Lighting Impacts on Productivity and Performance of School Children An experiment in Elementary Schools

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Date
2013-08
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The British University in Dubai (BUiD)
Abstract
Sustainability is an increasingly prevalent issue not only in terms of our environment and resources, but also our health and performance, especially within the indoor environment. One of the most important ele-ments of the indoor environment is lighting, and natural lighting is the most sustainable form that should be introduced to all interior spaces. There is no clear strategy for the complementary artificial lighting that can enhance the illumination of the indoor environment. Economic, environmental and social aspects determine the selection of artificial lighting, and the social aspect is the subject of this study. A variety of sustainable lighting is offered in the market, and the major advantage among them is their impact on the users of interior space. Even though this is not the foremost strategy for choosing artificial light, this study highlights this characteristic. In this study an experiment was conducted over an academic year in elementary schools to evaluate the performance of students and teach-ers under warm and cool lighting. A specially-designed teachers’ ques-tionnaire was answered and analysed along with the students’ grades, which were collected and discussed under the experimental lighting: warm white. Planned methodology was by observation (walkthrough, photos, comments), site analysis, students’ grades, and teachers’ questionnaires. The analysis method selected was statistical analysis along with corresponding discussion. The two schools selected shared similarities (Grade 2 – two different sections in each, British curriculum), and differed in terms of their interiors (colourful and neutral), and lighting fixtures (open and covered). The major findings conducted through the study showed the re-markable advantages of the suggested artificial lighting along with few disadvantages. This emphasises the usage of it in elementary schools in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with time conditions.
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Keywords
lighting Impacts, elementary schools, sustainability, indoor environment, natural lighting, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
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