Building Energy and Comfort Optimization
Open access
Peer reviewed
Abstract
Abstract
Improving daylight performance in heritage hotels is essential for enhancing comfort, quality, and energy efficiency, especially in hot-desert climates where solar availability must be balanced with glare and overheating risks. However, façade preservation requirements limit conventional daylighting interventions, creating a need for climate-responsive and conservation-compatible solutions. This study investigates daylight optimization strategies for the Transatlantique Hotel in Biskra, Algeria, using Climate-Based Daylight Modelling (CBDM). The methodology combines three-dimensional modelling, in situ material characterization, and Radiance-based simulations with ClimateStudio version 2.3. Daylight performance was assessed using Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA), Annual Sunlight Exposure (ASE), Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI), and Daylight Factor (DF). Tested scenarios included improved glazing transmittance, increased surface reflectance, and tubular daylighting devices (TDDs). Results show that the existing configuration provides insufficient daylight in guest rooms, with average illuminance in poorly performing rooms ranging from 140 to 310 lux. Material-based optimization increased Room 210's sDA from 3.9% to 62.3%, representing an approximately +1497% relative improvement, while UDI reached 58.6%. TDDs produced the strongest improvement: Room 110 sDA increased from 11.8% to 82.4% (+598%), while ASE decreased from 10.6% to 0.0%; Room 310 sDA increased from 31.2% to 100% (+221%), while ASE decreased from 16.9% to 0.0%. The novelty lies in integrating material-based and TDD strategies under strict façade-preservation constraints in a hot-desert heritage hotel.
Direct answer
What can I do from this paper page?
Use this page to scan "Sustainable Daylighting Retrofit of a Heritage Hotel Under Façade Preservation Constraints: A Climate-Based Simulation Study in Biskra, Algeria" quickly: start with the summary and abstract, then check the authors, source, topics, and related papers. From here, open Scollr to follow Building Energy and Comfort Optimization research, save the paper, or map adjacent work.
Research areas
Follow related topics
Citation
BibTeX
@article{Khelil2026Sustainable,
title = {Sustainable Daylighting Retrofit of a Heritage Hotel Under Façade Preservation Constraints: A Climate-Based Simulation Study in Biskra, Algeria},
author = {Alla Eddine Khelil and Sara Khelil and Ornella Zerlenga and Ahmed Kaihoul and Mohammad El Youssef},
journal = {Sustainability},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.3390/su18147376},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/su18147376}
}FAQ
Using this paper in a discovery workflow
How do I find related work for this paper?
Use the related papers and topic links on this page as starting points. In Scollr, you can also open the paper and build a literature map around its references, citing papers, and related work.
How can I keep up with new Building Energy and Comfort Optimization research papers?
Follow Building Energy and Comfort Optimization research in Scollr. New papers from the topic flow into a personalized feed, and you can save useful studies to revisit later.
Can I cite this paper from this page?
This page includes a static BibTeX block for Sustainable Daylighting Retrofit of a Heritage Hotel Under Façade Preservation Constraints: A Climate-Based Simulation Study in Biskra, Algeria. Always verify the DOI, source, and publication details against the publisher record before submitting a manuscript.
Follow this research in Scollr
Follow the topics and authors behind this paper, save useful studies, and build a literature map when you are ready to go deeper.
Get the app