Metrics for assessing daylight performance in workspaces: A systematic review of research approaches
Entrena-Martínez, I.(1), Castillo-Martínez, A.(2), Peña-García, A.(1) 1. Department of Civil Engineering. University of Granada, Granada, Spain 2Department of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, University of Jaén, Linares, Spain 2026-06-27

Abstract

The use of daylight is a major concern to save energy and decrease the workload of lighting installations. Over the last decades, the methods assessing daylighting performance in workspaces have transitioned from static metrics based on ideal sky conditions and point-in-time photometric descriptors to dynamic models relying on hourly climate data. In parallel, other approaches have been developed, including occupant-oriented perceptual metrics and non-visual indicators aimed at characterizing the potential effects of daylight on physiological and circadian responses. As a result of the considerable amount and broad variety of metrics currently available, evaluating daylighting performance has become challenging. In order to understand the current state-of-the-art, a systematic review of the recent literature on daylighting performance assessment in workspaces has been conducted. Different daylight adequacy metrics were identified from 44 studies and classified into four categories: static metrics; climate-based dynamic metrics; occupant-oriented perceptual metrics; and metrics for assessing non-visual daylight effects. The results obtained demonstrate the consolidation of climate-based dynamic metrics as the predominant method for evaluating daylighting performance, as well as the still limited integration of perceptual and circadian metrics. Other findings include the need to develop integrative conceptual frameworks that ensure a more coherent evaluation of daylighting performance.

Key words: Energy efficiency; Indoor lighting; Climate-based daylight metrics; perceptual metrics; circadian metrics.

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