Pilot study in a climatic chamber: daylight effects on aspects of health and wellbeing not related to vision

Abstract Taking into account that daylight is concerned not only with providing a healthy and comfortable built environment, but also with health aspects of users with impacts on their biological rhythms, this study presents the methodology used in a pilot study carried out in a climate chamber, focusing on the influence of daylight (or lack thereof) on variables related to health conditions and well-being of subjects. The method involves the assessment of objective and subjective data in subjects exposed to different conditions of solar access, while in thermal comfort in a climate chamber. Relationships between subjective and psychological perception relative to conditions of light exposure are analysed for winter in Karlsruhe (49°N, 8.5°E). The pilot study allowed the verification of the method and its limitations; being thus an important step for the ongoing research.