Implement healthy lighting in buildings

INTEGRATION OF HEALTH-PROMOTING LIGHTING

Do you have a specific construction or renovation project on your hands, and are you considering incorporating lighting into the project? It's important to realize that lighting is not just about illuminating a space.

Furthermore, many people often lack the necessary knowledge to integrate healthy and sustainable lighting that also provides economic benefits. Therefore, on this page, we will guide you through the essential areas needed to add value to the entire project.

TOUCH

01 THE PURPOSE OF LIGHTING

01THE PURPOSE OF LIGHTINGRead more

TOUCH

02 CONVENTIONAL LIGHTING

02CONVENTIONAL LIGHTINGRead more

TOUCH

03 THE RHYTHM OF THE BUILDING

03THE RHYTHM OF THE BUILDINGRead more

TOUCH

04 CIRCADIAN LIGHTING

04CIRCADIAN LIGHTINGRead more

TOUCH

05 BENEFICIAL EFFECTS

05BENEFICIAL EFFECTSRead more

TOUCH

06 THE INVESTMENT

06THE INVESTMENTRead more

THE PURPOSE OF LIGHTING

First and foremost, it is important to understand the purpose of having lighting. While most people know that lighting is used for visibility and creating ambiance in specific situations, its significance goes beyond that. Lighting also plays a crucial role in ensuring that we receive the optimal amount of light throughout the day to support biological and physiological processes, as well as have psychological effects on individuals. Thus, lighting becomes a key element in both physical and mental well-being.

Light is one of the primary factors that regulates the circadian rhythm or the body's internal clock. The human body is biologically programmed to be active during the day and rest at night. Exposure to natural light during the day and darkness at night helps maintain a healthy circadian rhythm, which is crucial for regulating the sleep-wake cycle, hormone production, and other biological processes such as metabolism, digestion, and immune function.

As we spend 90% of our day indoors, we are deprived of natural light and rely on artificial sources, emphasizing the importance of effective lighting in the buildings we inhabit.

Sunet_square

THE CONSEQUENCE OF WRONG LIGHTING

Choosing the right lighting for building health is crucial. Opting for the wrong lighting can have significant consequences, as conventional lighting often leads to health issues.

The problems arise when lighting fails to consider human light needs throughout the day. This can create long-term challenges for businesses and organizations, resulting in increased sick leave, decreased performance, and overall employee discontent.

Conventional lighting can contribute to various health problems, including:

THE RHYTHM OF THE BUILDING

The challenges we face in relation to indoor lighting arise from our predominant indoor lifestyle. It may seem logical to conclude that spending so much time indoors is a problem. However, is it truly feasible to spend more time outdoors, and will this change in the future? Additionally, there are groups such as elderly citizens and patients who have no choice in the matter.

The real issue arises from the lack of a rhythm indoors in our buildings that aligns with human biological needs, and that the body expects and relies on.

To establish the optimal rhythm within the building, our first step is to analyze the specific needs, including the building's purpose, its users, the tasks to be performed, and considerations such as architecture and spatial layout.

The lighting should contribute to a positive work environment and support tasks at any time of day, while still prioritizing a healthy natural circadian rhythm to ensure the users' well-being is not compromised.

THE HEALTH-PROMOTING LIGHTING - CIRCADIAN LIGHTING

The health-promoting lighting establishes a natural rhythm for the building, resulting in numerous beneficial effects that all contribute to our health and well-being.

Circadian rhythm lighting is a cutting-edge technology crafted to mimic the natural progression of light throughout the day, aiming to influence human circadian rhythms, health, and well-being.

The circadian rhythm lighting automatically adjusts the color temperature and intensity throughout the day. It starts with a gentle sunrise in the morning, gradually transitioning to cooler, high-intensity light to boost energy and enhance focus as the day progresses. By late afternoon, the light softens and warms, promoting relaxation in the evening.

Døgnrythm lighting and human-centric lighting can be interpreted in various ways and are not just about adjusting color temperatures, as the tunable white concept is centered around. To ensure that you achieve a health effect with lighting, you need to know what guarantees the effect in the solution.

The non-visual effect

The non-visual impact of light on the body is the key factor in ensuring our health. The body interprets the time of day based on the influence of light and sends signals about its physiological and biological needs. Therefore, incorrect lighting at the wrong times can disrupt the body's understanding of its needs.

To measure the biological impact of light on health, a newer measurement method called Melanopic EDI is available. Based on research, a set of recommendations has been developed regarding the amount of Melanopic EDI individuals should receive at different times of the day to promote optimal health. This provides tangible data on the health-promoting effects, making it essential to inquire about this metric when integrating healthy lighting into your project.

It is crucial to always inquire about this measurement when integrating healthy lighting into your project.

Evidence

Another crucial factor to ensure that your investment will have a positive impact on health is to inquire about the documentation of the health effects. Evidence of the effect can come from practical experiences as well as through clinical research. If the effect is supported by clinical research specific to the solution, it provides you with assurance that the solution will deliver the promised results. Moreover, additional practical experiences can complement the clinical research, offering you further peace of mind in selecting the solution. Always inquire about the documentation of the solution's effect, review the supporting studies, and the documented effects.

Explore more about the research and practical experiences available on Chroma Zenit Circadian Lighting.

The implementation

A solution alone does not guarantee success, as buildings and people are unique. That's why a carefully planned implementation process is crucial, starting with a user-centric approach from beginning to end. Analyzing the building and user needs is essential, with adjustments made accordingly. It's also vital to focus on post-installation support, user training, and continuous refinement based on real-world experiences.

Additionally, it's critical to tailor our approach to each unique project, as no two are alike. You can discover more about how we at Chromaviso customize our project workflows to meet these unique demands.

BENEFICIAL EFFECTS

With the right lighting that creates a rhythm in the building while also being tailored to users, spatial conditions, and architecture, along with an efficient yet thorough implementation, you can eliminate health problems and instead achieve a range of beneficial effects.

The work environment will be enhanced, and absenteeism reduced. Specifically, employees will experience:

Improved sleep
Increased energy
Reduced stress
Better mood
Enhanced performance
Less headaches

All of which impact their overall health and result in a healthier life in the long run. In the healthcare sector, the correct healthy lighting will also improve treatment, rehabilitation, and care for patients and citizens.

THE INVESTMENT

When investing in a lighting solution, price is a key factor to consider. There can be a significant difference in cost among the various solutions in the market. When comparing prices, it is important to focus on two main aspects:

What is included in the price?
What is the long-term ROI and financial impact?

Ensure that the pricing is comparable and that all services throughout the implementation process are included. Additionally, consider the health effects or consequences of different choices. How will reduced sick leave, for example, impact the overall outcome in the long run? And what about the lifespan of the products?

CREATE HEALTH WITH CIRCADIAN LIGHTING

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTEGRATION OF HEALTH-PROMOTING LIGHTING

THE PURPOSE OF LIGHTING

THE CONSEQUENCE OF WRONG LIGHTING

THE RHYTHM OF THE BUILDING

THE HEALTH-PROMOTING LIGHTING - CIRCADIAN LIGHTING

BENEFICIAL EFFECTS

THE INVESTMENT

NEED MORE KNOWLEDGE?