Traditionally the lighting industry has designed products to enable and support our vision. Recent scientific insights however have shown that light does a lot more than enabling us to see and be seen.
Human Centric Lighting (HCL) is created to go beyond illumination and is intentionally designed to promote a person's health and wellbeing. HCL can adjust a person’s daily rhythms and improve their biological and emotional health, mood, motivation, performance, and productivity.
In this modern environment most people start their day each morning at first light, however that light does not go out in the evening with electric light having a huge effect. Sir Isaac Newton used a prism to demonstrate that white light is composed of different colors likewise various sources of light also consist of different proportions of color. For example, candlelight appears redder and warmer than the light from a classic fluorescent lamp.
As humans we require light primarily to see and our vision has become increasingly essential in comparison with the other senses. However, as a society, we have recently discovered that light is more important than just brightness and that it has a far greater effect on us than was previously thought.
Our direct ancestors, who have existed for about two hundred thousand years up until 150
years ago, all they were aware of apart from fire was sunlight and this had a defining effect on humans. Humans have internalized this day/night rhythm and many of our processes have adapted to this 24-hour cadence.
Our bodies function very differently at night than they do during the day. This began as an adaptive response to external conditions and has since become a vital rhythm. Our health and well-being is hugely dependent on this circadian rhythm. Hormone levels, blood
pressure, mood, and motivation change based on this internal clock. This internal clock also continues to tick even in enclosed rooms that lack daylight, however, it does not work entirely independently of these external influences.
In the early 2000’s, scientists made an amazing breakthrough that there was an unknown third receptor in the human eye for incidental light. It was also discovered that the ganglion cells in the retina produces Melanopsin. Melanopsin has the ability to control hormone production which means it has a significant influence in the regulation of our intrinsic system.
Studies were carried out by biologists, medical professionals, and industry representatives to
artificially simulate the effects of natural illumination so that the positive effects can be
utilized. The results concluded that most people are spending an increasing amount of time in enclosed rooms with inadequate lighting and that these poor lighting conditions can cause similar effects to depression. For example, the eye does not receive enough light to synchronize the body. Human Centric Lighting systems address this problem by using color temperature dependent control systems.
There are a variety of factors that are important to consider when addressing the biological effect of lighting. For example, the color of the light and illumination intensity must be aligned
with a circadian rhythm throughout the day. In the mornings, light with a higher intensity and an increased proportion of blue stimulates alertness and productivity. This enables concentration to be maintained at lunchtime and throughout the afternoon. Later in the evening, the illumination intensity should drop off and the proportion of red should increase as this supports humans as they prepare for sleep. The direction of the light also plays a role with illumination from above recommended as it is in the lower portion of the retina that the receptors containing Melanopsin are sensitive. Conversely, individual spotlights with a warmer light color are desirable towards the evening to ensure that fewer ganglia containing Melanopsin as possible are stimulated.
Human Centric Lighting can be extremely effective and a worthwhile investment in 3 main sectors: Workplace, Education, and Healthcare. In the office it can lead to an increase in motivation and performance of the employees whilst leaving them with additional energy when returning home after a full day of work creating a better work-life balance and improving employee morale. In an educational study, students exposed to this new system exhibited significantly higher levels of concentration, worked faster, and perform better as opposed to students that were not. It also has been advantageous for the teachers as they can teach in a far more targeted fashion. In the healthcare industry, it can improve the patients experience and wellbeing as well as staff performance by resetting the circadian rhythm when appropriate.
Human Centric Lighting systems have demonstrated the favorable effects it has on humans and the industry is working on better energy-saving and cost-effective solutions. Humans have been familiar with electric light for approximately 150 years. Now the era of Human Centric Lighting has begun.
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