Chronobiological aspects of green buildings daylighting

Daylight is the primary stimulus for synchronizing the human circadian photobiological system. Deficiency of daylight or its spectral anomaly in indoor environments is related to several health problems such hormonal unbalance, sleep disorder, depression and so on. In the light of new knowledge about the non-visual influence of light on humans, it is necessary to re-evaluate a number of the requirements and criteria of designing healthy indoor environment. This article has two main purposes. First, the author presents and summarizes a conceptual framework of chronobiological aspects of daylighting in built environment. Second, presentations of principles of circadian photometry based on an action spectrum of suppression of melatonin secretion in human organism and relevant consequences for creation of architectural environment, mainly fenestration systems. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.