Energy 101: Daylighting
Videos
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Earth and Space Sciences, Engineering
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by U.S. Department of Energy
What it is
- This video describes the concept of daylighting, which is using windows strategically to maximize natural light and help regulate the temperature of buildings.
- Daylighting helps reduce electricity consumption and saves money on utility bills.
Teaching tips
Positives
- Diagrams clearly convey the concept.
- The design and technology principles discussed in the video are simple enough for students to use in their own projects.
Prerequisites
- The concept of daylighting is applicable globally, but the specific examples of window orientation given in the video only apply to the United States and areas of that latitude.
Differentiation
- Students could use the information in this video to redesign their school or house, incorporating daylighting into the design.
- Students living in a different latitude from the U.S. could explore the window orientations necessary in their area to achieve the same effects described in the video.
- Other resources that discuss harnessing passive energy from the sun are this Khan Academy video on solar energy and this e-book called Earth's Energy Resources: Solar Energy.
From the scientist review
Daylighting in buildings is an important parameter for thermal comfort. This resource shows different window designs and how windows could be placed in buildings to reduce utility bills and enhance thermal comfort. Please note that the concept of building facade and window orientation explained in the video works only in the U.S. and areas of the same latitude, but doesn't work in low latitudes or in the southern hemisphere due to tilting of the Earth and variation in solar radiation incident upon the surface. Aside from the limitation stated above, this resource is recommended for teaching.
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