A growing body of evidence links quality and safety outcomes in healthcare to the physical environment. Research studies in the laboratory setting indicate appropriate environmental lighting can result in elevated mood, arousal and alertness, leading to increased productivity and reduced cognitive impairment. However, the effect of daylight and the impact of the presence of windows on healthcare employee' health and performance have not been adequately studied.
Multiple methods were used to investigate the role of lighting from both occupancy and energy perspectives in a healthcare setting. Study 1: Ethnographic Research. Staff members, in three facilities, completed surveys regarding the most important environmental characteristics of an ideal workplace. They selected the top three characteristics helping with their alertness and wakefulness. Study 2: Quasi-experimental Biological Study. measurements were gathered from 12 volunteer Registered Nurses, who provide patient care in both windowed (design case) and windowless nurse stations (reference case). In addition, the RNs' work-related and subsidiary behavior related to sleepiness and mood were recorded via behavioral mapping. Study 3: Energy Modeling. The impact of a window on energy consumption and cost was evaluated using computer modeling.
Study 1: The top five environmental factors for an ideal workplace were identified as temperature, appropriately sized workplace, low noise levels, privacy and comfortable furniture. Daylighting, temperature and comfort were identified as the top three most important environmental factors supporting staff in alertness and wakefulness. Study 2: The frequency of subsidiary behavior in the same individuals was reduced by 40% in the nurse station with a window and daylight compared to a similar windowless nurse station (p-value=0.001). The average daily heart rate was reduced by 3% in the windowed condition (design case) but not significantly (P=0.1000). The blood oxygen saturation increased (97.6 to 98.1) in the windowed location significantly (p-value= 0.0110). Study 3: Overall, energy consumption increased by 30%, however, this energy loss could be completely avoided using high performance glazing.
The present study concluded that 'a window' in healthcare environments may be linked to considerable benefits to occupant performance and wellbeing, and will not necessarily negatively impact building energy use
