@misc{10481/62742,
year = {2020},
month = {5},
url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10481/62742},
abstract = {This paper presents the first comparative study of its type of the performance of light pipes
with different types of apertures: a flat glass versus a bohemian crystal dome. Measurements were
taken at 20-min intervals over a period of one year in the bathrooms of two newly built identical
houses of the same orientation located in Manchester, UK. The comparative analysis of the data
collected for both light pipes types reveals that the crystal domed aperture consistently outperforms
the flat glass one. Furthermore, the difference in the recorded horizontal illuminance is most marked
during the winter months and at the end of the one-year experiment, indicating that the crystal dome
has better performance for low incident winter light and higher resistance for the long term effect of
weathering and pollution. This study provides strong evidence based on long term real measurements.
Such evidence informs architects’ decisions when weighing up the aesthetic considerations of a flat
glass aperture versus the higher illumination levels afforded by a crystal dome aperture with higher
resistance to weathering and pollution.},
publisher = {MDPI},
keywords = {Light pipe},
keywords = {Crystal dome aperture},
keywords = {Flat glass aperture},
keywords = {Year-long comparative recorded illuminance},
keywords = {Weathering},
keywords = {Circadian entrainment},
title = {Flat Glass or Crystal Dome Aperture? A Year-Long Comparative Analysis of the Performance of Light Pipes in Real Residential Settings and Climatic Conditions},
doi = {10.3390/su12093858},
author = {Sibley, Magda and Peña-García, Antonio},
}