AAMASKY

Analysis of component and total heating, cooling, and lighting energy consumption attributable to skylights in commercial buildings, as well as peak demand impacts. Also provides hourly and monthly patterns of illumination levels from daylighting. The American Architectural Manufacturers Association's AAMASKY (AAMA SKYlight) consists of a Skylight Design Guidelines Handbook containing worksheet-based calculations, as well as a software spreadsheet that allows much more rapid determination of skylight impacts; all required data for analysis in ten U.S. climates is provided. Directly applicable to simple diffusing skylight designs for most types of commercial buildings. Helps achieve compliance with performance-based building codes. With experience, can be used for some types of sloped glazing and atrium designs.

Keywords

skylights, daylighting, commercial buildings

Validation/Testing

N/A

Expertise Required

Familiarity with Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet useful; basic understanding of daylighting performance also useful.

Users

300.

Audience

Architects, lighting designers.

Input

Basic description of commercial building design and lighting requirements (area, lighting requirements, skylight area and properties, occupancy schedule, geographical location).

Output

Guidance for optimal skylight selection; annual heating, cooling, lighting energy requirements; monthly/hourly plots of daylight levels.

Computer Platform

PC-compatible, with Lotus 1-2-3.

Programming Language

Lotus Template

Strengths

Fast, relatively accurate answers for component and total energy use; provides guidance and explanation in accompanying design guide.

Weaknesses

Limited to standard skylight designs, interface limited by Lotus 1-2-3 capabilities.

Contact

Availability

Available for $50 from:
American Architectural Manufacturers Association
1540 E. Dundee Road
Palatine, Illinois 60067

telephone (708) 202-1350
facsimile (708) 202-1480

Printable Version