A comprehensive study on the integration of light‐transmitting concrete in optimizing energy efficiency in buildings

Abstract This study examines the potential of light‐transmitting concrete to reduce energy consumption in building construction. A series of tests, including compressive strength and light transmittance assessments, were conducted, alongside modeling a residential building using building information modeling software. Light‐transmitting concrete samples were prepared using single‐mode optical fibers, plastic optical fibers, and waste‐tempered glass. The results demonstrated that light‐transmitting concrete with 1% volumetric single‐mode optical fibers achieved a 28‐day compressive strength of 39.2 MPa and 2% light transmission. Light‐transmitting concrete containing 5% volumetric plastic optical fibers also showed 5.88% light transmission and a 28‐day compressive strength of 44.89 MPa. The sample incorporating 14% by weight of broken tempered glass exhibited a compressive strength of 51.1 MPa with 1.15% light transmission. A two‐story residential building (1200 m 2 ) in Tehran was analyzed in the modeling phase, integrating light‐transmitting concrete blocks in a residential building, while solar panels are considered only as a complementary reference for contextual energy and economic evaluation. Energy analysis and return on investment calculations revealed that the optimal setup involved a combination of light‐transmitting concrete, conventional concrete, with an estimated return on investment period of 5.22 years. Finally, an economic analysis is performed to demonstrate how integrating a photovoltaic system can offset the higher initial cost of LTC blocks, reducing the payback period to a feasible range.