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The benefit of daylight in your work environment
People spend a large part of their working lives in the office. A vitalizing working environment is therefore a must. Such a working environment promotes the health, well-being, performance and productivity of employees. And that, in turn, contributes to the success of organizations. Innovative tools and technologies help us create vitalizing work environments. In this article, based on a study by lighting specialist Signify, you can read about the effect of simulated natural daylight on the work environment.
This is the power of daylight
In the Western world, people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors. And they spend much of that time in the office. Research by Signify, the world market leader in lighting solutions, shows that sufficient daylight in the working environment has a positive effect on the well-being, performance, alertness and vitality of employees. This is especially true if the light is enriched in blue. Those who take in enough of this blue-enriched daylight not only feel more vital and alert, but are also less sensitive to the sleep-disrupting effects of exposure to light in the evening.
Good for the mind: three minutes in nature
In addition to natural light, a natural environment also has a positive effect on well-being. For example, previous research shows that if people just spend three minutes in nature, it has a restorative effect on their mental energy (source: Natural resistance: Exposure to nature and self-regulation, mood, and physiology after ego-depletion). In traditional office environments, the connection with nature is often missing. For example, office lighting is often too weak and too warm and has too little blue light. As a result, the correct levels for melanopic activation are not achieved. That means many people work in biological darkness during the day.
Natural daylight in the working environment
The introduction of NatureConnect lighting solutions in an office environment could have positive effects on the well-being and performance of office workers. NatureConnect LED lighting is an innovation that brings the natural light spectrum and patterns found in nature inside. By mimicking the natural light spectrum, this lighting can help stimulate people's natural biorhythms. And that, in turn, leads to improved well-being and higher productivity. To see if NatureConnect indeed brings these positive effects into an office environment, Signify conducted a study on this.
NatureConnect brings the outside in
Signify's lighting innovation NatureConnect has been developed based on proven biophilic design principles. Biophilic design is a way of designing that brings nature inside. By consciously using or imitating natural elements in the interior design, a connection with nature is unconsciously made. This provides many health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, heart rate and stress hormones and promoting concentration, productivity and creativity.
To discover whether NatureConnect can actually bring these positive effects into an office environment, Signify conducted a study. The questions that were central to the research:
- What is the effect of NatureConnect when it comes to alertness and performance of employees, compared to standard office lighting?
- What is the effect of NatureConnect on the lighting rating and experience compared to standard office lighting?
Signify's research
Signify investigated how simulated natural daylight via NatureConnect affects the alertness and vitality of office workers. Participants were tested at three points (12:00, 14:00 and 16:00) with the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale. The result: NatureConnect increased alertness and prevented the well-known energy dip around 16:00, something that standard office lighting did not do. More than half of the participants mentioned spontaneous activating effects, such as feeling "fresh and awake". They also indicated that they work sharper and faster under this light. In addition to subjective experiences, cortisol, the hormone that regulates alertness and the sleep-wake rhythm, was examined. Normally, cortisol levels drop during the day, which, together with sleep pressure, causes reduced alertness. NatureConnect helps to counteract this process, making employees feel energetic and focused for longer.
Vitality and age effect
In addition to alertness, Signify investigated vitality with Robert E. Thayer's AD ACL test. Age was taken into account, because aging affects the eyes and light requirements. The analysis showed that participants over the age of 41 clearly felt more vital under NatureConnect than under standard office lighting. This is relevant, as the average working person is 42 years old. The results speak for themselves: 52% of the participants linked NatureConnect to alertness, 14% to more energy and 17% to better concentration. In addition, 90% were positive about the NatureConnect Skylight; Almost half experienced it as a window, a third as sunlight and one in five as if they were working outside. Participants described the light as "invigorating", "summery" and "pleasant to work in". The research confirms that smart use of light not only increases comfort, but also performance and well-being in the office.
A vitalizing working environment according to us
We are convinced that a natural environment contributes to health. It helps with recovery from stress, encourages social contact and promotes well-being. Many natural elements are therefore reflected in our vitalizing work environments. Think of the use of color that imitates nature and materials such as wood. A vitalizing working environment brings the outside in with lots of plants and greenery. And if possible, there is a pleasantly furnished outdoor area, such as a balcony or courtyard garden.
Natural light and views have a positive impact on people's well-being, productivity and energy levels. The vitalizing working environment therefore uses natural light. If this is limited, lighting is chosen that mimics nature and thus connects to the biorhythm.
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