Designing intensive care unit windows in a Mediterranean climate: efficiency, daylighting, and circadian response

Hospital intensive care units (ICUs) frequently experience inadequate lighting conditions, with low daytime and excessive nighttime illuminance, which can negatively affect patient recovery and the work performance of health personnel. This study examines the impact of window design parameters—speci...

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Autores: Campano, Miguel Ángel, García Martín, Guillermo, Acosta García, Ignacio Javier, Bustamante, Pedro
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/165235
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/165235
https://doi.org/10.3390/app14219798
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Daylighting
Hospital
Daylight autonomy
Energy efficiency
Visual comfort
Circadian stimulus
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spelling Designing intensive care unit windows in a Mediterranean climate: efficiency, daylighting, and circadian responseCampano, Miguel ÁngelGarcía Martín, GuillermoAcosta García, Ignacio JavierBustamante, PedroDaylightingHospitalDaylight autonomyEnergy efficiencyVisual comfortCircadian stimulusHospital intensive care units (ICUs) frequently experience inadequate lighting conditions, with low daytime and excessive nighttime illuminance, which can negatively affect patient recovery and the work performance of health personnel. This study examines the impact of window design parameters—specifically, window-to-wall ratio (WWR) and window position—and interior surface reflectance on visual comfort, lighting performance, energy consumption, and human well-being in intensive care units (ICUs) in Mediterranean climates, according to orientation. Using dynamic lighting metrics, such as daylight autonomy (DA) and circadian stimulus autonomy (CSA), this research quantifies the influence of these design factors. The results suggest that a WWR of 25% is optimal for achieving sufficient DA and CSA values, with centered window configurations preferred for uniform daylight distribution and circadian stimulus. This study further emphasizes the significance of interior reflectance, recommending bright coatings to maximize outcomes, while advising against dark finishes, particularly in north-facing rooms or with smaller WWRs. Although Seville shows slightly better performance than Barcelona, the proposed configurations are effective across both locations, highlighting the prioritization of window sizing, positioning, and reflectance over Mediterranean geographical differences. These findings offer practical guidance for ICU design to enhance natural lighting, supporting patient recovery and overall well-being through improved circadian alignment.MDPIConstrucciones Arquitectónicas ITEP130: Arquitectura, Patrimonio y Sostenibilidad: Acústica, Iluminación, Óptica y EnergíaMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICINN). España2024info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/11441/165235https://doi.org/10.3390/app14219798reponame:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevillainstname:Universidad de Sevilla (US)InglésApplied Sciences, 14 (21), 9798.PID2020-117563RBI00MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033PID2023-151631OAI00https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/21/9798info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:idus.us.es:11441/1652352026-06-17T12:51:07Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Designing intensive care unit windows in a Mediterranean climate: efficiency, daylighting, and circadian response
title Designing intensive care unit windows in a Mediterranean climate: efficiency, daylighting, and circadian response
spellingShingle Designing intensive care unit windows in a Mediterranean climate: efficiency, daylighting, and circadian response
Campano, Miguel Ángel
Daylighting
Hospital
Daylight autonomy
Energy efficiency
Visual comfort
Circadian stimulus
title_short Designing intensive care unit windows in a Mediterranean climate: efficiency, daylighting, and circadian response
title_full Designing intensive care unit windows in a Mediterranean climate: efficiency, daylighting, and circadian response
title_fullStr Designing intensive care unit windows in a Mediterranean climate: efficiency, daylighting, and circadian response
title_full_unstemmed Designing intensive care unit windows in a Mediterranean climate: efficiency, daylighting, and circadian response
title_sort Designing intensive care unit windows in a Mediterranean climate: efficiency, daylighting, and circadian response
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Campano, Miguel Ángel
García Martín, Guillermo
Acosta García, Ignacio Javier
Bustamante, Pedro
author Campano, Miguel Ángel
author_facet Campano, Miguel Ángel
García Martín, Guillermo
Acosta García, Ignacio Javier
Bustamante, Pedro
author_role author
author2 García Martín, Guillermo
Acosta García, Ignacio Javier
Bustamante, Pedro
author2_role author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Construcciones Arquitectónicas I
TEP130: Arquitectura, Patrimonio y Sostenibilidad: Acústica, Iluminación, Óptica y Energía
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICINN). España
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Daylighting
Hospital
Daylight autonomy
Energy efficiency
Visual comfort
Circadian stimulus
topic Daylighting
Hospital
Daylight autonomy
Energy efficiency
Visual comfort
Circadian stimulus
description Hospital intensive care units (ICUs) frequently experience inadequate lighting conditions, with low daytime and excessive nighttime illuminance, which can negatively affect patient recovery and the work performance of health personnel. This study examines the impact of window design parameters—specifically, window-to-wall ratio (WWR) and window position—and interior surface reflectance on visual comfort, lighting performance, energy consumption, and human well-being in intensive care units (ICUs) in Mediterranean climates, according to orientation. Using dynamic lighting metrics, such as daylight autonomy (DA) and circadian stimulus autonomy (CSA), this research quantifies the influence of these design factors. The results suggest that a WWR of 25% is optimal for achieving sufficient DA and CSA values, with centered window configurations preferred for uniform daylight distribution and circadian stimulus. This study further emphasizes the significance of interior reflectance, recommending bright coatings to maximize outcomes, while advising against dark finishes, particularly in north-facing rooms or with smaller WWRs. Although Seville shows slightly better performance than Barcelona, the proposed configurations are effective across both locations, highlighting the prioritization of window sizing, positioning, and reflectance over Mediterranean geographical differences. These findings offer practical guidance for ICU design to enhance natural lighting, supporting patient recovery and overall well-being through improved circadian alignment.
publishDate 2024
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2024
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/11441/165235
https://doi.org/10.3390/app14219798
url https://hdl.handle.net/11441/165235
https://doi.org/10.3390/app14219798
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Applied Sciences, 14 (21), 9798.
PID2020-117563RBI00
MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033
PID2023-151631OAI00
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/21/9798
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv MDPI
publisher.none.fl_str_mv MDPI
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
instname:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
instname_str Universidad de Sevilla (US)
reponame_str idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
collection idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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