The right lighting, around the clock

In human-centric lighting, the focus is on the impact of lighting on health and performance. Plastics that can act as light guides, such as acrylic glass from the PLEXIGLAS® brand, enable the precise creation of dynamic light scenarios throughout the course of a day.

What effect does artificial light have on our circadian rhythm? How does it impact our performance? The effect of artificial lighting on our physical and emotional wellbeing is becoming ever more important. In this regard, experts use the terms human-centric lighting, integrative lighting or biodynamic lighting – a market that analysts believe harbors average annual growth potential of over 25 percent up to 2027. Developers of contemporary lighting concepts and luminaires should therefore prepare for an increasing awareness of the biological impact of light amongst consumers.

Light throughout the day

“Current research proves that light has a significant impact on the circadian rhythm and therefore on the circulatory system, hormone levels and metabolism,” says Prof. Soyhan Bagci, who is researching the impact of light on human health at the University Hospital Bonn. If we spend most of our time indoors, our body’s circadian rhythm – which was originally regulated by sunlight – becomes imbalanced.

Driven by the increasing demand in the human-centric lighting segment, manufacturers of luminaires are currently developing ever more lighting systems that take the interplay of natural and artificial light into consideration – like the biodynamic luminaires from MELALUX lighting.

In close collaboration with various partners, the company has developed biodynamic lighting solutions for private users, as well as offices and hospitals. “Our goal was to build high-quality luminaires that emit light in a spectrum that is conducive to our biological cycles,” says one of those involved, Rolf Göbel from Alanod GmbH & Co. KG.

This is achieved by using a computer chip that controls the LED lighting depending on the time of day and the ambient light. “When designing biodynamic lighting, it is important to realize that the lighting situation changes throughout the course of the day and does not simply switch between cold and warm shades of white – all while ensuring that a pleasant, glare-free illumination is generated,” explains Göbel. The LEDs are therefore not visible as light sources; instead, the light is emitted from engraved patterns in a light guide made from PLEXIGLAS® acrylic glass and is then reflected from an aluminum surface, depending on the luminaire.

Precise replication of lighting scenarios

Its absolute colorlessness and ability to conduct light means the brand acrylic glass from PLEXIGLAS® is able to replicate illuminance and color temperature without any optical losses or color changes. “This makes it possible to create the fine and gradual shift between the lighting scenarios,” Göbel explains. “Since you do not look directly into the LED light sources, the light is also very pleasant and glare-free, even when working on a screen.”

The future of human-centric lighting

Such biodynamic lighting solutions could become the industry standard in the future – at least if Prof. Soyhan Bagci, a doctor who is researching the impact of light on human health at the University Hospital Bonn, has any say in the matter. According to him, a disrupted day-night rhythm not only impairs sleep and reduces performance, but can also provide favorable conditions for illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, depression and even childhood obesity. “But the good news is that we can control a lot ourselves,” says the physician. “If we give our bodies the right light, we strengthen our immune systems.”