In our previous articles on the importance of daylighting we have looked at the impact in general as well as schools and healthcare related buildings specifically. Next we turn our attention to athletic facilities.
Daylighting
In our last two articles about daylighting we looked at the advantages of daylighting general and also in a school environment more specifically. Now take a moment to close your eyes and imagine a typical hospital room. Much like your average classroom, hospital rooms tend to be impersonal and harsh – fluorescent lights, off-white walls, and small windows – if any.
In the first part of our series on the effects of daylighting we did a high level overview, but now let’s take it a bit further. Think of your time in school. What did your classrooms look like? If you got your education in the United States, chances are good that your classroom had off-white cement walls, drab carpet, and small (if any) windows. The lights you sat under were probably harsh fluorescent panels. Did those help you concentrate? Probably not. In recent years, more and more people have been pushing for the use of natural light in the classroom – and they’re right to do so. Natural light elevates mood, increases concentration, and can even help raise average grades by up to 25% [1]!
Have you ever wondered why you get more stuff done on a sunny day compared to a rainy day? Noticed that you work better when you’re close to a window? Does your mood seem to always be better when you’re out in the sun? You might be thinking to yourself yes, I have! But why? The answer to all of these questions is a simple one – natural light energizes you and increases your productivity. And that is exactly why you should consider the practice of daylighting.
It’s no secret that properly lit rooms and offices have desirable effects on our overall well-being, productivity, and mood. While utilizing natural daylight and relying on artificial light are the main ways to illuminate a space, daylighting is an increasingly popular method for adding light to the rooms where we spend our time.
Daylighting is the process of optimizing the natural light coming into a building. Whether in a home or office, a daylighting system incorporates windows, skylights, and advanced lighting controls to reduce the use of artificial lighting and energy consumption.