Abstract

Most of the research on the impact of climate change and adaptation are focussed on the changes in thermal constructed environment, for example to identify the extent of overheating and thermal discomfort during summer time, and little (if any) research has been done to identify the impact of climate change on indoor constructed luminous environment (i.e. daylighting condition). This research focuses on the impact of climate change on the indoor daylight level for an imaginary hospital in-patient room located in London, UK. The impact of climate change on daylight levels inside in-patient rooms was analysed by prospective daylight simulation analysis using a dynamic annual climate based daylight modelling (CBDM) method (i.e. DAYSIM). The performance of the constructed luminous environment was compared under the present and the future climate change time slices. It is evident from the results of the simulation analysis that there is a possibility to increase the average indoor room illumination by a maximum of 5% in the future (2080–2100) compared to the present (1983–2004). Though the simulation study is based on a hospital in-patient room, it is likely that the changes in daylight levels will be similar in the future for other types of indoor facilities.