FEATURE ON DAYLIGHTING by Kendra Briechle

Based on the Thesis, “Let The Sun Shine”, by Elizabeth H. Boastfield

Ever worked in an office cubicle or an interior office space? Sluggishness, fatigue, irritability, reduced productivity and poor morale are common responses to constant exposure to artificial light. One green building strategy has been to integrate natural light into home and commercial space, a technique called “daylighting”. Integrating usable daylight into a building can reap up to two points in the LEED rating system. Natural light is integral to sustainable building practices as well as good common sense.

This brief feature reviews the benefits of daylighting and suggests resources for its use. Future articles may feature specific case studies or other techniques.

As people spend a disproportionate amount of time inside buildings, studies demonstrate numerous and varied consequences stemming from the disconnect between people and nature. Modern builders strive to reestablish that connection through atriums or planters, water and other natural features inside and nature trails, rooftop gardens, ponds, fountains, and waterfalls on the exterior. Bringing natural light into buildings is one practice with numerous human and financial benefits.

Daylighting helps increase job satisfaction as well as improve employee motivation, attitude, and morale. The presence of windows directly relates to satisfaction with the physical workplace, a factor directly related to employee retention.
Natural light affects employee health and well being. Visual contact with the natural world may be crucial to the psychological comfort of office workers. Workplaces void of natural light or outside views are proven to cause or worsen fatigue, claustrophobia, and tension headaches. Natural light helps keep the body's nervous and endocrine systems in balance, regulating digestion, sleep patterns, mood, and mental ability. Humans need exposure to sunlight, and the vitamin D provided by it, to maintain its defenses as well as offset debilitating conditions such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Daylighting can improve worker productivity levels. A New Buildings Institute study from 2003 showed that better window views resulted in faster task completion, mental function and recall, and overall worker performance. Mere presence of natural light is not enough: the amount and type of natural light is critical to perceived levels of arousal versus pleasure. That is, the range of lighting must be suited to the type of work and the ultimate lighting demand. Too much light, not enough light, or glare can result in unsatisfactory working conditions.
Daylighting can help the bottom line. It can improve energy performance through reliance on natural light to supplement and reduce artificial lighting.

Any approach to daylighting needs to consider potential side effects. As with any lighting source, natural light needs to be controlled and distributed through a space appropriate to the task. Daylighting also needs to be integrated with artificial light sources. And use of natural lighting needs to be designed to control for thermal heat gain. Windows can also be a distraction or foster a lack of privacy. And sunlight can cause extensive and costly damage to furniture, flooring, and artwork. Finally, personal preferences for light vary greatly. One person's glorious sunshine can be another's bane of brightness.

However, the side effects of daylighting can be minimized through a sensitive approach. Daylighting's numerous benefits make it an important green building practice. These benefits are important lessons for employees, their employers, building managers, designers, architects, contractors, and developers interested in more sustainable practices.

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In This Issue:	July 2008
Meet the Trainers: Jane Ahrens and Michael Kawecki University of Texas Installs Green Bike Racks; Drop in Auto Traffic Results Certification Success Story: Paul Deal Green Tips from Ian Heckman Green Advantage Promotes Green Building During Exploratory Trip to Ireland The Greening of College Campuses Dallas Adopts Green Building Standard for Homes and Businesses Feature on Daylighting Make the Most of Energy Efficient Tax Credits for 2008	GREENLIGHT Archive July 2008 March 2008 Inaugural Issue
FEATURE ON DAYLIGHTING by Kendra Briechle Based on the Thesis, “Let The Sun Shine”, by Elizabeth H. Boastfield Ever worked in an office cubicle or an interior office space? Sluggishness, fatigue, irritability, reduced productivity and poor morale are common responses to constant exposure to artificial light. One green building strategy has been to integrate natural light into home and commercial space, a technique called “daylighting”. Integrating usable daylight into a building can reap up to two points in the LEED rating system. Natural light is integral to sustainable building practices as well as good common sense. This brief feature reviews the benefits of daylighting and suggests resources for its use. Future articles may feature specific case studies or other techniques. As people spend a disproportionate amount of time inside buildings, studies demonstrate numerous and varied consequences stemming from the disconnect between people and nature. Modern builders strive to reestablish that connection through atriums or planters, water and other natural features inside and nature trails, rooftop gardens, ponds, fountains, and waterfalls on the exterior. Bringing natural light into buildings is one practice with numerous human and financial benefits. Daylighting helps increase job satisfaction as well as improve employee motivation, attitude, and morale. The presence of windows directly relates to satisfaction with the physical workplace, a factor directly related to employee retention. Natural light affects employee health and well being. Visual contact with the natural world may be crucial to the psychological comfort of office workers. Workplaces void of natural light or outside views are proven to cause or worsen fatigue, claustrophobia, and tension headaches. Natural light helps keep the body's nervous and endocrine systems in balance, regulating digestion, sleep patterns, mood, and mental ability. Humans need exposure to sunlight, and the vitamin D provided by it, to maintain its defenses as well as offset debilitating conditions such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Daylighting can improve worker productivity levels. A New Buildings Institute study from 2003 showed that better window views resulted in faster task completion, mental function and recall, and overall worker performance. Mere presence of natural light is not enough: the amount and type of natural light is critical to perceived levels of arousal versus pleasure. That is, the range of lighting must be suited to the type of work and the ultimate lighting demand. Too much light, not enough light, or glare can result in unsatisfactory working conditions. Daylighting can help the bottom line. It can improve energy performance through reliance on natural light to supplement and reduce artificial lighting. Any approach to daylighting needs to consider potential side effects. As with any lighting source, natural light needs to be controlled and distributed through a space appropriate to the task. Daylighting also needs to be integrated with artificial light sources. And use of natural lighting needs to be designed to control for thermal heat gain. Windows can also be a distraction or foster a lack of privacy. And sunlight can cause extensive and costly damage to furniture, flooring, and artwork. Finally, personal preferences for light vary greatly. One person's glorious sunshine can be another's bane of brightness. However, the side effects of daylighting can be minimized through a sensitive approach. Daylighting's numerous benefits make it an important green building practice. These benefits are important lessons for employees, their employers, building managers, designers, architects, contractors, and developers interested in more sustainable practices. top of the page

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FEATURE ON DAYLIGHTING by Kendra Briechle