Varying Lighting Levels

Vary your daylight – we’ve found more proof!

You’ve heard of circadian rhythms and you are probably also aware how replicating it inside your home and office is a good idea. We write about lighting quite a bit as you know! That’s because it’s so important! In our recent Science roundup we found more evidence that will help you focus

Rodriquez and teammates used virtual-reality to learn that varying the amount of daylight in a space during the day is a good idea.

These researchers “analyze[d] subjective responses to lightness changes in outdoor views with respect to three view constructs (i.e., preference, recovery, and imageability). . . . 

This study evidenced that lightness changes in views prompted positive responses from individual observers with respect to preference, restoration, and imageability.”

It goes on a bit more technically, to show how “these findings might inform the adjustment of integrated lighting and automated shading devices in windowed settings. . . .  The evidence presented in this study suggests that luminous changes in views are important features to be considered in future design guidelines and projects involving the assessment of outdoor views.” 

Essentially, varying the lighting levels, and in particular the amount of daylight in a space has an impact on the way we perceive our environment.

Francisca Rodriquez, Veronica Garcia-Hansen, Alicia Allan, and Gillian Isoardi. 2021.  “Subjective Responses Toward Daylight Changes in Window Views: Assessing Dynamic Environmental Attributes in an Immersive Experiment.”  Building and Environment, vol. 195, 107720, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.107720