Research

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15 pages, 10224 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Human-Centric Lighting Design: A Framework for Supporting Healthy Circadian Rhythm Grounded in Established Knowledge in Interior Spaces

by Mansoureh Sadat Jalali, James R. Jones, Elif Tural and Ronald B. Gibbons

Buildings 2024, 14(4), 1125; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14041125 - 17 Apr 2024

Viewed by 343

Abstract

Over the past 300 years, scientific observations have revealed the significant influence of circadian rhythms on various human functions, including sleep, digestion, and immune system regulation. Access to natural daylight is crucial for maintaining these rhythms, but modern lifestyles often limit its availability. [...] Read more.

Over the past 300 years, scientific observations have revealed the significant influence of circadian rhythms on various human functions, including sleep, digestion, and immune system regulation. Access to natural daylight is crucial for maintaining these rhythms, but modern lifestyles often limit its availability. Despite its importance, there is a lack of a comprehensive design framework to assist designers. This study proposes an architectural design framework based on the review of literature, lighting-related codes and standards, and available design and analysis tools that guides the creation of lighting systems supporting healthy circadian rhythms. The framework outlines key decision-making stages, incorporates relevant knowledge, and promotes the integration of dynamic lighting techniques into building design. The proposed framework was presented to a group of design professionals as a focus group and their feedback on the relevance and usability of the tool was obtained through a survey (n = 10). By empowering designers with practical tools and processes, this research bridges the gap between scientific understanding and design implementation, ensuring informed decisions that positively impact human health. This research contributes to the ongoing pursuit of creating lighting environments that support healthy circadian rhythms and promote human well-being. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lighting in Buildings)

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30 pages, 8432 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study of the Emotional Impact of Interior Lighting Color in Rural Bed and Breakfast Space Design

by Yangyang Wei, Yuan Zhang, Yihan Wang and Chajuan Liu

Buildings 2023, 13(10), 2537; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13102537 - 07 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3102

Abstract

In architectural spaces, the ambiance created by lighting plays a significant role in influencing people’s emotions, often relying on the use of color and light. However, previous research has primarily focused on urban architectural spaces, with relatively less attention given to rural environments, [...] Read more.

In architectural spaces, the ambiance created by lighting plays a significant role in influencing people’s emotions, often relying on the use of color and light. However, previous research has primarily focused on urban architectural spaces, with relatively less attention given to rural environments, especially the interior spaces of rural accommodation. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of colored lighting within rural accommodation interiors on people’s emotions and visual perceptions. Additionally, the study aims to establish an emotional dimension model to map the experimental results onto eight basic emotions, utilizing the PAD model for quantitative analysis. To achieve this goal, the researchers recruited 90 participants and divided them into six groups, each experiencing different combinations of indoor lighting scenes with varying colors. Participants evaluated their emotions and visual perceptions. The study results indicate that the combination of cool and warm white light with colored light significantly influences the arousal level of participants but has a relatively lower impact on pleasure levels, dominance and relaxation levels. In comparing the emotions experienced after exposure to cool and warm white light followed by colored light, warm white light elicited more positive emotions. Furthermore, colored light following cool white light diminished the sense of warmth in light, while yellow–blue light enhanced visual comfort and blue–red light increased attraction. Overall, the effect of colored lighting in rural accommodation interior spaces on improving negative emotions was relatively weak. Conversely, the combination of warm white light with blue–yellow or green–yellow light had a more significant effect on enhancing visual perceptions and reducing participants’ anxiety. This research provides valuable insights and references for designing the lighting ambiance in rural accommodation interiors and lighting design, with the potential to enhance the spatial experience of rural accommodations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lighting in Buildings)

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15 pages, 2935 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Different Nocturnal Lighting Stimuli on Melatonin, Sleep and Cognitive Performance of Workers in Confined Spaces

by Tongyue Wang, Rongdi Shao and Luoxi Hao

Buildings 2023, 13(8), 2112; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13082112 - 21 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1234

Abstract

Exposure to light during overtime work at night in confined spaces may disrupt the normal circadian clock, affect hormone secretion, sleep quality and performance, thereby posing great risks to the physical and mental health of night workers. Integrative lighting should be adopted to [...] Read more.

