We want plenty of windows and full spectrum lighting - not those cold fluorescents. This is a request I hear frequently from teachers while planning learning environments. While the benefits of full spectrum lamps remain inconclusive, there is a good deal of consensus on the value of daylight and quality lighting design. Daylight has long been the standard measure for lighting quality. Daylight gives off a continuous spectrum of all light wavelengths, including blue, red and green, appearing as a bright white.
Daylight is free the most energy efficient source of illumination.
In contrast, fluorescent lamps give off a discontinuous spectrum - a flickering light, with spikes of color. While natural illumination from windows and skylights is a preferred standard, most learning environments will require supplemental electric lighting. This flexibility can pose a challenge in lighting design. Ideally, light from an overhead source will be directed from a learner s right or left, minimizing glare or veiling reflections. Light directed from the front or behind can reflect off of computer screens or glossy pages into the learner s eyes, causing eyestrain.