New global survey: daylight affects people's sleep and productivity
FORT MILL, S.C., Nov. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A survey by YouGov of 16,000 people worldwide reveals that 60 percent of Americans believe daylight affects their productivity. Fifty-five percent think exposure to daylight affects their sleep(8).
Numerous studies have proven the role of daylight in promoting a good night's sleep while highlighting the negative impacts a lack of daylight has on health(3).
"Exposure to light-dark cycles is an absolutely crucial part of our biology and that's due to the role of light in resetting our circadian clock each and every day," said Dr. Steven Lockley, neuroscientist and associate professor at Harvard Medical School. "It resets our clocks to be in tune with environmental time, and light is the primary time-cue. If you're exposed to higher light levels and bluer light in the daytime, then you get a better stimulant effect. You'll be more alert and have better cognitive function; potentially be more productive at work and so on."
The global survey was commissioned by global skylight manufacturer VELUX for a report called The Indoor Generation, aimed at highlighting the importance of living in healthy homes and the role fresh air and natural light play in them. Initial findings revealed that over half of those surveyed believe they spend between 6-10 hours outside each day; in reality findings from the US Environmental Protection Agency show that on average people only get outside for about 2.5 hours each day - that's 90 percent of their day inside.
"It's clear that many people across the world believe that daylight has a notable impact on their sleep and productivity and it's very likely that there's some truth in these beliefs. Studies have revealed that the daily light dose might be too low among people in the Western countries," said Peter Foldbjerg, Head of Daylight, Energy and Indoor Climate at The VELUX Group.
As the days become shorter during the switch to Standard Time and colder, the importance of getting enough daylight is even more acute. A review published by the National Research Council Canada suggested that inadequate exposure to daylight could be detrimental to our wellbeing.
Our body clocks are informed by the different levels of daylight in a 24-hour period, we need plenty of light during the day and darkness at night to ensure a good night's sleep. Some of the consequences caused by poor sleep include depression, diabetes, heart disease and weight gain. Other side effects linked to poor sleep include higher risk of work accidents, reduced concentration and low mood and difficulties in making decisions(4).
Daylight can also help enhance productivity
As many as 63 percent of people polled globally in the YouGov survey said that daylight influences their productivity. The link between daylight and office productivity has also been widely investigated and various studies show that daylight and a view to the outside increase performance at work.
Workers in a call center were processing calls 6 percent to 12 percent faster when they had the best possible view versus those with no view³. Other office workers, meanwhile, were found to perform 10 percent to 25 percent better on tests of mental function and memory recall when they had the best possible view versus those with no view.
"One relevant question to raise, with these findings in mind and the fact that personnel costs typically account for 90 percent of a business' operating costs: Do the offices and schools offer the right thinking-environment that boosts the performance of employees and children's learning?" Foldbjerg said.
Top tips for improving your sleep
-- Increased exposure to daylight will help you sleep at night - sitting
near a window at work or school and making an effort to get outside more
will also help with this
-- Eliminate light from the outside to enter your bedroom at night
-- Sleep in a cooler bedroom
-- Avoid looking at electronic devices (TVs, smartphones / tablets) which
distribute blue light before going to sleep - this can trick the brain
into staying alert at the wrong time of day
-- Establish a good bed time routine - read a book instead of having more
screen time
-- Give children a red or orange night light if they are afraid of the dark
as these are the least disruptive to sleep
About The VELUX Group
For more than 75 years, the VELUX Group has created better living environments for people around the world; making the most of daylight and fresh air through the roof. Our product programme includes roof windows and modular skylights, decorative blinds, sun screening products and roller shutters, as well as installation and smart home solutions. These products help to ensure a healthy and sustainable indoor climate, where people work, learn, live or play. We work globally - with sales and manufacturing operations in more than 40 countries and around 10,200 employees worldwide. The VELUX Group is owned by VKR Holding A/S, a limited company wholly owned by non-profit, charitable foundations (THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS) and family. In 2017, VKR Holding had total revenue of EUR 2.5 billion, and THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS donated EUR 168 million in charitable grants. For more, information, visit www.velux.com.
