Natural and artificial light have a significant effect on the experience of hospital patients and can actually reduce stress and hospital time, says Rosalyn Cama, an interior designer and researcher specializes in health care design.
Susan S. Szenasy talks to Cama about her research and how the built environment and its use of lighting influences health.
"SSS: What is the one, big mistake designers make in combining daylighting with artificial lighting, from a human well-being point of view?
RC: Believe or not, many architects and developers are still not paying attention to the sun's orientation in siting a building. The light levels on one side of the hall versus the other can influence how long you will recover, therefore need different artificial lighting adjustments. The sunny side of the building can offer 46% greater sunlight intensity, which will require 22% less pain medication with a financial gain of 21% reduction in the cost of those medications."
Read the full story: Q&A: Rosalyn Cama
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