Day and Night in Building Science and Chronobiology: How the buildings we inhabit could take advantage of daylight—both to keep human occupants comfortable and healthy, and also to optimize energy efficiency. The third event in our series on light.

Natural light helps keep our bodies in tune with the external cycle of day and night, the so-called circadian system, and therefore with the world around us. For many, sunlight is a cue to wake, while darkness leads us toward sleep. It is important, then, that the buildings we inhabit take full advantage of daylight—both to keep human occupants comfortable and healthy, and also to optimize energy efficiency.

For the third event in our series on light, swissnex San Francisco brings Jean-Louis Scartezzini and Mirjam Münch, from the Solar Energy and Building Physics Laboratory at EPFL, to present their experiences with daylighting research and technology. Their work illustrates possible integration steps toward optimized “Day and Night” lighting environments with respect to energy consumption and human health.

Marilyne Andersen, associate professor in the Building Technology Program of MIT’s Department of Architecture and head of the Daylighting Lab, also joins the discussion with an overview of her efforts to better integrate energy-efficiency and human-responsiveness to daylighting into architecture and design.

More information.