coefficient
U = conductive thermal transmittance, (1/R-value)
 Example 1 – Conditioned Warehouse 44

Energy Savings Report

Not enough
daylight with
Maximum
only 1.3%
savings at
skylights to
6.3% SRR
turn off all
lights
resulting in
very little
savings. After the peak, the
thermal losses
begin to offset
lighting savings
• The energy savings parametric analysis shows that
maximum savings are at 6.3% SRR. The designed case at
5% SRR is close to maximum
• View Output Reports to see which thermal loss, excessive
solar gain or heat loss causes savings to decline
Example 1 – Conditioned Warehouse 45

Energy Cost Savings Report

• The energy cost savings parametric analysis also

shows the optimum SRR to be 6.3% as it gives
the maximum savings ~ $2,000.
Example 1 – Conditioned Warehouse 46

• Comparing the
Clear Prismatic two other skylight
types, we find
that with a low-e
glazing skylight,
the max savings
are reached at
6.3% as compared
to 2.5% for clear
Low-e Clear prismatic .
• Furthermore, the
max savings for
both skylights are
almost the same
(~14,000 kWh)
Example 1 – Conditioned Warehouse 47

RESULTS
• With this example, it is clear that same max savings
can be achieved using a much cheaper skylight (clear
prismatic vs low-e glass), and also by using a smaller
area of the cheaper skylights (2.5%SRR)
• Other non-energy considerations may still motivate the
selection of glass skylights
• These results are specific to the conditions defined for
this particular case and the result will differ if any of
them are changed.
• The eQUEST tool allows you to consider what is
important for your building in your climate
• Using eQUEST’s Skylight Parametric Analysis Tool it
becomes possible to compare various scenarios over a
broad range of skylight areas
Example 2 – Retail Store 48

• For a second example we will consider:

• An air conditioned retail store
• 100 ft x 100 ft in plan and with 20 ft ceilings, 5 ft
wells
• 5% Medium white, double glazed, domed
skylights (VT=0.5, U=1.14, SHGC=0.47)
• Fluorescent lighting
• Lighting setpoint: 60 fc, LPD: 2.18 W/sf
• Space has racks: 10’ height, 10’aisle width
• Lighting controls: Dimming to 10% light output
• Location: Riverside, CA (CA Climate Zone 10)
• Utility rates: $0.12/kWh and $0.90/therm
Example 2 – Retail Store 49
 Example 2 – Retail Store: Controls 50

• We will consider choices for controls and

determine the one with the most savings:
• Dimming 10% • 2 level + Off

Dimming min 10% light Two level + off switching

100% 100%

80% 80%
Lighting Power

Lighting Power
60% 60%

40% 40%

20% 20%

0% 0%
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Daylight Foot-Candles Daylight Foot-Candles

Example 2 – Retail Store: Dimming 51

Energy Savings Report

Maximum
savings at
4.7% SRR

• The energy savings parametric analysis shows that

maximum savings are at 4.7% SRR.
• At design case (6.3% SRR), adding more skylights
increases heating and cooling loads more than
additional lighting savings, total savings are reduced
Example 2 – Retail Store: Energy Savings 52

Dimming Controls • Comparing between

the lighting control
strategies, two level
+ off controls save
~6000 kWh more
energy than
dimming controls.
2Level+Off Controls • Dimming max
savings occurs at
4.7% SRR
• Max savings for 2
level switching
occurs at 6.3% SRR
Example 2 – Retail Store: Cost Savings 53

Dimming Controls • Switching controls

max savings is ~
$8,000/yr higher than
dimming
• With dimming
controls, max savings
can be achieved at a
lower SRR (4.6%),
2Level+Off Controls but at same SRR,
switching controls
still have greater
savings.
• Designer may still
choose dimming for
non-energy reasons
Example 2 – Retail Store 54

RESULTS
• Relative savings from different control strategies
depends upon rest of the design including the SRR.
• eQUEST’s Skylight Parametric Analysis Tool allows to
quickly evaluate this over a broad range of SRR’s
• In this case with 6.3% SRR, 2 level switching saved
more energy than dimming.
• Under full daylit conditions, fully dimmed system is
consuming 20% power while switched system is off.
• Often retailers leave some lights on to show they are
open. The likely switching control would leave x% of
the lights on. Now which system saves more?
• You can answer this question using eQUEST!
Daylighting resources 55

• www.energydesignresources.com
• eQUEST software and this tutorial
• SkyCalc skylighting design spreadsheet
• Skylighting Guidelines (100 pages)
• detailed skylighting design handbook
• Daylighting Guidelines
• Design Briefs (20 pages)
• Skylights with Suspended Ceilings
• Lighting Controls
Daylighting Resources: Savings By Design 56

• California statewide nonresidential new construction

energy efficiency program
• http://www.savingsbydesign.com/
• Administered by California investor owned utilities
(SCE, PG&E SDG&E and SCG)
• Program features:
• Design assistance
• energy information and analysis tailored to the needs
of your project
• Owner incentives
• help offset the initial costs of energy-efficient buildings
• Design team incentives
• reward designers who meet ambitious energy
efficiency targets
Acknowledgements 57

• This tutorial and skylighting upgrades to eQUEST

were funded by the California utility customers under
the auspices of the California Public Utilities
Commission
• Project management: Southern California Edison
www.sce.com
• Diane McLean & Shelley Baumgardner
• Technical content: Heschong Mahone Group
www.h-m-g.com
• Jon McHugh & Mudit Saxena
• Technical content: JJ Hirsch Associates
www.doe2.com
• Jeff Hirsch, Paul Reeves, Scott Criswell & Marlin
Addison