Positive Effects of Advanced Daylight Supply of Buildings on Schoolchildren—A Controlled, Single-Blinded, Longitudinal, Clinical Trial with Real Constructive Implementation

Sunlight controls endogen hormone balances and numerous health effects. Therefore, it is important to provide building users, such as schoolchildren, with sufficient daylight. Too much of it, however, leads to overheating, which is why shading systems are used. Consequently, these systems improve en...

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Main Authors: Marcel Neberich, Nathalie Gerner, Carina Romodow, Johanna Freidl, Daniela Huber, Renate Weisböck-Erdheim, Christina Pichler, Arnulf Hartl
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-05-01
Series:Buildings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/12/5/600
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author Marcel Neberich
Nathalie Gerner
Carina Romodow
Johanna Freidl
Daniela Huber
Renate Weisböck-Erdheim
Christina Pichler
Arnulf Hartl
author_facet Marcel Neberich
Nathalie Gerner
Carina Romodow
Johanna Freidl
Daniela Huber
Renate Weisböck-Erdheim
Christina Pichler
Arnulf Hartl
author_sort Marcel Neberich
collection DOAJ
description Sunlight controls endogen hormone balances and numerous health effects. Therefore, it is important to provide building users, such as schoolchildren, with sufficient daylight. Too much of it, however, leads to overheating, which is why shading systems are used. Consequently, these systems improve energy balance, but might not have positive effects on present people’s health. Within this study, shading systems were installed in classrooms of a middle school: common shading in two rooms, while two others were equipped with shading blades “Schlotterer RETROLux 80D” in an innovative design, reflecting more daylight indoors. The participating classes were divided between rooms with ordinary daylighting (<i>n</i> = 43) and advanced daylighting (<i>n</i> = 42). They spent, on average, 5 days weekly and 5–8 h daily in these classrooms. Saliva samples were collected during three semesters to detect hormonal changes. Questionnaires were collected to obtain more information about the mental alterations and, furthermore, to support the physiological results. A significant reduction in cortisol levels between 6:30 AM and 11:30 AM (<i>p</i> < 0.001) was observed within the group that had advanced daylighting. Questionnaires show that both groups sleep less as study duration increases (<i>p</i> < 0.001 time effect), but only the control group has a concurrent increase in daytime sleepiness according to relative treatment effects. The results show that increased daylight supply indoors leads to a significant greater reduction in cortisol levels of children and that those positive outcomes can be achieved by using innovative technologies for buildings.
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spelling doaj.art-22a613f9f40a42f8a9b7fe46358c81d02023-11-23T10:20:25ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092022-05-0112560010.3390/buildings12050600Positive Effects of Advanced Daylight Supply of Buildings on Schoolchildren—A Controlled, Single-Blinded, Longitudinal, Clinical Trial with Real Constructive ImplementationMarcel Neberich0Nathalie Gerner1Carina Romodow2Johanna Freidl3Daniela Huber4Renate Weisböck-Erdheim5Christina Pichler6Arnulf Hartl7Institute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, AustriaInstitute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, AustriaInstitute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, AustriaInstitute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, AustriaInstitute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, AustriaInstitute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, AustriaInstitute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, AustriaInstitute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, AustriaSunlight controls endogen hormone balances and numerous health effects. Therefore, it is important to provide building users, such as schoolchildren, with sufficient daylight. Too much of it, however, leads to overheating, which is why shading systems are used. Consequently, these systems improve energy balance, but might not have positive effects on present people’s health. Within this study, shading systems were installed in classrooms of a middle school: common shading in two rooms, while two others were equipped with shading blades “Schlotterer RETROLux 80D” in an innovative design, reflecting more daylight indoors. The participating classes were divided between rooms with ordinary daylighting (<i>n</i> = 43) and advanced daylighting (<i>n</i> = 42). They spent, on average, 5 days weekly and 5–8 h daily in these classrooms. Saliva samples were collected during three semesters to detect hormonal changes. Questionnaires were collected to obtain more information about the mental alterations and, furthermore, to support the physiological results. A significant reduction in cortisol levels between 6:30 AM and 11:30 AM (<i>p</i> < 0.001) was observed within the group that had advanced daylighting. Questionnaires show that both groups sleep less as study duration increases (<i>p</i> < 0.001 time effect), but only the control group has a concurrent increase in daytime sleepiness according to relative treatment effects. The results show that increased daylight supply indoors leads to a significant greater reduction in cortisol levels of children and that those positive outcomes can be achieved by using innovative technologies for buildings.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/12/5/600daylightingcircadian rhythmindoor environmental qualitycortisol awakening responsedaytime sleepiness
spellingShingle Marcel Neberich
Nathalie Gerner
Carina Romodow
Johanna Freidl
Daniela Huber
Renate Weisböck-Erdheim
Christina Pichler
Arnulf Hartl
Positive Effects of Advanced Daylight Supply of Buildings on Schoolchildren—A Controlled, Single-Blinded, Longitudinal, Clinical Trial with Real Constructive Implementation
Buildings
daylighting
circadian rhythm
indoor environmental quality
cortisol awakening response
daytime sleepiness
title Positive Effects of Advanced Daylight Supply of Buildings on Schoolchildren—A Controlled, Single-Blinded, Longitudinal, Clinical Trial with Real Constructive Implementation
title_full Positive Effects of Advanced Daylight Supply of Buildings on Schoolchildren—A Controlled, Single-Blinded, Longitudinal, Clinical Trial with Real Constructive Implementation
title_fullStr Positive Effects of Advanced Daylight Supply of Buildings on Schoolchildren—A Controlled, Single-Blinded, Longitudinal, Clinical Trial with Real Constructive Implementation
title_full_unstemmed Positive Effects of Advanced Daylight Supply of Buildings on Schoolchildren—A Controlled, Single-Blinded, Longitudinal, Clinical Trial with Real Constructive Implementation
title_short Positive Effects of Advanced Daylight Supply of Buildings on Schoolchildren—A Controlled, Single-Blinded, Longitudinal, Clinical Trial with Real Constructive Implementation
title_sort positive effects of advanced daylight supply of buildings on schoolchildren a controlled single blinded longitudinal clinical trial with real constructive implementation
topic daylighting
circadian rhythm
indoor environmental quality
cortisol awakening response
daytime sleepiness
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/12/5/600
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