Posted on: 1 - 12 - 2017

How does lighting impact our health and productivity?

Welcome to our first blog. Those of you who know me will recognise that while I've lived and breathed the lighting industry for many years now, the world of content marketing is new. So while the thoughts and views here are my own, I have had a little help putting pen to paper.

In any case, it's time for us to get our message out there. We're all about sharing knowledge at Energylight, not just internally but with our customers and the New Zealand market as a whole. And what better way to start than to talk about what we learnt at the UK's leading lighting conference and trade show: LuxLive in London.

Nelson, Andrew and I spent 50 hours of flying time, hours in rental cars and of course time onsite at the event hearing the latest in the industry, debating creative ideas and discussing plans for next year. So what was trending at the event? Well light control and the use of luminaires as a staging point for sensors and other technologies was discussed extensively, as was the concept of human centric lighting.

Human centric lighting, the idea that the emotional wellbeing, comfort, health and productivity of individuals can be enhanced simply through the correct control of lighting, is a key focus area for us in 2018. In fact, as part of our journey toward learning about the technology, we've installed tunable light in our Auckland office, with Energyline and Helvar controls to demonstrate colour and intensity temperature over time.

Case study results

Lighting influences our mood, ability to focus, how much energy we have throughout the day and how well we sleep. By measuring CO2 levels, temperature and the movement of people through sensors, we can modify lighting in offices to positively impact employee health, wellbeing and potential.

Property company CBRE, based in Amsterdam, spoke about human centric lighting at the event. CBRE’s employees were surveyed by Twente University, The Free University of Amsterdam, on how they felt once human centric lighting had been installed at work. Results showed that it boosted productivity by 18% and improved work accuracy by 12%. In addition, 76% of employees reported feeling happier and 50% reported feeling healthier.

The healthcare industry also benefits significantly from smart lighting. Many studies show a connection between lighting and hormonal recovery responses. Decreasing blue light emissions and adding warmer white light encourages sleep and the production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep. This can promote faster patient recovery.

How does human centric lighting using LEDs work?

The lighting control system delivers an approximation of the natural circadian cycle, changing seamlessly from warm in the early morning to cool through most of the day. The warm light in the morning facilitates concentration, and the cooler light in the afternoon provides visual comfort as natural light fades and the office moves into an evening working mode.

What's next?

Human centric lighting is still in its infancy but its going to be exciting to see how this technology develops over the next few years. If you’re interested in finding out what's available now, one of our lighting specialists can talk you through options. Contact our Christchurch or Auckland team.

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