Most of us think about light when it is noticeably present (beautiful morning light streaming into your window just after sunrise) or noticeably absent (your eyes straining to read words on the page in a dimly lit room). Light, and lighting, however, impact our wellbeing in many more ways than we realize. The majority of us spend most of our lives indoors, and lighting is a key factor in shaping our experiences, from creating atmosphere to improving concentration to regulating body temperature. A growing movement seeks to really understand what people need from a lighting system across a variety of settings: human-centric lighting. In this month’s blog, we explore different approaches to human-centric lighting and how it can impact design of a space.
What is human-centric lighting?
Human-centric lighting is a popular buzzword, and like most buzzwords, the term is understood in different ways by different people. In a more narrow interpretation, human-centric lighting is understood as lighting designed to mimic humans’ circadian rhythm, which is how our bodies respond to the presence and absence of natural light throughout the day and night and control our sleep/wake schedule accordingly. Human-centric lighting attempts to mimic the natural onset or fading of light through a combination of lamps, shades, timers, and other technologies that work in tandem with what our bodies expect from the sun. While this narrow focus certainly remains central to human-centric lighting, some approaches feel other factors should also come into play.
A broader concept of human-centric lighting looks at the overall user experience, rather than focusing uniquely on natural circadian rhythms. In this more comprehensive understanding, a variety of other factors are taken into consideration when designing a lighting system. These needs could include environmental concerns: even if natural light is most desired, how can that be balanced with potential downsides of windows, such as heat, glare, or privacy needs? And what about indoor spaces that cater to people who do not operate following a standard circadian schedule? In a hospital, for example, patients often need extensive rest during the day, but nurses and doctors need to be able to check on them reliably throughout the night. Human-centric lighting under this broader understanding seeks to create a lighting system that meets those diverse needs as efficiently and seamlessly as possible
Taking into account the many facets of the user experience, then, leads to an explanation of human-centric lighting as “a holistic approach that should include all aspects of how lighting affects occupant wellbeing, productivity and comfort in the built environment.” Under this more holistic approach, the focus is more on the comprehensive needs of the client. The lighting designer can bring in their creativity and technical know-how to create solutions that are shaped by what will actually happen inside the space, as opposed to being dictated by one narrow constraint of nature.
How is human-centric lighting accomplished?
One key focus of human-centric lighting is creating a design that helps boost employee productivity. A big part of that productivity rests in employees feeling awake, energized, and focused. In this sense, circadian rhythms are certainly important. The goal is not just to make employees feel amped up and wide awake nonstop from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave, but rather to mimic what our bodies are used to, so that there is a clear start to the workday, and also a wind-down to the end of the day. Productivity depends on rest and recharging one’s batteries, so a lighting design incorporating a color shift that mimics the tones of natural light throughout the day helps give employees a feel for where they are in the day, even if stuck in a windowless office. The cool blue-white light of the morning and midday give way to warmer amber tones later in the afternoon. This shift helps with melatonin production in the body, which does not mean the employees will settle in for an afternoon nap, but rather their bodies will be primed to produce this critical hormone later in the evening, when it is time for bed.
Some spaces require a fair amount of variation throughout the day, due to heat gain or glare. Smart controls are another simple way to improve human-centric lighting in a space in order to minimize interruptions to workflow, such as getting up to pull down shades or close curtains. Automatic controls that employees can use from their desks to operate shades can help them make easy adjustments that will not break concentration quite as fully.
The added control made possible by LEDs can also enable cloud-based lighting control systems that offer users added flexibility. LEDs can also more closely approximate the color shift described above, to help reinforce our natural circadian rhythms.
Why human-centric lighting?
Evidence suggests that effective human-centric lighting can improve productivity and health outcomes. A European study found that the installation of 2000-lx LED lighting in a factory led to a nearly 5% boost in productivity among workers performing repetitive tasks, on top of fewer sick days taken and overall improved employee retention. In addition, fewer accidents occurred, believed to be due to the improved lighting.
Another study looked at the performance and health impacts of human-centric lighting in a school. The study found an overall improvement in cognitive performance across 15% of the students studied and notably a 10% decrease in costs associated with teaching and treating students diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). The school also reported improvement in teachers’ mental health, resulting in fewer sick days, less burnout, and improved teacher retention.
While human-centric lighting may require an investment, research continues to discover benefits to mood, health, concentration, and productivity that ultimately lead to more valuable gains for employers, employees, students, patients, and anyone using an indoor space. By taking into account the many uses of an indoor space and the needs of its inhabitants, human-centric lighting goes beyond helping us see well, but also helps us feel better, work better, study better, and live better.
At CharterSills, we believe that when lighting is designed correctly, it can add dimension to the simplest of spaces. Lighting can turn an ordinary space into a work of art. Whatever design challenges clients present, CharterSills responds with a solution that exceeds their expectations. Contact us today at (312) 759-5909 or by email at info@chartersills.com.