BUILDING FABRIC 43


DAYLIGHT: THE OVERLOOKED ROLE


As sustainable construction advances, home design must go beyond energy effi ciency, considering daylight, ventilation, comfort, and embodied carbon. Neil Freshwater of VELUX explores how daylight and Indoor Environment Quality can contribute.


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n the pursuit of more sustainable and energy-effi cient homes, a holistic approach to building design is crucial. While the Future Homes Standard (FHS) and eisting Approved ocuments provide a regulatory framework for energy effi ciency, they fail to consider several critical factors that contribute to overall building performance.


Among these, daylight provision is a signifi cant omission. atural light in homes directly infl uences occupant health, well-being, and energy consumption. n ecember , E launched the aylighthampion campaign in the  arliament, bringing together daylighting eperts and politicians to highlight its importance. Additionally, the arliaments


All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on ealthy omes  Buildings, whose advisory board we are a member of, has long championed the need for a holistic approach to building policy and design.


THE IMPORTANCE OF DAYLIGHT IN BUILDINGS espite its benefi ts, daylighting remains overlooked in  building regulations. The current Approved ocuments and the proposed Future Homes Standard focus on energy effi ciency and ventilation but do not include minimum daylight requirements. This is a missed opportunity to enhance occupant well-being while reducing reliance on artifi cial lighting. oof windows effectively maimise


daylight penetration due to their lack of eterior obstruction. esearch shows that exposure to natural light improves mental well-being, productivity, and sleep cycles. Homes with adequate daylighting require less artifi cial lighting, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.


THE BIGGER PICTURE – HEALTHY & HOLISTIC BUILDING DESIGN The E roup has long championed Active ouse design principles, balancing energy, environment, and indoor comfort. These principles consider environmental impacts like embodied carbon and water effi ciency, as well as indoor comfort parameters including thermal comfort, air quality, daylight, and acoustics. These can


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