Benefits of Natural Lighting in the Office
Natural light and a view of the outdoors are sought-after workplace perks, and it isn’t hard to see why. Artificial lighting, while important, can’t replace the many benefits natural lighting provides for you and your employees. Here are 8 reasons why you should open up those curtains.
How to Improve a Windowless Office or Workplace
Employers may not have enough cash flow to move to a windowed office. However, your employees still need access to natural light to be productive, healthy, and happy.
Special lights can be used for areas with little to no natural light. For example, BIOS grow lights, which mimic natural light, can reduce energy use, utility costs, and improve your workforce’s wellness, happiness, and productivity. These lights can also be used to grow plants.
Depending on their quality, UV lighting can act as a substitute for natural light. Employers can still reap some of the benefits of natural light as long as their employees sit close to UV lamps.
The 8 Benefits of Natural Lighting in the Workplace
Humans spend most of their time indoors, so it’s essential that employers make up for this by making natural light available to everyone. Otherwise, you won’t see the following benefits.
1. A Better Nights Sleep
Natural light helps us sleep longer and better after a long day’s work. Those working next to a window receive 176% more white light exposure than other employees and sleep an average of 46 minutes more per night. Exposure to light early in the morning increases these effects.
2. A Happier Work Day
Vitamin D makes us happier, and it’s only natural source is from the sun. Scientific studies link vitamin D with better health outcomes and an improved immune system. By sitting next to a window, you’re less likely to develop diabetes, depression, chronic pain, and anxiety.
3. A Healthier Lifestyle
Besides exposure to vitamin D, sunlight can also reduce the number of sick days people take. Natural light can reduce the amount of headaches and eye strain you may develop over the length of the workday, reduce overall fatigue, and make you less susceptible to health issues.
4. A Boost in Creativity
Taking a walk outside in the sun can make you more creative, but sitting next to a window can produce a similar effect. A study that examined high schoolers saw that those in rooms with more natural sunlight designed more innovative collages than those in spaces without it.
5. A Boost in Productivity
Anyone who’s worked in an office with fluorescent lighting knows they feel bogged down by the end of the day. However, several studies prove that installing skylights in warehouses improves occupant productivity by over 40%. Natural light also greatly improves employee morale.
6. A More Engaged Workplace
When employees are engaged, they’re more productive, but natural lighting only improves efficiency because it helps us stay focused on tasks. Engaged employees are also more likely to collaborate with other team members, which further increases productivity and efficiency.
7. A Drop in Utility Costs
Fluorescent lighting consumes more than a third of your building’s electricity use. By letting the light shine in, you lower your utility costs. Even dimming your lights by 50% or turning the lights off in certain sections of your office building can significantly reduce your electricity bill.
8. A Higher Valued Property
If you can knock down a few walls and add a window or two, you can increase the value of your office by $2-$4 per square foot. Since natural lighting makes a space look more open and inviting, it may entice buyers to pay more. You could sell your office for twice what you paid.