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Light, Comfort and Joy : User experience of light and darkness in Swedish homes

Gerhardsson, Kiran Maini LU (2020)
Abstract
The thesis examines user experience and behaviour relating to lighting, luminaires and window openings during day and night, in Swedish homes. Applying a mixed methods strategy of inquiry, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected in the field and in a full-scale model of an apartment. The thesis has identified multiple motivations behind residents’ lighting behaviour and choices, enablers and inhibitors to the desired conditions of light and darkness. The findings suggest that researchers and practitioners must consider the following key points, of which the first might seem obvious but still is not:
• user needs and experiences when developing new lighting technologies,
• wearable comfort when lighting systems... (More)
The thesis examines user experience and behaviour relating to lighting, luminaires and window openings during day and night, in Swedish homes. Applying a mixed methods strategy of inquiry, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected in the field and in a full-scale model of an apartment. The thesis has identified multiple motivations behind residents’ lighting behaviour and choices, enablers and inhibitors to the desired conditions of light and darkness. The findings suggest that researchers and practitioners must consider the following key points, of which the first might seem obvious but still is not:
• user needs and experiences when developing new lighting technologies,
• wearable comfort when lighting systems involve body-worn devices,
• window openings need multiple layers for shading, daylight distribution and privacy control,
• rethinking what is looked upon as wasted light in the home.

The main conclusion is that the physical environment can be more supportive of residents’ need for a regular 24-hour exposure to light and darkness, and dwelling comfort. In Swedish homes, where residents choose and mount most of their luminaires, responsibility for home lighting also lies with housing developers and lighting producers. In future research, the scope of indoor residential lighting should be expanded to include its effect on the outdoor environment after daylight hours.
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Abstract (Swedish)
Avhandlingen undersöker användares upplevelser och beteende kopplat till belysning, ljusarmaturer och fönsteröppningar i svenska hem såväl dag som natt. En kombinerad undersökningsstrategi används där både kvantitativt och kvalitativt material samlats in i fält och i en fullskalemodell av en lägenhet. I avhandlingen identifieras flera motiv bakom boendes ljusrelaterade beteende och val samt faktorer som hjälper eller försvårar de önskade ljus- och mörkerförhållandena. Fynden pekar på att forskare och praktiker måste ta särskild hänsyn till följande punkter, där den första kan tyckas vara uppenbar men ändå inte är det:
• användarnas behov och upplevelser när ny belysningsteknik utvecklas,
• komfort när det gäller belysningssystem... (More)
Avhandlingen undersöker användares upplevelser och beteende kopplat till belysning, ljusarmaturer och fönsteröppningar i svenska hem såväl dag som natt. En kombinerad undersökningsstrategi används där både kvantitativt och kvalitativt material samlats in i fält och i en fullskalemodell av en lägenhet. I avhandlingen identifieras flera motiv bakom boendes ljusrelaterade beteende och val samt faktorer som hjälper eller försvårar de önskade ljus- och mörkerförhållandena. Fynden pekar på att forskare och praktiker måste ta särskild hänsyn till följande punkter, där den första kan tyckas vara uppenbar men ändå inte är det:
• användarnas behov och upplevelser när ny belysningsteknik utvecklas,
• komfort när det gäller belysningssystem som bygger på bärbar teknik,
• att fönsteröppningar kräver flera lager (t ex utvändiga solskydd, persienner, gardiner) för att reglera sol och dagsljus, mörklägga och hindra insyn,
• att tänd belysning i tomma rum i hemmet kan fylla en funktion och inte behöver räknas som ljussvinn.

Huvudbudskapet är att den fysiska innemiljön kan bli bättre på att stötta boendes behov av regelbundet ljus och mörker under dygnet samt boendekomfort. Fastighetsutvecklare och belysningstillverkare har ett stort ansvar även om boende i svenska hem väljer och sätter upp flertalet ljusarmaturer. Forskning om inomhusbelysning i hemmet bör i framtiden breddas och även omfatta inomhusbelysningens effekter på miljön utanför efter att solen gått ner.
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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Prof. Rogers, Wendy, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA.
organization
alternative title
Ljus, fröjd och komfort : Användares erfarenheter av ljus och mörker i svenska hem
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Residential, Lighting, Window openings, User experience, Technology acceptance, Mixed methods, Boende, Belysning, Fönsteröppningar, Användarupplevelse, Teknikacceptans, Kombinerad metod
pages
115 pages
publisher
Department of Architecture and Built Environment, Lund University
defense location
Lecture hall A:C, building A, Sölvegatan 24, Faculty of Engineering LTH, Lund University, Lund. Follow via Youtube: https://youtu.be/msQfRMjezjk
defense date
2020-05-25 13:00:00
ISBN
978-91-7740-123-0
978-91-7740-122-3
project
Rise and Shine! Health benefits as drivers for energy efficient light in Swedish homes
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
05d26d07-af80-458b-a895-66cc4b79de0e
date added to LUP
2020-04-05 16:03:20
date last changed
2023-11-14 14:37:31
@phdthesis{05d26d07-af80-458b-a895-66cc4b79de0e,
  abstract     = {{The thesis examines user experience and behaviour relating to lighting, luminaires and window openings during day and night, in Swedish homes. Applying a mixed methods strategy of inquiry, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected in the field and in a full-scale model of an apartment. The thesis has identified multiple motivations behind residents’ lighting behaviour and choices, enablers and inhibitors to the desired conditions of light and darkness. The findings suggest that researchers and practitioners must consider the following key points, of which the first might seem obvious but still is not: <br/>• user needs and experiences when developing new lighting technologies,<br/>• wearable comfort when lighting systems involve body-worn devices,<br/>• window openings need multiple layers for shading, daylight distribution and privacy control,<br/>• rethinking what is looked upon as wasted light in the home.<br/><br/>The main conclusion is that the physical environment can be more supportive of residents’ need for a regular 24-hour exposure to light and darkness, and dwelling comfort. In Swedish homes, where residents choose and mount most of their luminaires, responsibility for home lighting also lies with housing developers and lighting producers. In future research, the scope of indoor residential lighting should be expanded to include its effect on the outdoor environment after daylight hours.<br/>}},
  author       = {{Gerhardsson, Kiran Maini}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-7740-123-0}},
  keywords     = {{Residential; Lighting; Window openings; User experience; Technology acceptance; Mixed methods; Boende; Belysning; Fönsteröppningar; Användarupplevelse; Teknikacceptans; Kombinerad metod}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  publisher    = {{Department of Architecture and Built Environment, Lund University}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{Light, Comfort and Joy : User experience of light and darkness in Swedish homes}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/78097799/Gerhardsson_Light_comfort_and_joy_thesis_e_pub.pdf}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}