Which statement best describes how daylighting relates to energy use in tropical architecture?

• A. Daylighting reduces artificial lighting energy use when combined with shading and appropriate glazing.
• B. Daylighting increases cooling load with no energy benefits.
• C. Daylighting is avoided in tropical design due to heat.
• D. Daylighting has no impact on energy use.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that daylighting can cut the energy used for artificial lighting, but in tropical architecture this must be paired with strategies to control heat and glare. By bringing in natural light through well‑positioned openings and then blocking direct sun with shading devices (like overhangs, louvers, or fins) and using glazing with good daylight transmission but low solar heat gain, interior spaces stay bright while cooling loads remain manageable. When shading and appropriate glazing are used, daylighting reduces the need for electric lighting and can lower overall energy use.

The other options miss this balance: daylighting is not inherently harmful or energy-inefficient in tropical design—it’s only problematic if heat is uncontrolled. It’s also not true that daylighting has no impact on energy use, since it directly reduces artificial lighting needs. And daylighting isn’t avoided in tropical design; it’s actively leveraged with proper shading and glazing.