On a slightly less dramatic but equally significant level, there is also a growing body of evidence to suggest that buildings enjoying high levels of natural light are literally more successful than those more reliant on artificial light. In all environments, the eye and brain functions respond better to natural light, so people perform better, while passive solar gain can reduce energy costs.
If you’re thinking of your business property, daylight is known to improve concentration so that working environments, be they factories or offices with natural light, tend to achieve increased productivity. Research into retail environments suggests that in many situations sales tend to be better in naturally lit locations; colours are more vivid and true, making goods appear attractive and encouraging customers to spend more time in these areas. A number of the UK’s leading retail organisations include large areas of rooflights in specifications for all new build projects to ensure a high percentage of evenly distributed natural light within the interior.