The Light of the World.

Lighting and its effects are everywhere.

Lighting has the ability to affect our lives in a variety of ways: from the computers we use on a daily basis to an ATM we visit to retrieve money. For facilities professionals, however, lighting is a critical element in creating a comfortable

Because most office tasks are visually oriented, understanding lighting requirements is often difficult. Two factors have further complicated the process, according to the Washington, D.C.-based American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) in The Impact of Interior Design On The Bottom Line (1997): the growing proliferation of computers and the widespread conversion to open-office designs. As a result, the need for a coordinated, integrated approach to lighting has never been more pronounced.

Surprisingly, experts continue to agree that lighting levels in most offices are overly bright. Yet, numerous studies -- over the past several years -- have shown that employees prefer and are more comfortable working under lower light levels. In instances when companies do lower lighting levels, experts recommend providing employees with individual task lighting with adjustable controls for greater comfort and flexibility.

Each day an individual works in an office can affect how he or she feels. In fact, it can make an individual want to cry, literally. According to the Steelcase Workplace Index Survey (released Dec. 1, 1999, by Grand Rapids, MI-based Steelcase Inc.), more than half of the office workers responding say poor lighting in the workplace triggers tired or watery eyes (56 percent), while another 30 percent say they suffer headaches from poor lighting. Furthermore, lighting improvements to the workplace could reduce eyestrain and headaches for 86 percent of those surveyed.

This impacts the bottom-line. Making light of the light in the workplace may cast shadows on the financial future of an organization. According to the survey, improved lighting would increase efficiency and productivity for three out of four office workers. Additionally, two out of three office workers surveyed reported that improved lighting would help them be more creative.

Not only can lighting affect how we work and feel, but also how we manage our money. Many of us use Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) every day, and the impact of lighting in these applications can also affect our wellbeing. The ease of getting cash from these machines has created a risk (robbery, assault, etc.) for users as well as the financial institutions to which they belong. According to LM&M Lighting Management & Maintenance 1999, many states have enacted legislation to address the operation of ATMs to include provisions that mandate minimum lighting levels in the surrounding areas. Light levels must be maintained during nighttime operation of the machines to comply with the requirements of the laws. These new laws have created new opportunities, as well as new risks, for the lighting management industry, including an opportunity to market the systematic fixture cleaning and group relamping of exterior lighting fixtures.

Suzanne L. Frank (suzanne-frank@stamats.com) is editorial assistant at Buildings and Commercial Building magazines.