| Abstract | This was a naturally-occurring field experiment, comparing employee responses to recessed parabolic-louvered luminaires, and workstation-specific individually-controllable suspended direct/indirect luminaires, with some variation in furnishings and surface reflectances. All occupants of three buildings were invited to complete an online questionnaire on three occasions during the study. Each time, the questionnaire included questions and tasks to assess satisfaction with lighting, room appearance judgements, mood, environmental satisfaction, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, intent to turnover, persistence, and well-being. Each measurement wave included a site visit by the research team, during which the physical conditions in selected locations were measured. The results showed that 1. Workstation-specific lighting with individual control is the higher-quality lighting solution. 2. Room surface reflectances influence lighting quality. 3. Luminous conditions matter to organizational productivity. Luminous conditions (rated on a scale from parabolic/low reflectance to workstation-specific-control/low reflectance to workstation-specific-control/high reflectance) predicted lighting appraisals, and these in turn indirectly related to reduced health problems and to reduced intent to turnover. Previous NRC-IRC research had found that this lighting solution saved up to 69% of the energy used by the original parabolic-louvered luminaire design. The evidence that these luminaires also deliver a higher-quality work environment, and furthermore that this environment is associated with fewer health problems and better employee retention, makes this lighting solution an excellent choice for individuals, their employers, and the environment. |
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