Efficiency of Daylighting in a Building - A Case Study

Daylight should be used as primary light source in building in daytime and fulfil both our visual and nonvisual(biological)needs. Sick building syndrome is largely related to air quality and indoor pollution, but also takes into account the availability of natural light, which studies show is vital for people's health and wellbeing. The health effects of natural light and fresh air offered by windows are pivotal to the health of a home and its inhabitants. A lot of the research that relates to the health benefits of natural light relates to night shift workers in particular, because they are working in an environment without natural light, which suppresses their serotonin levels (which affects their happiness), and melatonin levels (which affects their sleeping and relaxation). A lack of exposure to natural light can even lead to seasonal affective disorder, or the ‘winter blues’, which can then lead to clinical depression. Good lighting will provide a suitable intensity and direction of illumination on the task area, appropriate colour rendering, the absence of discomfort and, in addition, and a satisfying variety in lighting quality and intensity from place to place and over time. The argument for day lighting in buildings therefore has three strands: • it provides a healthier and more enjoyable indoor climate • it conserves the earth's resources • because it saves energy, it saves money. This research work involves checking of lighting efficiency in a building by taking onsite measurements and compare with the protractor method.