Illuminating Health

Exposure to natural light increases performance, concentration, and well-being, which are crucial for student learning. The most advantageous in a classroom is increased concentration.

To improve lighting in a school and reduce energy costs, schools can take advantage of the natural light provided by the sun. It reduces the need for artificial lighting, reducing overall energy use and carbon emissions. Designers can manage heat gain/loss through windows passive design strategies.

Passive daylighting strategies can collect and reflect light throughout the building, but these strategies must work in a specific location and address unique needs. Designers achieve this by incorporating thoughtful passive lighting details.

Light direction is essential.

The light that comes from the south is usually best for daylighting as sunlight is consistent throughout the day and year. This orientation can also be used for solar heat gain. The light that comes from the north is the next best, as the sunlight is as consistent as the south, just in a lower quantity. The light that comes from the east and west should be avoided if possible.

Sunlight at these orientations is harsh, it only occurs during half the day, and the sun’s height changes throughout the year, making sunlight harder to control. Architects design buildings so that the rooms that require the most daylight (like front entrances) face north or south, while rooms that require less sun (like storage rooms) face east or west.

Architects use windows with tall head heights to bring as much light into the building as possible.

They can also use uniform windows (horizontal ribbon windows) across the entire façade to light the space evenly. Using glass that admits light but reduces Glare and UV.

Skylights allow daylight to enter from above, which is helpful in spaces at the center of the building where light from windows can't reach. As with windows, uniform skylight spacing results inconsistent lighting. Architects can also place skylights high above the floor, allowing the light to diffuse before it reaches the ground.

Windows high above eye level, or clerestories, can light up an entire room. Architects usually combine clerestories with a reflective roof material or paint. The light enters through the clerestories and reflects off the roof, spreading very diffuse light around the room below. 

At certain times of the day at each orientation, the light will be too bright and may produce an intense glare inside the building. Architects design custom external shading systems to prevent this to protect windows and other transparent openings. These systems usually include a combination of horizontal and vertical elements but vary depending on the geographical location, climate, and building orientation.

A reflective horizontal shelf placed above windows reduces Glare and directs light deeper into the space.

Solar tubes channel sunlight from the roof through a narrow opening. During the day, they look like ordinary ceiling lamps, but the sun rather than electricity powers them. When placed directly above desks, these work well where people need plenty of light.

Light, reflective paint helps light to bounce around the room and makes the space feel brighter. 

Modern architecture firms use parametric software to generate optimized daylighting strategies for buildings. Daylight simulation software analyzes the building geometry and calculates the anticipated daylighting levels throughout the building at any given time of year.

Obviously, natural light isn't always available at night, on cloudy days, or shorter days in the winter, so schools must supplement with artificial light sources.

especially those tuned to circadian rhythms, for artificial lighting needs.

Using LED lighting can help boost students' learning performance and increase productivity. LED lighting can also help with students' circadian rhythm as it is designed to mimic natural light. This reduces levels of tiredness throughout the day and allows students to remain alert for longer. LED lighting also eliminates the risk of distracting bad-lighting factors such as poor illumination, Glare, flicker, and color imbalance.

LED lights do not flicker or buzz when close to death, they also remain brighter for longer. These lights use significantly less energy than older technologies, thereby reducing building energy consumption.

The easiest way to reduce energy costs is to turn off the lights when they are not in use.