Jennifer Veitch, Ph.D., a senior research officer at the National Research Council of Canada in Ottawa, investigates how indoor lighting affects employee well-being and productivity and how employee behaviors affect the use of resources and energy. Dr. Veitch recently completed a study on the impact of control over workspace lighting on workers. The findings of her research revealed that when people have control over the lighting in their workspaces, their moods are more upbeat, they are more committed to their employers, and they have overall improved well-being. Individually controlled lighting also reduced lighting energy use by 10 percent.
For this unit’s reflection, please share your thoughts on the pros and cons of implementing individually controlled lighting in an office environment. How receptive do you feel your company would be to exploring the concept of individually controlled lighting?