The Human Factor - daylight for health, well-being and student performance

Our educational spaces should inspire, nurture and bring joy to those who use them.

This starts from the nursery school through to colleges and universities, where you can find every type of building from dedicated spaces for teaching, learning and research, to social meeting spaces and sports facilities.

This means there can be distinct challenges when it comes to designing new buildings and improving existing education facilities. Whether it’s meeting the demands of energy efficiency and sustainability or specific requirements for highly controlled environments such as science laboratories.

The impact of the indoor environment on student well-being and performance

In a study carried out with students using education buildings across the US, researchers looked at the impact of natural light, ventilation, air quality, acoustics and views from a building.

The results show the impact of not effectively managing natural light effectively on the student's perfromance levels.

What the research tells us:
  • Visual comfort has a very clear influence on student results. Not only the levels of natural light but also access to the view outside
  • Reflections on screens and whiteboards have a strong negative influence
  • Direct sunlight shining into the building, particularly on the east and south facing facades calls for dynamic solar shading. Solar shading that cannot be controlled by the occupants negatively impacts performance, however, this is to a lower extent than when there is no solar shading in place at all

  • In another study, performed over the course of an academic year in San Juan Capistrano, California, students who benefited from more natural lighting in their classrooms achieved scores that were 20% higher in mathematics tests, and 26% higher in reading tests than students whose classrooms had less natural light

Creating a comfortable indoor climate, whatever the activity

Creating a better indoor climate for building occupants not only makes their experience a more comfortable and productive one but it can also contribute to reducing operating expenses.

Visual comfort

Through automated and controlled solar shading you can;

  • Give precedence to natural light and the benefits it brings, while eliminating unwanted effects, such as reflections on screens and glare.
  • Give occupants the flexibility and freedom to easily adjust their environment, as needed; for instance, switching from daylight to darkness when using a projector.

Thermal comfort

The average outside temperature is increasing and there is a real risk of our buildings overheating.

With connected, controlled solar shading you can avoid excessive temperature variations; in simple terms, for example, during summer, you protect the building and its occupants from overheating due to direct sunlight and, in winter, improve insulation and maximise heat gains.

Both of which can lead to a reduction in the need for artificial heating, cooling and lighting.

Case Study

Energy saving and sustainability

Managing daylight effectively can play an important role when it comes to the lighting, heating and cooling of our buildings and can save up to 15-20% of a building’s total energy consumption.

Creating greener, more sustainable buildings also contributes to a positive image and the benefits this can bring, such as enhanced staff and student attraction.

Considering the lifespan of schools, colleges and universities and the number of students using the facilities over this period, it is important to strike a balance between short-term financial interests and the longer-term economic benefits.

Discover more about dynamic solar shading for energy efficiency and sustainability.

Daylighting and productivity

In a study performed over the course of an academic year in San Juan Capistrano, California, students who benefited from more natural lighting in their classrooms achieved scores that were 20% higher in mathematics tests, and 26% higher in reading tests than students whose classrooms had less natural light.

26 %

Education

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Queensland University of Technology Science & Engineering Centre
Country
Australia
City
Brisbane
Date
2013
Architect
Donovan Hill + Wilson Architects

At the heart of the Science and Engineering Centre’s redevelopment is The Cube, one of the world’s largest digital interactive learning and display spaces. It soars across two levels and is designed to support interactive …

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Click on the link below to discover our education brochure

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