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.
