Daylighting in shopping malls: Customer's perception, preference, and satisfaction

Given the rapid rise in the efficiency of artificial lighting systems, the challenges for any daylighting system on the basis of energy savings will be more challenging in the future. To sustain the role of daylighting in shopping malls, a field survey was conducted to explore daylighting benefits from the customers' perspective. By analyzing the data collected from 552 Carian shopping malls' customers, the present study supports the emerging idea that daylighting is more important to improving users' mood than saving energy. The study found that 'illumination' was ranked as the most important element in the shopping malls' internal environment. Connection to outside views and the presence of sunlight were preferred and significantly enhanced the customers' ability to recognize the utilization of daylight, which, in turn, increased customer satisfaction level. However, the study argues that lighting quality, rather than lighting source (natural or artificial), is what increases customer satisfaction. More studies are essential for elucidating the association between the conscious/subconscious perception of daylight utilization and the achievement of the intended human-related benefits. A better understanding of the customers' perspectives will guide building designers toward effective daylighting solutions and shift the attention from the functional to the emotional role of daylighting. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

With the rapid improvement in artificial lighting systems, the challenges for energy-saving daylighting systems will become more difficult in the future. A field survey was conducted to explore the benefits of daylighting from the perspective of customers in shopping malls. The study found that daylighting is more important for improving users' mood than saving energy. Illumination was ranked as the most important element in the shopping malls' internal environment, and the connection to outside views and the presence of sunlight enhanced customers' ability to recognize daylight utilization and increased their satisfaction. Lighting quality, rather than the source of lighting, plays a significant role in enhancing customer satisfaction.