When we asked some of our designers which green technologies
they were most excited about, Senior Electrical Design Engineer, Ahmad Jallad,
told us about sunlight transport. Our followers wanted to hear more, so we have
interviewed Ahmad about this innovative technology, what makes it so interesting
for designers and architects and whether it will be implemented in projects by
CCG.
What is sunlight
transport and how does it work?
Sunlight transport is a type of technology that uses sun
collectors and low intrusion fiber optic cables, to lead sunlight from a building’s
roof down to the floors inside the building, to make sunlight an indoor
experience.
The fiber optic cables can lead sunlight 100m into the
building while still retaining the maximum light intensity.
The sunlight emitting lighting fixtures look and work like
normal lamps, giving off ambient light. The system can spread light in a range
of customized ways; over a large surface, directed at the ceiling to give the
illusion that the light comes through an open shaft, or over a larger wall area
like a waterfall.
What makes it so
interesting?
Delivering sunlight into indoor environments will make
indoor spaces feel more natural. This helps to fulfil daylight requirements
while opening up endless design possibilities within the building.
This technology is a passive system that channels sunlight from
its outside source to illuminate rooms. The sunlight is transported rather than
being generated artificially using electricity, which means that sunlight
transport requires no energy consumption during daylight hours. As a result,
the technology reduces energy consumption and carbon emissions which is better
for the environment, and results in reduced electricity bills. There is also
the option to incorporate technology that stores solar energy that can be used
to light the building in cases of low sunlight such as on cloudy days or
outside of daylight hours.
Daylight provides a higher level of light required for
biological functions than electric light sources, meaning daylight has higher
benefits for humans than electric light sources. Natural sunlight is known to
boost creativity and productivity throughout the day, and with sunlight
transport, the light will change in the same way that the sunlight outside
changes, enabling people in even the darkest and most closed-off rooms to
re-establish a connection with the natural daylight cycle.
When was it created
and where is it being used?
Sunlight transport systems are being used right now in a
range of different projects around the world, to lead natural light deep into
buildings and into areas that are far away from windows.
Inventors began working on sunlight transport more than 20
years ago and the first version of the technology was created in 2004. The
types of projects we tend to see it used in now include commercial,
hospitality, health care, residential and industrial buildings.
Will CCG be using
sunlight transport in projects?
At CCG, we will work together as
architects and lighting designers in order to bring natural light deep into
buildings including into spaces that are far away from windows.
We will be creating designs for
sunlight transport systems in 3 main stages:
1.
Designing sunlight collectors that will be
located on the roof of the building to collect the sunlight
2.
Designing the fiber optic cables that will
transport the light collected by the sunlight collector on the roof to the
system luminaires
3.
Designing the sunlight transport system
luminaires that will distribute the sunlight into the building
What do you hope will
come from the use of sunlight transport?
At CCG, all team members are always working together in
order to find the best ways to reduce carbon emissions. By using innovative
technologies such as sunlight transport systems and through using renewable
resources such as sunlight to the greatest extent possible, we are able to
reduce harmful impacts while providing the benefits of natural light to our
clients and end users.
