My next little 30x30 storage building will have shelves along the east and west walls with the roof ridge running north/south. I am thinking of two clerestories as shown in the drawing and my question is: should the clerestories be 10 feet apart for maximum light for the shelves? 20 feet?
Where to place clerestories to get maximum light?
- Thread starter bgarrett
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djkeev
Well-known member
I'd do an almost unbroken row of windows. If not both sides, the Southern for sure.
Dave
Dave
czr12x
Well-known member
czr12x
Well-known member
lol..i just reread this...its been a long day.
EdT
Well-known member
I'm sure there is more science to this than I am familiar with, but I think there are some fairly simple considerations that might help.
1)The walls with the clerestory windows should be far enough apart that the light coming into the window does not just hit the wall on the other side w/o getting into the shop.
2) The usefulness of the clerestories will be very dependent on the orientation of the building relative to the path of the sun. If one side of the clerestory faces south, that's probably as good as it can get as far as maximizing the amount of light that can come in on a given day. Consequently, I'm not sure there's much benefit in windows and their associated vertical wall on the side that faces away from the sun. It will never face the sun unless the building moves. If you look at clerestories on old factories, they use a sloped roof rising to the top of the clerestories from the "north" wall and then the roof on the south side meets the bottom of the clerestories. Usually, the windows comprise all or most of the vertical surface between the roof sections. There are several ways that this can be accomplished
3) Obviously, the angle of the sun is going to make a big difference in how much light you get. Not sure where you live, but if you're in the north then the sun never gets very high in the winter sky. I think someone in the solar panel business could probably help you figure out the seasonal inclination of the sun in your area and from that you could figure out the geometry of the building to get the most benefit. Maximize the solar gain(Light=HEAT) in the winter when it's cold and dark and less optimal in the summer when it's hot or whatever you feel would be best for you.
Just some quick thoughts. I'm not a clerestory engineer. Hope it works out well.
1)The walls with the clerestory windows should be far enough apart that the light coming into the window does not just hit the wall on the other side w/o getting into the shop.
2) The usefulness of the clerestories will be very dependent on the orientation of the building relative to the path of the sun. If one side of the clerestory faces south, that's probably as good as it can get as far as maximizing the amount of light that can come in on a given day. Consequently, I'm not sure there's much benefit in windows and their associated vertical wall on the side that faces away from the sun. It will never face the sun unless the building moves. If you look at clerestories on old factories, they use a sloped roof rising to the top of the clerestories from the "north" wall and then the roof on the south side meets the bottom of the clerestories. Usually, the windows comprise all or most of the vertical surface between the roof sections. There are several ways that this can be accomplished
3) Obviously, the angle of the sun is going to make a big difference in how much light you get. Not sure where you live, but if you're in the north then the sun never gets very high in the winter sky. I think someone in the solar panel business could probably help you figure out the seasonal inclination of the sun in your area and from that you could figure out the geometry of the building to get the most benefit. Maximize the solar gain(Light=HEAT) in the winter when it's cold and dark and less optimal in the summer when it's hot or whatever you feel would be best for you.
Just some quick thoughts. I'm not a clerestory engineer. Hope it works out well.
Octarine
Well-known member
There is indeed a lot of thought put into clerestory window sizing, placement, and overhangs. It is extremely site and latitude dependent, however.
You will want to research solar access angles for your geographic area. Also look up horizontal and vertical shading angles esp. on south facing walls. Solar gain can be a big issue if you put too large a window or too small an overhang.
Honestly, the few times I had customers ask for them, I paid an architect who specialized in green heating and lighting to look at my plans.
You will want to research solar access angles for your geographic area. Also look up horizontal and vertical shading angles esp. on south facing walls. Solar gain can be a big issue if you put too large a window or too small an overhang.
Honestly, the few times I had customers ask for them, I paid an architect who specialized in green heating and lighting to look at my plans.
Thanks guys!
I have lived in the deep South all my life where the summer heat is the enemy. This building is near the Missouri Arkansas stateline where heating the building is the locals bigger concern.
So working with what I know, which maybe wrong for this location, I plan the gables on the north and South walls and the clerestories on the east and west walls. No windows on the South side but possible windows on the north for the steady light. Again, this may be wrong for the location, I dont know.
I want maximum light inside for shelves on the east and west walls
I have lived in the deep South all my life where the summer heat is the enemy. This building is near the Missouri Arkansas stateline where heating the building is the locals bigger concern.
So working with what I know, which maybe wrong for this location, I plan the gables on the north and South walls and the clerestories on the east and west walls. No windows on the South side but possible windows on the north for the steady light. Again, this may be wrong for the location, I dont know.
I want maximum light inside for shelves on the east and west walls
Last edited:
EdT
Well-known member
If the sun can come in to light stuff it can also come in to heat the same stuff. So, you may be faced with a choice of whether it is cheaper where you live to run lights so you can see, or AC so you're not too hot. I know what I'd pick. If you face the clerestory east and west with the gable ends north and south you won't get much light or solar gain. Again, with the sketch you've shown, the low angle winter sun will come in the windows on one side and go right out the windows on the other side and with the orientation you're proposing it won't be that much anyhow. Hope you end up with what you want.