ArchiLambda Lab is based in the Pennsylvania State University's Department of Architectural Engineering and has its roots in both illumination and mechanical system options. This laboratory’s goal is to understand the thermal and optical dynamics and implications of interactions among buildings, occupants, and external climatic stimuli. The current research efforts encompass three main aspects: bridging the gaps between radiometric and photometric studies in the building environment, integrating spectrally-selective smart material and structures into building envelopes and fenestration systems, and discovering human responses to the interaction between thermal and visual elements. Our research methodology combines experimental, computational, and subjective methods.
Recent News
NSF CMMI Fund
We receive a new research grant from the NSF CMMI program for investigating new building envelope technologies with dual-modality characteristics: generating thermal radiation in winter via the photothermal effect and reducing summer solar heat gains in summer via the photovoltaic effect. See the details in this link. (07/13/2020)
USDA CIG Project
A research project ($598,715 three years) is supported by the Conservation Innovation Grants program of the USDA for studying the application of spectrally selective materials in greenhouses. (04/20/2020)
NSF CAREER Project
The lab has started the NSF CAREER research project ($500,000 for five years) since Oct. 2019. This project is to produce dynamic windows that adapt to climate conditions and spectrally respond to solar irradiance. (02/25/2020)
ASES Solar 20/20
Four presentations, with the topics of solar data modeling, analytical window models, solar gains through glazing on thermal comfort, and solar building education were made by the lab members in the virtual conference of the ASES 20/20. (06/23/2020)
IEE SEED Grant
The lab's proposal of “Building Energy Savings by Tuning Indoor Lighting” is selected for funding by the Institutes of Energy and the Environment (IEE) Seed Grant Program of Penn State University. The project is to discover the potential thermal-visual interactions in the controllable indoor environment. We will be collaboratively working with Dr. Anne-Marie Chang in Biobehavioral Health and Nursing and Dr. Javad Khazaei in Electrical Engineering on this interdisciplinary project. (04/01/2020)
SWE Presentation
Dr. Qiuhua Duan's research work about "Thermal performance and condensation risk of single-pane glazing with low emissivity coatings" received the 3rd place winner of the Graduate Collegiate Competition of the Society of Women Engineers. Qiuhua and Yanxiao were invited to present their research poster at the WE Local Raleigh conference held by the SWE. (03/01/2020)
Recent Publications
Environmental Reviews
A Spectrally-Resolved Method for Evaluating the Solar Effect on User Thermal Comfort in the Near-Window Zone
The effects of solar radiation play an important role in human thermal comfort. When predicting the shortwave solar thermal effect through windows on indoor occupants, the spectra of solar irradiance, window transmittance, and skin absorptance must be considered. This work proposes a spectrally-resolved method for predicting this effect on occupants facing windows in the near-window zone. The vertical and horizontal penetration of direct solar irradiance is also characterized. Through numerical analysis, we investigate the effects of and interactions among the various parameters and demonstrate …
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Department of Architectural Engineering
219 Engineering Unit A
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-5133