SBIR-STTR Award

Approximately $71 billion is spent annually on the power needs of non-residential buildings (office, retail, industrial, etc.). Nearly $35 billion of these energy costs are associated with powering lighting equipment or removing the heat associated with using the lighting equipment. Daylighting can reduce lighting and cooling energy consumption and peak demand. However, for daylighting technologies to succeed, they must be cost-effective and applicable to both new and retrofit construction. This project encompasses feasibility research and preliminary development work for an inexpensive Mini-Optical Light Self daylighting system for the side lighting of new and retrofit non-residential buildings. This system relies on internally mounted mini-optical reflector elements which collect, redirect, and diffuse daylight onto a building internal ceiling plane, effectively increasing the size of a building's perimeter daylight zones and reducing the need for the operation of electric lighting equipment. Phase I feasibility research will refine and evaluate the Mini-Optical Light Shelf concept through component and system level design and analysis, optical performance simulation, scale model testing, manufacturing feasibility studies, and annual building energy and demand simulations. The technical and economic viability of the Mini-Optical Light Shelf will be evaluated in Phase I. A conceptual prototype design, including material selection, will be defined for Phase II.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:
The market for an innovative passive optic daylighting side lighting system is new and existing non-residential buildings. The goal for the innovative Mini-Optical Light Shelf daylighting system is to be as easily applied as normal internal mini-blinds for both new and retrofit construction. The use of this side lighting technology could significantly reduce the $35 billion spent each year to light non-residential buildings in the United States and also enhance the quality of their visual environment.

Approximately 887 billion kWh of electricity are consumed in commercial buildings. Lighting is the largest end-use for electricity, consuming approximately 310 billion kWh at a cost of some $24 billion annually. This could be significantly reduced by illuminating commercial spaces with daylight, but only if a system could be developed that is inexpensive and easily applied to new and existing buildings. This project will develop a commercially-viable Mini-Optical Light Shelf daylighting system which can be used with any commercial glazing system or daylight dimming control system in new and existing non-residential buildings. It relies on internally mounted mini-optical reflector elements, which are fully integrated with commercial window treatments, to collect, redirect, and diffuse daylight onto a building's internal ceiling plane, effectively increasing the size of a building=s perimeter daylit zones and thereby reducing the need for the operation of electric lighting equipment. In Phase I, a viable integrated passive optic optical daylighting system was developed, prototypes were built and tested, optical and building energy simulations were performed, preliminary construction methodologies and budgets were developed, and the technical and commercial viability of the day lighting system was demonstrated. Phase II will further develop and refine the design, fabrication, and manufacturing of the Mini-Optical daylighting system in preparation for commercialization.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:
The Mini-Optical Light Shelf daylighting system should find application as conventional internal mini-blinds for both new and retrofit construction in non-residential buildings. This lighting technology should significantly reduce the $24 billion spent each year to light non-residential buildings while also enhancing the quality of the commercial visual environment.