Improve employee performance with natural light

In today’s fast-paced, high-performance society employee productivity and making light work is crucial to a business’ success. As an employer, it’s natural to consider the work station and providing the tools your staff need to do the job in hand. Yet all too often, the impact of light, more specifically natural light, can be a forgotten factor.

Poor lighting can lead to low morale and long-term health problems. Unfortunately, there are currently no strict regulations in the UK around lighting.

Making Light Work – Why is natural light important?

All of us have a built-in body clock, it regulates the biological processes which determine our daily routine. From when we eat, to when we go to sleep. It varies from person to person but is ultimately determined by light exposure. When we are exposed to different wavelengths of light at different points during the day, it acts as a stimulus to either wake-up or wind down.

The effects of light on circadian rhythm have long been studied and light is known to have a therapeutic effect for mental health, improving sleep patterns and cognitive performance.

The benefits of natural light

Recent studies have suggested that employee performance was considerably higher for those that had the best views of natural light. The effect of natural light improved their overall mental function and memory recall. Studies identified that employees with more exposure to natural light experienced:

• Increased alertness in the morning
• Productivity and concentration improvements
• Improved mood
• Reduced hyperactivity
• Reduction in errors and accidents
• Faster cognitive processing
• Improved sleep

Make the most of natural light and make light work for your company.

Human-centric circadian lighting design is becoming more popular as employers begin to see the benefits in their staff.

While natural light is ideal, it isn’t always possible in a space with limited or no windows. However, it is possible to mimic natural daylight- providing the right kind of light at the right time of day. Mirroring the light changes throughout the day to support the body’s natural rhythm. Combined with temperature control this can mean a cooler, bright light in the mornings for a strong start to the day, and softer, yellow light in the afternoon to help staff wind down and prepare them for a restful evening.

Making Light Work – Avoid the Glare

It’s true, you can have too much of a good thing. Too much sunlight can cause people to squint and strain their eyes. Glare alone has accounted for a 24% drop in productivity. Luckily there are ways to minimise this, while still reaping the benefits of natural sunlight.

Luckily, there are solutions to help deal with this while saving money on lighting costs. The two best options are installing blinds that are designed for glare control and solar heat rejection. The ideal shade can reflect sunlight and UV rays while still allowing staff to look outside and reap the benefits of the natural sunlight.

Lighting Design

You can’t predict the weather – and getting the optimal level of light is difficult, with cloud cover and less light in winter months. More often than not, natural light isn’t sufficient in a working environment. So the key is innovative, automated lighting and making light work regulates the environment in order to achieve optimal lighting.

Contact Navarre London to find out how we can help with your office refurbishment: Contact Us