Evaluation of three solar and daylighting control systems based on Calumen II, Ecotect and radiance simulation programmes to obtain an energy efficient and healthy interior in the experimental building Prototype SD10

• The consequences of living in areas with not enough daylight go beyond the impact on electricity consumption.
• Natural lighting can have both positive and negative effects on health, productivity and user satisfaction of a space.
• Simulations of different glazing and solar-daylight control devises have been performed.
• Any decision regarding the type of glass, changes its luminous properties: from 90% transmission in clear glass to 8–50% in solar control glass depending on the type of glass and the colour of it.
• Regarding solar control devices and daylighting values, there is a significant difference between the results of retro-reflecting slats and the other types of devises simulated.

The SD10 Prototype is an experimental building used as the Headquarters of the organization during the Solar Decathlon Europe Competitions 2010 and 2012. The project aim is to develop a new industrialized, light, sustainable and energy efficient construction system. The active modular glazing panel is a 2D glazing module on the south façade.In high solar radiation climates, the effect of the large amount of light and the usual lack of daylighting control devices cause exterior sunscreen abuse, paradoxically generating artificially illuminated interior spaces. The consequences of living in areas with not enough daylight go beyond the impact on electricity consumption. Natural lighting can have both positive and negative effects on health, productivity and user satisfaction of a space.The objective of this study is to evaluate the modular active glazing panel and to determine the influence of different types of solar and light control devices in relation to the quantity and quality of natural light, in order to determine which are suitable for the use of solar radiation in high radiation climates.