Role of Architectural Design in Creating Circadian-Effective Interior Settings

Baraa J Alkhatatbeh,Somayeh Asadi

doi:10.3390/en14206731

Baraa J Alkhatatbeh, Somayeh Asadi

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/en14206731

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Journal: Energies	Publication Date: Oct 16, 2021
Citations: 10	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Yarmouk University, Pennsylvania State University

Abstract

Daylight variability throughout the day makes it an ideal light source for the stimulation of humans’ circadian systems. However, the key criteria, including proper quantity, quality, and hours of access to daylight, are not always present inside the built environment. Therefore, artificial light is necessary to complement the human’s visual and non-visual needs for light. Architectural design parameters, such as window area, orientation, glazing material, and surface reflectance alter the characteristics of both daylight and artificial light inside buildings. These parameters and their impact on lighting design should be considered from the early design stages to attain a circadian-effective design. In response to this need, a design approach called Human-Centric Lighting (HCL) was introduced. HCL places humans, and their visual and non-visual needs, in the center of the design process. It manipulates the light-related factors, such as spectrum and intensity, within the built environment for circadian benefits. The effect of HCL on lighting energy efficiency is still not clear. This paper reviews essential architectural design parameters and their impacts on circadian lighting design, considers the HCL design process and explores the most widely used circadian lighting metrics and standards.

Highlights

Daylight and artificial light can satisfy humans’ visual and non-visual needs, daylight is usually preferred [1,2]
The results revealed that northoriented windows decreased the circadian potential by 23%, while east- and west-facing windows decreased it by 16%, compared to the control model, which was expected for a building located in Seattle, Washington (Northern Hemisphere)
The results revealed that shading devices that significantly modify the color and/or intensity of daylight admitted through windows have an adverse effect on circadian potential

Summary

Introduction

Daylight and artificial light can satisfy humans’ visual and non-visual needs, daylight is usually preferred [1,2]. A study reported that populations living in remote areas, under just daylight, have better sleep quantity and quality than those using electrical light [4]. Another study found that living in windowless environments with no/low access to daylight results in circadian disruption and poorer sleep quality and quantity [5]. Very few short-time studies looked into the entraining effects of daylight under real-life conditions [6,7]. This may go back to the difficulty of controlling daylight compared to electric lighting, where advanced technology is used to design and engineer the desired lighting quality and quantity [6]

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