Technology Tuesdays: Human-Centric Lighting
Hello Partners!
In the realm of energy efficiency, we talk about lighting… A LOT! It seems to be the EE measure that just won’t go away. I believe lighting will always be a pertinent part of the overall EE conversation and will continue to see advances in both the technology itself as well as how we utilize it.
Let’s discuss human-centric lighting. First, what does human-centric lighting mean? “Human-centric lighting encompasses a range of lighting technologies devoted to enhancing quality of life for building occupants.” Essentially, lighting is used as a tool to create the most effective environment for building occupants.
How exactly is this done? There are mainly three ways; two of which you are already familiar with. One way is the ability to adjust the brightness of the lights based on the amount of lighting available from windows. This is not only energy efficient but also gives the building’s occupants a consistent amount of ambient lighting throughout the day. Another aspect of human-centric lighting involves occupancy sensing. This is done using motion sensors or heat sensors to turn the lights off when no one is in the room. This is yet another very common energy efficiency measure.
The third aspect of human-centric lighting has less to do specifically with energy efficiency and is more focused on the health and productivity of the building occupants. It is called color tuning and involves adjusting the color temperature of the lighting depending on the task being performed in a particular space. Light color effects our natural sleep and awake rhythms called circadian rhythms which are established by the sun. Since LED lighting has such a broad spectrum of colors, it can be adjusted to mimic certain times of the day to help us remain alert or be restful when appropriate.
An example of this can be found when blue light is used. Blue light is more present in the sun and suppresses our bodies’ natural production of melatonin (the chemical that helps us sleep). The result is an environment more conducive to wakefulness and productivity. Blue-toned lighting is most appropriate in an office-like setting. On the other end of the spectrum, there is warmer lighting or lighting that contains more red tones. This lighting helps to produce more of a sense of sleepiness and relaxation. Therefore, red-toned lighting can be helpful in hospital-like settings where patients rest and recover.
Human-centric lighting is the new wave in lighting technology and we are looking forward to seeing how these advancements develop!
The savings never stop!
Connect with us:
T (877) 748-0841
E INFO@SJVCLEANENERGY.ORG
Check out our website!
WWW.SJVCEO.ORG
Sources:
https://www.energyfocus.com/blog/the-future-of-led-lighting/
https://www.energyfocus.com/human-centric-lighting/