A User Survey Investigation into the Preferred Solar Access of Residents in High Density City Living – a Study in Hong Kong (449108) (1 Dec 08 - 30 Nov 11)
• Researchers: NG Yan Yung, TREGENZA Peter
• Funding Amount: HK$623,416
• Fundng source: Research Grants Council - General Research Fund

Solar access refers to the ability of a living unit to continue to receive sunlight without obstruction from any other properties or structures. In subtropical high-density living environment like Hong Kong, associated guidelines and standards are generally lacking and it has become a growing concern for better provision of sunlight to residential units. It is also important to consider residents' preference of solar access in the formulation of standard for solar access and daylighting, as well as urban planning and building design. The study conducts a questionnaire survey regarding residents' preference of solar access in terms of time, amount, place, and purpose of the exploitation of sunlight, as well as an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) which examines the influence of environmental parameters on residents' preference. Current findings provide a basis of the preference of residents to solar access of residential flats in high-density tropical cities using Hong Kong as a case study. Policy-makers, as well as planners and architects, should therefore take the findings into account when establishing appropriate guidelines and standards, especially for high-density subtropical cities, in order to provide residential units with better sunlight environment.