About VELUX Skylights
VELUX is the world leader in skylights and roof windows and is one of the strongest brands in the global building materials sector with sales and manufacturing operations in more than 40 countries. VELUX America products are available nationwide through home centers, building material suppliers, lumberyards and independent door, window or roofing retailers. Consumers can locate local suppliers and installers and access information on skylight selection by visiting www.veluxusa.com or www.whyskylights.com. VELUX skylights are made in America in Greenwood, South Carolina.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Website: www.veluxusa.com/indoorgeneration
Sources
1. People spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors (WHO Europe 2013
report, US Environmental Protection Agency),
http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/environment-and-health/air-quali
ty/publications/2014/combined-or-multiple-exposure-to-health-stressors-in
-indoor-built-environments
2. Principles of healthy lighting: a role for daylight, Jennifer Veitch,
NRCC. 2002,
http://www.iar.unicamp.br/lab/luz/ld/Sa%FAde/Pesquisa/Principles%20of%20H
ealthy%20Lighting.pdf
3. Office workers productivity is impacted by poor light (Heschong Mahone
Group (2003) Windows and Offices: A Study of Office Worker Performance
and the Indoor Environment),
http://h-m-g.com/downloads/Daylighting/order_daylighting.htm
4. Why Sleep Matters - the economic costs of insufficient sleep: A cross
country comparative analysis (Nov 30, 2016), RAND Corporation
https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1791.html
5. The Physiological and pscyhcological effects of windows, daylight and
view at home, Jennifer Veitch and Anca D. Galasiu (NRCC, 2012)
https://nparc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/view/fulltext/?id=06e1364d-71f3-4766-8ac
8-f91da5576358
6. Assessment of daylight quality in simple rooms, Danish Building Research
Institute by Johnsen K., Dubois M., Grau K. (2006),
https://www.velux.com/deic/daylight/daylight-with-roof-windows-flat-roof-
windows-and-modular-skylights. YouGov Survey
7. Research for The Indoor Generation Report was carried out by YouGov in
March and April 2018 surveying around 16,000 homeowners across Northern
European and Northern America (Great Britain, USA, Canada, Denmark,
Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy,
Austria, Switzerland and Spain). For direct access to YouGov raw data,
please provide your email address and you will be granted access to
YouGov's online data portal.
How much time do you think you spend indoors during an average 24-hour day?
0-14 HOURS 15-18 HOURS 19-20 HOURS 21-24 HOURS
%
%
%
%
DENMARK 25 29 29 17
---
GREAT BRITAIN 25 28 25 23
---
USA 34 21 20 25
---
GERMANY 38 25 23 15
---
FRANCE 47 25 18 9
---
BELGIUM 45 24 18 13
---
NETHERLANDS 51 24 16 9
---
CZECH
REPUBLIC 57 26 12 5
---
SLOVAKIA 35 30 25 10
---
ITALY 57 27 11 5
---
AUSTRIA 32 30 25 13
---
SWITZERLAND 41 26 23 11
---
SPAIN 45 27 19 9
---
CANADA 31 21 22 26
---
TOTAL
RESPONDENTS 38 24 20 18
---
How does daylight influence your sleep?
Not at all A little Somewhat A lot Don't know
% %
% % %
DENMARK 19 29 25 20 7
---
GREAT BRITAIN 21 33 23 19 5
---
USA 22 18 26 29 5
---
GERMANY 12 27 30 27 5
---
FRANCE 15 29 28 23 6
---
BELGIUM 19 26 26 26 4
---
NETHERLANDS 22 26 25 25 3
---
CZECH REPUBLIC 14 28 27 30 2
---
SLOVAKIA 9 27 26 35 3
---
ITALY 14 23 28 34 1
---
AUSTRIA 12 28 27 30 2
---
SWITZERLAND 15 29 26 26 3
---
SPAIN 17 28 28 26 2
---
CANADA 18 24 26 30 3
---
TOTAL RESPONDENTS 17 27 26 26 4
---
How does daylight influence your productivity?
Not at all A little Somewhat A lot Don't know
% %
% % %
DENMARK 10 21 34 30 5
---
GREAT BRITAIN 19 26 29 20 6
---
USA 21 14 26 34 5
---
GERMANY 8 21 38 29 5
---
FRANCE 12 23 32 25 7
---
BELGIUM 16 18 31 31 4
---
NETHERLANDS 21 17 28 31 3
---
CZECH REPUBLIC 12 19 33 35 1
---
SLOVAKIA 8 15 33 42 3
---
ITALY 12 14 31 41 2
---
AUSTRIA 8 21 37 31 2
---
SWITZERLAND 10 20 38 29 3
---
SPAIN 10 17 35 35 3
---
CANADA 16 17 28 37 3
---
TOTAL RESPONDENTS 14 19 32 31 4
---
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SOURCE VELUX Skylights
