Enhancing energy efficiency and visual comfort: the role of passive daylighting in public higher educational buildings

This comprehensive research investigates the implementation of passive daylighting strategies in public higher educational buildings, addressing the critical challenges of energy efficiency and visual comfort in modern educational environments. With the continuous expansion of educational institutions worldwide and the subsequent surge in energy consumption, particularly in lighting, there is an urgent need for sustainable design solutions that can meet both environmental and functional requirements. The study examines how passive daylighting techniques can effectively reduce dependency on artificial lighting. The research systematically examines various daylighting strategies, implementation methods, and performance outcomes across different educational contexts through a rigorous qualitative methodology, incorporating an extensive literature review and detailed thematic analysis of academic papers from established databases. The findings reveal that passive daylighting strategies, including light shelves, window, skylights, louvres, and overhangs, can significantly enhance energy efficiency when adequately implemented in educational settings. Specifically, light shelves demonstrate remarkable potential, reducing lighting energy consumption by up to 60%, while carefully calculated 40-60% window-to-wall ratios provide balanced natural lighting. The research emphasises the significance of considering local climate conditions, building orientation, and seamless integration with other building systems for successful implementation. These comprehensive findings provide valuable insights for architects, educational administrators, and facility managers seeking to incorporate sustainable daylighting in educational facilities. The study concludes that effective passive daylighting strategies are essential tools for creating sustainable and comfortable educational spaces.