
Excerpt: “Interest in daylighting and lighting design has
never been higher since physiologists discovered a new type of cell in the
human eye in 2001. These cells send information about light intensity to the
brain centres responsible for controlling circadian rhythms to patterns of
light and dark. They tell our bodies when to sleep ("It's dark!") and
when to awaken ("It's light!").”
Suggested research priorities include:
1.Establish the
optimal daily pattern of light and dark exposures for good mental and physical
health.
2.Determine how our homes can help us to live in the healthy
pattern of light and dark, taking into account the way we use windows and
shading to control privacy, glare and temperature, as well as light exposures
and view.
3.Develop design solutions and technologies for different
climates that deliver healthy light, warmth, view, and fresh air, with a
minimum of energy use.
Source: Health and well-being through residential windows , National
research Council Canada, Volume 17, Number 3, September 2012 , < http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ci/v17n3/4.html>
accessed September 17, 2012
Suggested reading:
Veitch, J.A., The physiological and psychological effects of
windows, daylight, and view at home, NRC Institute for Research in
Construction, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, NRCC-54002, May 2011, <http://archive.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/obj/irc/doc/pubs/nrcc54002.pdf>
accessed September 17th, 2012
Veitch, J.A., The Physiological and Psychological Effects of
Windows, Daylight, and View at Home, NRC Institute for Research in
Construction, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, February, 2012, <http://archive.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/obj/irc/doc/pubs/nrcc54002.pdf
> accessed September 17th, 2012
RBc: As we have said many times before – the building scientist is
intimately connected to the heat scientist through the physiological and psychological
needs of the occupants.
Ironically most
academic architectural and engineering programs do not teach human factor
fundamentals and the knowledge of such elements does not cross the radar screen
of building contractors including the various sub trades. What does this mean?
It means the various people on your construction project potentially having an effect
on you physiologically and psychologically have no training in this area…go
figure.
These and other items
are fodder for our three day integrated design program.