What can the project design team explain to the school district about how this strategy will affect the operational energy cost?

A school wants to incorporate natural daylighting in classrooms on all sides of the building.

What can the project design team explain to the school district about how this strategy will affect the operational energy cost?
A . Heat gain will reduce the air conditioning load
B . Having the lights off reduces the electricity use
C . Reduction in lighting fixture use reduces re-lamping
D .   There would be passive solar heating benefits to all of the classrooms

View Answer

Answer: B

Explanation:

Natural daylighting can reduce the electricity use for artificial lighting, which is one of the major components of operational energy cost for buildings. By having the lights off or dimmed when sufficient daylight is available, the project can save energy and money. The other options are not necessarily true or relevant for natural daylighting. Heat gain and passive solar heating depend on the orientation, shading, and insulation of the windows, not just the amount of daylight. Reduction in lighting fixture use may reduce re-lamping, but that is not a significant factor in operational energy cost compared to electricity use.

References: EA Credit Optimize Energy Performance, EQ Credit Daylight, LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction123