Nighttime Lighting Effect on a University Residential Building

Nighttime lighting represents a topical problem. This study aimed to explore the influence of interior and exterior lighting on a residential area environment at nighttime, mainly focusing on how windows and shadings impact the building and its surroundings. The research method involved analyzing light simulation outputs and processing light measurement data. Light simulations were run in DIALux software under specified conditions and light sources. Two different models of a building façade were simulated—one with a checkerboard arrangement of illuminated windows, and another with linear arrangements of the same. The window shading effect was studied for white metal blinds under three simulation variations—a window without shading, with horizontal blinds, and with blinds inclined at 45°. Light measurements provided data on the indoor and outdoor illuminance distribution as well as luminance and melanopic radiance images. The measurements were carried out for two cases to study the impact of external light on the dark interior and, conversely, the effect of a lit window on the exterior. The global distribution of light and radiant energy at a specific place and time was monitored using the Alanisator device developed within the framework of a university research project. This is a panoramic scanning system that measures both light and alpha-opic radiant and spatial quantities with high accuracy. In our study, the simulation outputs were in agreement with the measurements. The study was limited by the scope and time of the measurements: it included one type of shading blind and specified light sources for indoor and outdoor lighting. The main contribution of the study is in assessing the impact of window shading blinds in reducing obtrusive light at nighttime. It was proven that the selected type of blind is inefficient and, in specific cases, inclined blinds could increase obtrusive light compared to situations with non-shaded windows.