Evaluating Visual and Beyond-Vision Light Effects and Energy Consumption for Luminous and Temporal Light Factors: A Single Office Case

Light influences human physiology and psychology through visual and beyond-visual effects, collectively termed ‘integrative lighting.’ Human responses depend on luminous (quantity, spectrum, directionality) and temporal (timing, duration, history) factors, yet no studies examined their combined influence on integrative lighting. Therefore, this study evaluates representative metrics integration by designing, implementing, and testing a comprehensive lighting simulation framework incorporating luminous and temporal factors to address integrative lighting needs while assessing energy consumption. A quantitative approach was employed, integrating multiple criteria through computational simulations using Rhinoceros/Grasshopper, Lark, ClimateStudio, and Ladybug/Honeybee. Simulations are performed in a single office with nine control points, four vertical viewing directions, and one horizontal, each testing eight window sizes and different electric lighting combinations of ceiling panels and wall-washers with varying melanopic-content across four seasonal days. Including beyond-visual effects in multi-criteria optimisation introduces complexity due to the interplay between luminous and temporal aspects. Results show that beyond-visual effects depend on light quantity, spectral composition, and spatial distribution. Increasing window-to-wall ratio or melanopic-content lighting alone does not ensure uniform beyond-visual performance. Instead, directing wall washers at opaque surfaces enhances background luminance, reduces glare, and improves retinal exposure. Beyond-vision criteria are challenging due to temporal dependencies, often requiring window size and lighting energy use trade-offs. These findings highlight the need for lighting designs that optimise light levels, spectrum, and directionality at the right time. Future approaches should use multi-objective optimisation to balance visual and non-visual outcomes, automate adjustments, and enhance well-being while maintaining energy efficiency.