A case for ‘active’ daylighting by appropriate management of electric lighting

Understanding of how occupants of non-domestic buildings use electric lighting, gained from behavioural studies, indicates that the mere provision of daylighting is unlikely to lead to its useful uptake. It is suggested that the design of appropriate electric lighting control systems, including those requiring occupant action, can be related to occupancy patterns of space use and daylight availability in the space and that provision of such systems should be seen as ‘active daylighting’. It is also suggested that design for ‘active daylighting’ requires more accurate prediction of daylight availability in interiors.