Exposure to light during overtime work at night in confined spaces may disrupt the normal circadian clock, affect hormone secretion, sleep quality and performance, thereby posing great risks to the physical and mental health of night workers. Integrative lighting should be adopted to reduce the disturbance of normal physiological rhythm, while meeting the visual requirements of work. Through adjustable LED (CCT 6000 K/2700 K) and different vertical illuminance, five lighting patterns with different circadian stimuli (CS = 0.60, 0.30. 0.20, 0.10 and 0.05) were conducted, respectively, in a sleep lab using a within-subject design. Each lighting pattern lasted for 5 h every night. Eight healthy adults were recruited to complete the night work and their salivary melatonin, Karolinska sleepiness scale (KSS), Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) and sleep quality were tested. The results showed that subjective sleepiness and melatonin concentration increased rapidly under low intervention (CS = 0.05) with the best sleep quality, while they decreased in high intervention (CS = 0.60) at night and led to significantly higher levels of sleepiness the next morning (p < 0.05). For the PVT, the middle intervention (CS = 0.30) showed the lowest response time and least errors (p < 0.05), suggesting that appropriate illuminance can improve visual performance. To reduce biorhythm disruptions, lower lighting stimulation is preferred during night work. For difficult visual tasks, high illuminances may not improve visual performance; just a slight increase in the existing lighting levels is adequate. Lighting interventions have a clear impact on sleep improvement and work capacity for those working overtime, and they may be translatable to other shift work scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lighting in Buildings)

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31 pages, 10252 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improving the Restorative Potential of Living Environments by Optimizing the Spatial Luminance Distribution

by Yuting Wu, Lixiong Wang, Juan Yu, Peng Chen and Aiying Wang

Buildings 2023, 13(7), 1708; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071708 - 04 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1176

Abstract

Changing the spatial luminance distribution patterns has the potential to improve the restorative potential of indoor environments through spatial visual perception intervention, which is helpful to meet our growing need for psychological restoration and well-being. However, the efficiency, progress, and principles for improving [...] Read more.

Changing the spatial luminance distribution patterns has the potential to improve the restorative potential of indoor environments through spatial visual perception intervention, which is helpful to meet our growing need for psychological restoration and well-being. However, the efficiency, progress, and principles for improving the spatial luminance distribution of indoor environments have not been verified, and the reusable and restorative spatial luminance distribution patterns that can be applied to the restorative reserve levels created by the architectural configurations and dispositions of the different spaces have yet to be established. Using a living room environment as the typical space and a hotel room as the research subject, we conducted this study by setting up a control group for the assessment experiment, combining three subjective and objective measures: the Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS), the eye-movement test, and the case interview. The results showed the following. (1) The spatial luminance distribution of artificial lighting can improve the PRS score by 30.9%. (2) The spatial luminance distribution of artificial lighting improves the restorative perception potential, which negatively correlates with the restorative reserve level of the environment (the correlation coefficient values were −0.405, p < 0.01). (3) The spatial luminance distribution elicited two visual cognitive responses: visual attraction and visual load, with the former being positively correlated with restorative perception (the correlation coefficient values were 0.288, p < 0.01), while the latter was negatively correlated (the correlation coefficient values were −0.264, p < 0.01). (4) The visual cognitive conclusions of spatial luminance distribution including the six dimensions present the visual characteristics of the status quo in the restorative spatial luminance distribution of artificial lighting. Based on the findings, this study starts from the optimization of visual attraction and visual load by improving both the restorative level and the degree of restorative perception, proposing a restorative spatial luminance distribution pattern of artificial lighting applicable to environments with different restorative reserve levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lighting in Buildings)

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19 pages, 4410 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a Low-Cost Luminance Imaging Device with Minimal Equipment Calibration Procedures for Absolute and Relative Luminance

by Daniel Bishop and J. Geoffrey Chase

Buildings 2023, 13(5), 1266; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13051266 - 12 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1329

Abstract

Luminance maps are information-dense measurements that can be used to directly evaluate and derive a number of important lighting measures, and improve lighting design and practices. However, cost barriers have limited the uptake of luminance imaging devices. This study presents a low-cost custom [...] Read more.

Luminance maps are information-dense measurements that can be used to directly evaluate and derive a number of important lighting measures, and improve lighting design and practices. However, cost barriers have limited the uptake of luminance imaging devices. This study presents a low-cost custom luminance imaging device developed from a Raspberry Pi microcomputer and camera module; however, the work may be extended to other low-cost imaging devices. Two calibration procedures for absolute and relative luminance are presented, which require minimal equipment. To remove calibration equipment limitations, novel procedures were developed to characterize sensor linearity and vignetting, where the accurate characterization of sensor linearity allows the use of lower-cost and highly non-linear sensors. Overall, the resultant device has an average absolute luminance error of 6.4% and an average relative luminance error of 6.2%. The device has comparable accuracy and performance to other custom devices, which use higher-cost technologies and more expensive calibration equipment, and significantly reduces the cost barrier for luminance imaging and the better lighting it enables. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lighting in Buildings)

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17 pages, 5125 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Mathematical Model for the Action Spectrum of Steady-State Pupil Size in Photopic Vision with Insight into Healthful Lighting

by Shuxiao Wang, Jianping Zhao, Lixiong Wang, Wenye Hu and Fanfang Yan

Buildings 2023, 13(3), 781; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13030781 - 16 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1859

Abstract

The pupillary light reflex, which has been seen as an important noninvasive and objective indicator of autonomic nervous system function, can be used for evaluating the impact of different lighting conditions in buildings on circadian behaviors, assessing ipRGC function in healthy and diseased [...] Read more.

