Vertical solar radiation and daylight illuminance data for Hong Kong

Solar radiation and outdoor illuminance data, particularly on vertical surfaces, are the two key climatic variables affecting building energy performance. Systematic measurement is considered the best way to establish reliable databases for analysis. This paper describes the vertical solar radiation and daylight illuminance measurement made from 1996 to 1998 at the City University of Hong Kong and reports some of the general findings. Data analysis is carried out using frequency of occurrence and cumulative frequency distribution methods. The luminous efficacies for the vertical surfaces are computed and examined. Implications for energy-efficient building designs are discussed. © 2000, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.