Green Schools Attributes for Health and Learning (2007) / Chapter Skim
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5 Lighting and Human Performance
5 Lighting and Human Performance
Pages 80-91
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From page 80... ...
Typically, school buildings use a combination of electric lighting and daylight. When evaluating the performance of any lighting system, electric or daylight, its impact on two biological systems -- the visual and the circadian -- needs to be considered, together with the physical attributes of light that differentially affect these systems (Figure 5.1)
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From page 81... ...
5-1 of the visual response functions, it can probably be concluded that most lighting and task conditions are adequate for most students. Going the next step, however, is more tenuous because not easilyevidence that the fixed imasge, there is no altered quality or quantity of light directly affects student learning (Larson, 1965; Demos et al., 1967; Boyce et al., 2003)
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From page 82... ...
Thus, the visual performance of adults older than 45 in a school building is likely to be negatively affected by poor lighting.
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From page 83... ...
Daylighting and Student Achievement Several studies investigating the effect of daylighting on student achievement were conducted by the Heschong-Mahone Group between 1999 and 2003. In the 1999 study, data were obtained from elementary school districts in three locations: Orange County, California; Seattle, Washington; and Fort Collins, Colorado (Heschong-Mahone Group, 1999)
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From page 84... ...
analysis to see whether they could gain some insight into why the daylight code was not significant in Fresno as it had been in the earlier studies. Among the authors' conclusions were that sources of glare negatively affect student learning; direct sun penetration into classrooms, especially through unshaded east- or south-facing windows, negatively affects student performance, likely causing both glare and thermal discomfort; blinds or curtains allow teachers to control the intermittent sources of glare or visual distraction through the windows; absence of teacher control of windows negatively affects student performance (Heschong-Mahone Group, 2003, p.
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From page 85... ...
They concluded that work in classrooms without windows affected the basic pattern of the hormone cortisol, which is associated with stress, and could therefore have a negative effect on children's health and concentration. This finding is strictly suggestive, however, because no direct relationship between cortisol levels and student performance and health was established (Rusak et al., 1997)
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From page 86... ...
, and this might also be true for teachers. Less learning might be expected on the part of children who experience symptoms of seasonal depression, so lighting might play a very important role in the design of a green school at northern latitudes.
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From page 87... ...
LIGHTING AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE dance and performance of school age children; however, there have been no systematic studies for this age group. SOLUTIONS/DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR VISUAL PERFORMANCE Sources of Light Electric lighting systems have a number of components: luminaires, lamps (incandescent, fluorescent, high-intensity discharge [HID]
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From page 88... ...
Lighting Criteria for Schools Light levels in school buildings are strongly influenced by the expected visual performance requirements for a given task. In general, higher illuminance levels are recommended for specialized tasks such as reading and writing than for less demanding visual tasks such as eating or walking.
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From page 89... ...
. CURRENT GREEN SCHOOL GUIDELINES Current guidelines for green schools usually focus on energy-efficient lighting technologies and components and the use of daylight to further conserve energy when addressing lighting requirements.
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From page 90... ...
Finding 5c: Current green school guidelines typically focus on energyefficient lighting technologies and components and the use of daylight to further conserve energy when addressing lighting requirements. Guidance for lighting design that supports the visual performance of children and adults, based on task, school room configurations, layout, and surface finishes, is not provided.
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From page 91... ...
LIGHTING AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE easily operated manual blinds or other types of window treatments to control excessive sunlight or glare. Recommendation 5d: Because light is important in regulating daily biological cycles, both acute effects on learning and lifelong effects on children's health should be researched, particularly the role that lighting in school environments plays in regulating sleep and wakefulness in children.
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