Description
The use of atriums to provide lighting for work spaces is rapidly gaining acceptance and is a beneficial element in many energy-conserving designs. However, clients often question the cost benefits of atriums and impose undue pressure on the design professional to provide a lengthy, long-term economic analysis.
This paper looks at the benefits of atriums to the worker environment, including visual relationships with outdoor-like space, daylighting, and thermal comfort on a year-round basis. The importance of the atrium in the energy performance of the building will be discussed, appropriate uses for the atrium space will be explored, and a new way of calculating the overall building efficiency of structures with atriums will be presented.
Life-cycle cost analysis is usually fraught with problems and provides room for argument because of the assumptions of future cost, which, no doubt, require guessing. This paper will share a methodology for evaluating atriums on a first-cost basis, thereby removing much of the guesswork from the decision.
Citation: ASHRAE Transactions, 1983, vol. 89, pt. 2B, Washington, D.C.
Product Details
- Published:
- 1983
- Number of Pages:
- 15
- File Size:
- 1 file , 1.4 MB
- Product Code(s):
- D-DC-86-14-1
