Integrative lighting: towards a different approach to light design

Since a number of years, the impact of daylight and lighting on well-being and visual comfort of occupants has received more and more attention. Many effects have already been documented and a number of organisations have made the transition to Human Centric Lighting. Human Centric Lighting supports health, well-being and performance of humans by combining visual, biological and emotional benefits of light. Given this complexity and interdependency, it is not possible to reduce Human Centric Lighting to a simple formula. LED lighting and new sensors make it possible to dynamically change the spectrum and intensity of artificial light sources. In addition, in recent years there has been numerous scientific evidence that light has an impact (both positive and negative) on wellbeing and performance of people. These influences are better known and understood, even though many untruths are proclaimed. We want to create a broad basis of support and confidence in the new technology through a number of documented practical cases. In collaboration with HoWest, Health Sciences Department, the Light and Lighting Laboratory is already carrying out a study on well-being and lighting with the support of about 20 companies. Within this project two practical cases have been developed (an industrial application and a residential care home). This project is a solid basis to start a doctoral study. Within the doctoral study we intend to: ● carry out two studies under controlled conditions (laboratory experiments): defining the optimal contrast ratio in a room (f.i. walls versus computer display) for office applications and determining a dose-response curve for attention and reaction time. ● investigate how optimal human-centric lighting conditions can be realized in practice with existing or completely new lighting luminaires or technologies. ● realize one or two applications of human centric lighting within the healthcare sector. We are considering an application within elderly care and an application in a hospital context to optimally control the lighting for night care.