Natural light — the house’s selling point, a huge office perk, and a photographer’s best friend. Most of us would rather bask under the warmth of the sun rather than be stuck inside with all the buzz and glare of fluorescent light.
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Natural Light Is Always Better
This is not a matter of opinion, too. In fact, according to a survey published by The Harvard Business Review, access to natural light is the top feature employees want in their workplace. It even ranked above on-site childcare and fitness centers.
Since we spend most of our time indoors — 80 to 90 percent of it, in fact — getting enough natural light is crucial. More than an office perk, natural light offers a wide range of benefits for our overall health and productivity.
Major Benefits of Natural Light in the Work Environment
1. Promote Better Sleep and Health
According to research, employees who get more natural light exposure tend to sleep better and longer than those who get only little to no natural light exposure. Employees working next to office windows get 176 percent more sunlight exposure, giving them 46 minutes of extra sleep time.
Naturally, anyone who enjoys a better sleep pattern also enjoys better overall health.
In a study conducted at the University of Oregon, it was found out that workers who receive enough amount of natural light exposure are 6.5 percent less likely to call in sick compared with others.
Workers who get enough sunlight are also less prone to other health issues, such as eyestrain, headache, and blurred vision.
2. Mood Booster
It Is No Secret That Getting Enough Sunlight Helps Boost Your Mood.
Several pieces of research have already cemented the connection between natural light and Vitamin D. Vitamin D, also known as the “sunshine vitamin,” is an important nutrient that helps fight the risks of weight gain, heart diseases, cancer, and even bone loss.
However, you don’t have to be out in the sun to receive this vitamin. A wide office window is sufficient, as you can get Vitamin D from sunlight both indoors and outdoors.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is common among those living in regions where there is less sunlight. About 6 percent of the population in the United States suffer from seasonal mood changes. To ward this off, workers have to get as much natural light as possible.
You don’t have to make drastic changes to your office to give your employees this perk. Consider hiring a contractor that specializes in commercial window installation to replace existing office windows with wider ones.
3. Increase Productivity and Employee Engagement
It is all too common to see offices that have no windows, and if there are some, they are often covered with thick blinds. Accordingly, this kind of setup is intended to deter workers from being overly concerned about the time and allow them to focus on work instead. However, this has proven to do the reverse instead.
Employees are, in fact, more engaged when they work in natural light. They tend to focus on their tasks and are more likely to collaborate with their colleagues.
In one research conducted involving Walmart employees, sales on stores with skylights are 40 percent higher than those stores that use only fluorescent lighting.
4. Higher Property Value
Just like how appealing a home with wider windows is for potential home buyers and renters, office spaces that receive enough natural light are appealing to tenants. Potential tenants are willing to spend about two to four dollars per square foot more for an office with such features.
Natural lighting makes office spaces seem more inviting and more spacious. Potential tenants would, of course, prefer to rent an office that emanates such an aura. Compared with spaces with little or no natural light, naturally lit spaces tend to stay on the market less long.
5. Cost-Efficiency
Using artificial lighting in your office building could take up a huge chunk of your electric usage — about a third of that. Though the number can either be higher or lower due to other circumstances, the fact remains that artificial lighting means spending money on utilities.
However, by incorporating natural lighting into your commercial building layout, you are promoting sustainability and helping your company cut down on utility expenses.
In addition, prolonged exposure to compact fluorescent lamps triggers stress responses in some people. It also induces migraines and eye strains.
Providing natural light in your office does not mean doing a major overhaul of your building’s structure — though it is possible. Simple things, such as encouraging employees to take breaks outside or re-arranging the office layout to allow more sunlight to pass through, would be enough.