DAYLIGHTING Magazine issue 22 May/June 2020

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DAYLIGHT, HEALTH & WELLBEING

Daylight in buildings: so much more than just a ‘feel-good’ factor Everyone loves a well daylit space, so it’s no surprise that bright, airy interiors are at the top of the list of design requirements for building owners and developers in all sectors. But did you know that natural daylight brings a host of benefits way beyond the obvious ‘feel-good’ factor? By NARM, the National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers Over the last thirty years or more, research has revealed that the effects of daylight on the human condition are wide ranging and in many cases, remarkable. During this period, our lifestyles have changed dramatically throughout the developed world, with many of us now spending high proportions of our time indoors, whether at work, at home, or in our leisure pursuits. This fact has been the driver behind many independent studies across a variety of sectors, including healthcare, education, commerce and domestic dwellings. Some of the most dramatic findings have been made from detailed and wide-ranging research carried out in hospitals and schools. Here are just a few of the remarkable facts that have been revealed:

Daylight can play a role in recovery from physical injury or health problems A study entitled ‘Impacts of indoor daylight environments on patient average length of stay (ALOS) in a healthcare facility1’ published in 2012,

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found that a significant relationship appears to exist between indoor daylight and a patient’s average length of stay in a hospital. 25% of the comparisons showed that, in the brighter, daylit areas, the average length of stay by patients was shorter than less well-daylit areas by 16%-41%.

Daylight can assist pain relief

“...post-operative hospital patients in well daylit areas required 22% less analgesic medications during their hospitalisation.”

A study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine2 in 1995 concluded that post-operative hospital patients in well daylit areas required 22% less analgesic medications during their hospitalisation. This remarkable finding has had significant implications in terms of hospital design, patient care and benefits in terms of reduced medication side-effects treatment cost.

Daylight combats mental health conditions Two studies3,4 have shown that exposure to natural bright light is effective in reducing depression among people with bipolar disorder or seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Exposure to bright morning light has

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