Scribd
Upload
64 views12 pages

Daylight and The Workplace Study: Your Window To Wellness

Uploaded by

Diego A Echavarría A
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
64 views12 pages

Daylight and The Workplace Study: Your Window To Wellness

Uploaded by

Diego A Echavarría A
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 12

CASE STUDY

Your window to wellness

Daylight
and the
workplace
study
How natural light improves worker
health, wellness and productivity.

Netflix
Los Gatos, CA
Illuminating
the ideal office
environment
The concept of our workplaces awash in daylight sounds great
in theory, but it’s difficult to balance how much light to let in to
keep people comfortable. Uncontrolled sunlight quickly becomes
a problem for employees, reflecting unwanted glare into their eyes
and computer screens and raising office temperatures and tempers
over what the thermostat setting should be.

As a result, the benefits of natural light and views are often


neutralized in a building through the frequent use of blinds or
shades. A recent study showed that over 75 percent of office
windows have more than half of their window area covered by
blinds or shades, disconnecting employees from the outdoors.*

To better understand the benefits of daylit workspaces, Dr. Alan


Hedge, a professor in the Department of Design and Environmental
Analysis at Cornell University, conducted a study of 313 office
workers. The results indicate that increased exposure to natural
light unlocks a tremendous competitive advantage for companies
by positively impacting the health, energy and work-related
performance of their workforces.

*https://urbangreencouncil.org/content/news/report-seduced-view

2
A recent study showed that
over 75 percent of office
windows have more than
half of their window area
covered by blinds or shades,
disconnecting employees
from the outdoors.*

Esplanade
Atlanta, GA
3
Seattle, WA Ontario, CA

Salt Lake City, UT

Boone, NC

Gainesville, FL

The research
Study of 313 people in 7 locations

In the Fall of 2017, Cornell University Professor Alan Hedge conducted a study of people
from seven different locations across North America, who worked in offices with traditional
windows or offices with self-tinting “smart” windows. The smart windows were View
dynamic glass.

People were surveyed about their experience with daylight and its perceived impact on
their wellness, happiness and work-related performance. The research and its results
were conducted independently by Professor Hedge with full autonomy over all aspects,
including the survey design and data analysis.

4
Dr. Alan Hedge
Dr. Alan Hedge is a professor in the Department of Design and
Environmental Analysis, Cornell University. He directs the Human
Factors and Ergonomics teaching and research programs. His
research and teaching activities have focused on issues of design
and workplace ergonomics as these affect the health, comfort and
productivity of workers.

He has authored over 50 book chapters and 250 articles on the


subject of human factors. He is extensively cited in the national and
international media and has appeared on several TV and
radio programs.

“He is perhaps
the most
often cited
ergonomist
in the media.”
The current president of the International
Ergonomics Association recently said.

5
Benefits of natural
light at work
Health benefits
Offices where natural light was intelligently optimized significantly reduced
the health incidences that lead to Computer Vision Syndrome, an occupational
hazard impacting 70 million workers worldwide.*

Computer Vision Syndrome is a condition that can result from prolonged


computer use (i.e. three or more hours a day). Symptoms include eyestrain,
blurred or double vision, and tension headaches.

Overall, workers in offices with optimized natural light reported a 51 percent


drop in the incidence of eyestrain and a 63 percent drop in the incidence of
headaches, both of which can detract from productivity.

Lack of daylight and access to views decreases the ability of the eye to relax
and recover from fatigue. By prioritizing controlled daylight in their offices,
companies can increase workers’ ability to work comfortably longer.

6
American Savings Bank
Honolulu, HI

63 %
Fewer
headaches 56 %
Less
drowsiness 51 %
Reduced
eyestrain

Wellness benefits
Workers in offices with the optimal amount of natural light reported an 82 percent
increase in the perceived daylight quality (in terms of color and brightness of light)

Better quality daylight not only resulted in fewer headaches and less eyestrain, but
also decreased fatigue among workers. Workers in offices with optimized natural light
reported a 56 percent decrease in drowsiness.

By enabling more high quality natural light at work, companies can benefit from a
more energetic and attentive workforce.

*https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/05/30/computer-vision-syndrome-affects-millions/

7
Performance benefits
Improving light quality leads to better energy which leads to better work
performance. With increased access to views and natural light from smart
windows, workers reported 2 percent greater productivity - the equivalent of
an additional $100,000 of annual value for every 100 workers.*

Productivity gains (and losses) are connected to employees’ environmental


conditions, so companies that create ideal office environments with abundant
natural light and unobstructed outdoors views will reap the dividends.

*Assuming an average annual salary of $50,000.

8
Netflix
Los Gatos, CA

9
About View

Intro to Dynamic Glass Business overview


Situated at the intersection of human Targeting the 25 billion square feet (SF)
wellness, smart connectivity and energy annual global market for architectural
efficiency, View designs and manufactures window glass, View Smart Windows
View Dynamic Glass, a new generation replace traditional windows in both new
of digitally connected, architectural glass construction and building renovations.
that intelligently tints to control glar View Smart Windows were launched
and heat, while eliminating blinds and in 2012, and is the market leader with
maximizing natural light. View creates installations across 50 million SF of real
more comfortable, inspiring and healthy estate. Today, the company focuses on the
environments, leading to improved high value corporate office, healthcare,
productivity. education, aviation and multifamily sectors.

Due to its superior material properties,


View also lowers HVAC and lighting energy
consumption by up to 20% and blocks
over 99% of UV light. Every View Smart
Window is network addressable, providing
a high-density, powered, connected
platform for smart buildings and cities
– leading to potentially transformative
applications including personalization
and wellness, digital and physical building
security, connectivity and collaboration.

10
CenturyLink Technology Center
Monroe, LA

Fast Facts

50M 50M 96% 450+ 250


Building SF Occupants Overall occupant Projects installed More in progress
delight

Founded: 2007 Headquarters | R&D


Milpitas, CA
Funding: $2B+
Employee: 950 Manufacturing
Olive Branch, MS
Patent: 850

11
To learn more, visit view.com
or contact us at 1-855-478-8468 © Copyright 2019 View, Inc.

You might also like