It has become commonplace in society to make jokes about never getting to see the outside. Frequently we are trapped indoors under the harsh glare of fluorescent bulbs making us think that time is not moving at all. Many architectural firms and trends have sought to counter this though, and are adding windows so that places like schools, hospitals, shopping centres, and office buildings can receive natural sunlight.
The movement toward natural light has been generally greeted with praise and relief from those who for too long have suffered under the oppressive glow of overhead lighting, but it does bring with it some issues that can cause some to question the value of letting in the outside. Foremost among these issues is glare.
Glare occurs when bright sunlight reflects through windows and off of the surfaces in a building. The result can be uncomfortable and distracting light spots that move around throughout the day. While glare might seem like a minor issue, there are several places where it can have enormous consequences.
The first place that glare can affect society is school. While natural light and windows are good for students, the glare that results from them can work to undermine learning. This is why it is important for schools to be able to reduce the glare that enters their classrooms. After all, in a world where most people carry a device in their pocket that provides nearly unlimited entertainment possibilities, getting students to pay attention in class can be hard enough. Using products like standard glare reduction window film can help students stay on track without making them feel like animals in a laboratory.
Another place where the impacts of glare can be devastating is in a hospital. Patients surely benefit from being able to see outside. Hospital staff also work harder and better when they do not feel like they are enclosed all the time. However, glare can get into the eyes of recovering patients, preventing them from sleeping and delaying recovery. Glare can also make it harder for service providers to see the screens of the devices they need, leading to potentially disastrous mistakes if information is improperly recorded. For situations like these it may be necessary to resort to even more intense glare reduction strategies, such as high glare reduction window film.
Anyone who has worked in an office building can tell you how much they value windows. In fact, a place near a window has gotten to be a big perk in the modern office building. The glare from these windows can make it impossible to use computer screens. Additionally, because the glare is constantly moving with the sun, workers may have to move around repeatedly throughout the course of the day. This cuts down productivity as well as worker satisfaction. As a result, businesses may be losing out on potential profits, clients, developments, or even important deadlines simply because workers are struggling to see their screens.
Glare works to undermine more than our schools, hospitals, and offices though. There are several other types of location that can benefit from having natural light but may want to cut down on glare. These include restaurants, which need windows to help the ambience as well as to let people see inside and entice them to come in. However high glare, especially at the wrong time, can make a restaurant unappealing, driving it out of business. Museums and galleries are another set of locations that benefit from natural light. Allowing sunlight in lets these locations show off the displays they have on offer and allows visitors to enjoy the displays to their fullest. However, if there are large glare spots works of art can be difficult to appreciate. Furthermore, there may even be irreversible damage that occurs as a result of too much sun exposure!
As you can see, natural light is good, but too much leads to glare, which causes all kinds of problems. Look to trusted window film professionals in order to solve your glare problems while still enjoying the sight of the great outdoors.
