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Innovative daylighting systems (IDS) are used to deliver daylight into windowless spaces and building cores. Cleaning the exposed surfaces is essential for maintaining their efficiency because the accumulation of dirt inhibits their effectiveness. However, a review of the literature has indicated that this issue has not received the attention it deserves. This study reviews the cleaning methods currently used for solar devices and conventional daylighting systems. It also presents the technologies that can currently be employed to produce an IDS cleaning system, and suggests six cleaning mechanisms and 12 cleaning systems that suit different types of IDS in various operating circumstances. These include air-blowing, water-jetting, dragging-contact, rotary-contact and certain aid treatments. Air-cleaning and washing with water can both be used to restore functionality. Wiping and scrubbing are effective for increasing efficiency. Further productivity can be obtained by drying solar collectors after they have been washed. The systems suggested herein can be developed using already available technologies in order to achieve the ultimate in IDS efficiency restoration. However, before this can be done, the economic, environmental and operational aspects, in addition to potential levels of efficacy and applicability, must be assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daylight guidance systems deliver daylight into remote parts of buildings. However, they still lack market penetration. The primary difficulty lies within the installation process. Daylight guidance systems use light ducts to distribute daylight, which occupy significant amounts of space. The integration of light ducts and heating, ventilation and air conditioning ducts is a promising solution. This study compares the differences and similarities of the two ducting systems, suggests an integrated system and evaluates the potential of and challenges faced by the proposed dual ducting system. A schematic application is completed and demonstrates that the dual ducting system has the economic potential to reduce costs, avoid conflicts between building systems and simplify the installation of daylight guidance systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews developments in hybrid light guidance systems. In these daylight and electric light are simultaneously delivered into a building where they are combined and distributed via luminaires. The technology used in hybrid systems, both conceptual and realised, is discussed. The review speculates as to their likely performance in terms of daylight delivery; capital and running costs; user reaction to the systems; potential impact of the systems on the building which they light; and suitable design methods. It is noted that a substantial amount of work remains before the potential of hybrid systems may be realised, notably on their long-term economics and feasibility in different geographic locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]