As most of us all too well know screen time is hard on the eyes. With the average American worker spending around 7 hours per day in front of their screen, instances of Computer Vision Syndrome are fast increasing. Computer Vision Syndrome can cause eyestrain, blurred or double vision and tension headaches. This problem can occur after just 3 hours in front of the computer. Optometrists recommend quick breaks every hour to combat the issue but for many employees that is not an option.

Introducing more natural light into office space is a proven way to combat eye problems arising from screen time. In a study performed by Professor Alan Hedge of Cornell University, workers in offices with optimized natural light provided by smart windows from View, Inc. saw a 51% drop in eyestrain and a dramatic 63% drop in headaches. In the offices studied across North America, Hedge also found that workers reported a 56% decrease in drowsiness.

Additional studies have also shown workers value natural light as an amenity in their workplace. In a 2018 study of over 1600 North American employees, Future Workplace, an HR advisory firm, found that natural light and views to outside were the number one perk employees looked for in their workplace. This study also found that over a third of employees feel that they don’t get enough natural light in their workspace and 43% feel gloomy because of this lack of light. While there is much talk of trendy building amenities like fitness centers and cafes, it is natural light that employees crave.

By enabling more high-quality natural light at work, companies can benefit from a more energetic and attentive workforce. One of the most cutting edge ways to bring in more optimized natural light is through View Dynamic Glass. This technology intelligently tints the glass to control glare and heat while eliminating the need for blinds and maximizes natural light.  Along with its health and productivity benefits View Dynamic Glass lowers building energy consumption by an average of 20%. Because of these numerous benefits, many top companies, like Overstock and HP are choosing View smart windows for their employees.

The Overstock HQ just outside Salt Lake City utilizes around 30,000 sf of View Dynamic Glass to optimize natural light for their employees.