Why natural light is so important
Location, price, and square footage are top of the list when looking for new offices but how often do you consider the value of natural light? It’s interesting that it rarely makes the list but it’s one of the first things people comment upon when touring our enterprise centres. And there’s scientific evidence to back up the importance of natural light too.
What the experts say about natural light – it’s a business asset
Natural light and the quality of the working environment has a direct bearing on staff performance, wellbeing, and ultimately, your profit. With that in mind, you could consider daylight to be a business asset. Here’s why:
- Access to natural light is the number one attribute workers want in their office environment (The Harvard Business Review). Natural light makes everyone happier and feel better.
- When your team is happy, they tend to work harder – the link between natural light and productivity is well-established. Studies show that productivity can increase by up to 40% when businesses move to buildings with improved natural light (World Green Building Council).
- Natural light makes us healthier meaning fewer sick days. A US study stated that urban workers who spend more than 90% of their time indoors suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD – that can affect up to 1 in 15 of us), fatigue, and what researchers call Sick Building Syndrome from poorly ventilated, artificially lit environments. For businesses operating through the shorter days of autumn and winter – that’s October-March for us in the UK – it means six months of not being on top form. Natural light = increased productivity + fewer days off sick + improved wellbeing.
- The working environment is a genuine differentiator when you’re recruiting. Access to natural light and views of the outdoors rank above on-site cafeterias, fitness centres, and even childcare facilities, which helps SMEs looking to recruit.
- Don’t forget the reduction in energy costs too. Lighting accounts for around 20–25% of a typical office’s electricity consumption. Buildings filled with natural daylight don’t rely on artificial lighting throughout the day, meaning savings on energy bills.
- Natural light is good for the soul. The connection between natural light and mental health is also becoming increasingly well understood. Exposure to daylight regulates the body’s circadian rhythm, that’s our internal clock that governs sleep, hormone production, energy levels, and immune system. When that rhythm is disrupted by long periods under artificial light, it can lead to poor sleep or even heightened anxiety and increased susceptibility to illness.
What to look for when choosing office space
Clearly, the offices in both of our enterprise centres are filled with natural light as well as delivering outdoor spaces and bright, naturally lit communal areas for downtime and networking. So, yes, we’re a little bit biased but we designed our offices this way deliberately.
If you’re a Hertfordshire or Essex-based SEO viewing office space, it’s worth asking specific questions about daylight. Which direction do the windows face? Are there views of green space or the outdoors? Research consistently shows that access to external views amplifies the benefits of daylight, providing a buffer against stress and improving sustained concentration. How is the space laid out? Open-plan layouts allow light to move through a floor plate far more effectively than cellular offices with solid walls.
Natural light is one of those workplace factors that is easy to overlook during a viewing and very difficult to compensate for once you have signed a lease. The good news is that there is genuinely good quality office space available that prioritises exactly these qualities.
If you would like to explore office space at our enterprise centre in Hoddesdon or in Cheshunt at the Theobalds Enterprise Centre, please get in contact. Your team can work in a healthier, more productive environment and we’d be delighted to give you a tour.
