HUMAN-CENTRIC

Every installer knows the important role lighting plays in creating spaces that are not only functional, but also enjoyable to live, work and relax in.

The advance of smart lighting control systems in recent years has transformed the way in which these two priorities can be achieved.

Controlled via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and hosted in the cloud, smart lighting systems offer limitless possibilities on how to illuminate spaces as well as gifting ultimate user control. They can be integrated into systems like Alexa, Hey Google and Siri, all on one interface, can be programmed to respond to voice or motion and can be operated remotely.

However, perhaps the least well-known benefit they offer the end user is that they can also deliver ‘human centric lighting’ (HCL), which can bring very real benefits for our health and wellbeing.

Humans have a 24-hour internal body clock - the circadian rhythm - which provides a time schedule for when it is time to wake, sleep and feel hungry.

This internal clock is influenced by environmental conditions, including the amount of sunlight available. If we don’t get enough natural light, whether that’s due to short winter days or spending long working hours under artificial indoor lights, it can disrupt the circadian rhythm, and this can have a negative impact on our mood and physical health.

The most common example of this is seasonal affective disorder (SAD) which causes poor sleeping and eating patterns, an inability to focus on tasks and, in the worst cases, depression.

Human centric lighting is designed to combat this impact. Put simply, HCL mimics natural light, helping to keep the circadian rhythm in balance and the ‘winter blues’ at bay.

An automated lighting control solution, such as OCTO, used with RGB and tunable white LED lights which offer millions of different colour settings, can be programmed to track the changes in natural colour temperature over the course of the day.

Indoor luminaires can then be set to emit specific combinations of brightness, intensity and colour settings to recreate the natural lighting patterns which our bodies and minds depend on for good mental health and wellbeing.

James Foster, OCTO National Sales Manager at Ansell Lighting, explains how smart lighting systems can create living and work spaces which give wellbeing benefits throughout the course of every day.

HCL IN THE WORKPLACE

Human centric lighting can help create a more productive, as well as healthier, working environment.

For example, people exposed to cooler lights are shown to feel more alert and productive, and perform better on tests or when collaborating on intensive projects, while warm lighting can promote creativity and problem solving.

HCL can be of particular value for the three million-plus people the Trades Union Congress (TUC) estimates are currently working night shifts.

For example, night staff would benefit from working in a more intense light in cooler colours, towards the blue end of the electromagnetic spectrum, at around 480 nanometres. This cooler/colder correlated colour temperature, with a light source at around 6000K and above, can help supress the production of melatonin (the hormone that encourages sleep) and promote a feeling of alertness.

The flexibility of smart lighting systems can be of particular value in nursing and care settings, allowing for a seamless transition between dimmed rooms for patients, and well-lit corridors and communal areas for staff.

The option of installing intuitive motion sensors or presence and absence detection lighting also means lights need only be used when a space is occupied, making smart lighting a more cost-effective and sustainable solution.

HCL IN THE HOME

In these post-pandemic lockdown days, the line between home and work has been blurred for many people, who have continued to work from the domestic environment for at least part of the week.

Here, smart lighting can be programmed to concentrate lighting in cooler hues over desk spaces, while still targeting warmer hues in areas of relaxation, to ensure that the ‘office’ does not encroach too significantly on the home environment.

The ultimate control it offers also means that the days of going ‘to and from work in the dark’ can be offset by maintaining mood-enhancing warmer illuminance levels beyond sundown.

Human centric lighting is by no means a magic bullet for good mental and physical health. However, by supporting the all-important circadian rhythm it can contribute to making workspaces more supportive and homes more of a haven, at any time of the year.

It is important to add that smart lighting systems require no hub or wiring, and the majority of units are simply installed like a normal light lamp or switch – a major benefit for installer and customer alike.