User acceptance study of the EE-SYLK daylighting system

I. De Laet, G. Meynen, P. Van Tichelen, and G. Vanuytsel, Vito
F. Taeymans, ETAP
L. Zonneveldt, TNO Building and Construction Research

Keywords

user acceptance, daylight system, dimming

Abstract

In the EE-SYLK project a new daylighting system has been developed and evaluated. The new daylighting focused on ways of bringing the natural light deeper and more evenly distributed in office spaces by using a special sunblind and optic ceiling. Light technical, thermal and user-friendliness evaluations have been performed on the product.

The evaluation was done by comparison of two identical offices, one with the new daylighting system and one with a normal horizontal white sunblind under identical circumstances. We evaluated in different weather conditions, seasons and with different positions of the louvers of the sunblind.

The thermal evaluation showed that both systems have similar thermal performance. From the light technical evaluation it can be concluded that the system brings up to 35 % more light and more uniform light at the workstations in the office.

In this paper the user acceptance evaluation method is described in more detail. The test person's selection, the test set up, testing procedure and enquiry is explained. The method did not reveal the purpose of the test and can also be applied for evaluation of other daylighting systems and office equipment. Finally the user acceptance results are presented and interpreted.