Managing daylight for smart, sustainable healthcare spaces that put people at the heart

When it comes to caring for the elderly or vulnerable, or treating patients and helping them to recover, the indoor environment plays a crucial role. Care homes and hospitals should be designed or renovated with this in mind, creating smart buildings that focus on occupant comfort and allow staff to prioritise patient care.

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According to research…

In a hospital, the patients’ well-being is of course the number one priority. That well-being extends far beyond a comfortable bed, and into the room itself. Is there any natural light? How does the sunlight hit the room? Is there any uncomfortable glare or unwanted heat from the sun’s rays? For patient recovery, studies show that:

Access to natural light reduces the duration of hospital stays (2)
Natural light has a positive influence on recovery time following operations by up to 8.5% (3)

(1) Building4People: Quantifying the benefits of energy renovation investments in schools, offices and hospitals
(2) Bron: Beauchemin & Hays 1996
(3) Dr. Ulrich 2008

Managing light and warmth for care and well-being

One of the best ways to give occupants of care facilities or hospitals control over the amount of natural light and warmth they let into their building is through smart shading technology. Room by room, floor by floor, shading can be set up to dynamically react to the sun as it tracks across the sky, reducing glare and fierce heat while embracing natural daylight.

Exploring the benefits

For Patients

Freedom and flexibility to control their individual visual and thermal comfort using personal devices that can be kept by their bedside, or have an automated program take care of it for them.
Getting all the benefits of natural daylight without any of the discomfort that usually comes from piercing mid-afternoon sun.

For Staff

Being able to control the environment in accordance with what work needs to be done. Meeting rooms can be darkened for presentations, while wards can soak in natural light to boost morale and productivity.
Completely eliminating the need to open and close blinds manually throughout the day to keep patients and visitors comfortable, saving valuable time that could be better spent caring.