Consistency and variation in preferences for office lighting

Abstract

In an experiment in which female office workers could freely adjust the lighting in a full-size model office the following results were obtained: the level of lighting chosen varied with the initial lighting in the room; the relative level chosen by individual subjects remained consistent despite variation in the absolute illuminances; subjects were consistent between experimental sessions several days apart; and there was a significant positive correlation coefficient between the age of subjects and chosen desk illuminance. Preferred illuminance ratios were obtained; no significant variation of the ratios with task illuminance was found, but there were similarities between the lighting choices in the laboratory and lighting in subjects' normal workplaces.