LIGHT AS PART OF THE INDOOR CLIMATE What influence does light have on human? When talking about indoor climate, there are many different parameters to consider. One of them is the psychological factor, where light can have a positive effect. By designing a room with optimal lighting, reducing glare, spread, intensity etc., you’re able to positively affect human’s mood. In a rapport, by University of Lund, Sweden, it is proved that by designing a classroom, with light, the amount of cortisol was increased, although most significant in the winter months. Cortisol’s positive effect is that it increases people’s activity level, which is preferred in classrooms and offices. Figure 1 illustrates the difference in cortisol between one classroom (1), mainly with indirect lighting, and another, with balanced (direct and indirect) lighting (2). In addition to the production of cortisol, light also affect the production of melatonin. Melatonin is a sleep hormone that makes the body sleepy and therefore wished reduced in classrooms and office invironments. Figure 2 illustrates the difference in melatonin level, in the two classrooms. It’s obvious that the classroom with more lux and dominant indirect lighting (1), reduce the levels of melatonin, compared to the other (2). CORTISOL MELATONIN Increase human activity level. Makes the body tired.
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