The pupillary light reflex, which has been seen as an important noninvasive and objective indicator of autonomic nervous system function, can be used for evaluating the impact of different lighting conditions in buildings on circadian behaviors, assessing ipRGC function in healthy and diseased retinas, and explaining luminance adaptation. However, the mechanism by which the intrinsic and extrinsic signals of ipRGCs regulate the steady-state pupil size under continuous lighting stimuli is still not clearly understood after decades of exploration. This paper presents a new experimental protocol with a large hemisphere LED screen as the stimulation device, allowing for a more realistic and comprehensive study in architectural spaces, which can potentially inform the design of lighting systems in buildings that promote healthy vision and comfort. Results reveal that both intrinsic and extrinsic signals participated in the process of regulating pupil size under continuous lighting conditions. Based on the findings, a new mathematical model was further proposed to calculate the contribution of these two signal sources to the changing intensity of melanopic radiance. The research outcomes also provide new insight into the mechanism of visual perception and adaptation and the nonvisual effect of eyes under different light conditions. Results suggest that the contribution of extrinsic signals may have been underestimated in previous studies since the extrinsic signal increases with reducing intensity in photopic conditions with lower melanopic radiance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lighting in Buildings)

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21 pages, 3142 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Studying Response to Light in Offices: A Literature Review and Pilot Study

by Jessica M. Collier, Andrea Wilkerson, Dorukalp Durmus and Eduardo Rodriguez-Feo Bermudez

Buildings 2023, 13(2), 471; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13020471 - 09 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2296

Abstract

Researchers have been exploring the influence of light on health in office settings for over two decades; however, a greater understanding of physiological responses and technology advancements are shifting the way researchers study the influence of light in realistic environments. New technologies paired [...] Read more.

Researchers have been exploring the influence of light on health in office settings for over two decades; however, a greater understanding of physiological responses and technology advancements are shifting the way researchers study the influence of light in realistic environments. New technologies paired with Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) administered via smartphones provide ways to collect information about individual light exposure and occupant response throughout the day. The study aims to document occupant response to tunable lighting in a real office environment, including potential beneficial or adverse health and well-being effects. Twenty-three office employees agreed to participate in a twelve-week study examining occupant response to two lighting conditions (static vs. dynamic). No significant differences were observed for any of the measures, highlighting the importance and complexity of in-situ studies conducted in realistic environments. While prior office studies have shown a significant influence on daytime sleepiness and sleep quality, research has not shown mood or stress to be significantly impacted by lighting conditions. Correlation analyses regarding lighting satisfaction, environmental satisfaction, and visual comfort demonstrate a significant relationship between certain items that may inform future studies. Further, the high correlation means it is reasonable to assume that many environmental factors in offices can influence occupant behavior and well-being. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lighting in Buildings)

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Other

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22 pages, 8560 KiB

Open AccessConcept Paper

Facade Photometry: Linking Annual Daylight Performance to Facade Design

by Azadeh Omidfar Sawyer, Mojtaba Navvab, Dan Weissman and Guanzhou Ji

Buildings 2022, 12(10), 1556; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12101556 - 28 Sep 2022

Viewed by 2163

Abstract

This concept paper illustrates a new simulation method to assess how building facades distribute light into interior spaces and how data from simulation studies can inform design for better facade performance. Facade photometry, a term developed by the authors, uses annual simulations and [...] Read more.

This concept paper illustrates a new simulation method to assess how building facades distribute light into interior spaces and how data from simulation studies can inform design for better facade performance. Facade photometry, a term developed by the authors, uses annual simulations and localized weather data to create temporally based illuminance and luminance distributions. This photometric chart is a unique signature of a particular facade design measured at a specific point in a specific climate. By linking data from the daylight simulation to the facade, the areas of the facade that need to be adjusted for improved performance are highlighted. Facade photometry is intended to allow designers to easily compare the performance of complex building geometry and daylight control systems, thus becoming an efficient tool to further aid designers in creating highly energy-efficient, high-performance, and comfortable building facades. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lighting in Buildings)

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