The Impact of Natural Light in Schools and Colleges

As schools search for ways to improve test scores and student health, the answer could be as simple as choosing the right windows.  Studies suggest that natural daylight has a direct benefit on learning and the correct window could improve overall productivity and student wellbeing.

Three key benefits of natural lighting are:

1. Learning Performance

Like adults, children perform better in environments with natural light. Students in naturally-lit classrooms score better on tests than their peers.  Classrooms with the most daylighting had a 20% better learning rate in math and a 26% improved rate in reading compared to classrooms with little or no daylighting according to California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) findings.

2. Student Health

Just as natural light is important to productivity, studies show that it is also important to overall health by:
• Boosting the body's vitamin D storage
• Improving mood, reducing depression
• Improving sleep and circadian regulation
• Relieving Seasonal Affective Disorder

3. Carbon Footprint

The benefits of seeking sunlight instead of flipping on the light switch are astronomical. "America’s schools spend more than $8 billion each year on energy, and about 26% of electricity consumed by a typical school is just for lighting alone” according to the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Through sustainable design and natural daylight, schools can dramatically reduce their carbon footprint.

Schools and colleges looking to provide healthy spaces for students need to consider the amount of natural light the windows allow in. Contact us today to find out what window is right for your school or college’s needs.