Lighting in the workplace, when based on Human Centric Lighting principles, can lead to productivity increases and improve the well-being of employees in the office, in industrial areas and during free time. In addition, smart technologies can further enhance the benefits of people-friendly lighting, favouring concentration at work and relaxation in free time.

Human Centric Lighting (HCL) means designing lighting based on the natural rhythms of human beings, taking into account the influence the sun’s light has on various vital functions, both physical and mental. The circadian rhythm, mood, the perception of sleepiness and concentration: these and many other aspects are influenced by environmental conditions, not least, natural light.

The aim of making environments ever-more comfortable for people is not a new one in the history of indoor lighting, and HCL is no exception. In this case, however, the factors taken into consideration to achieve the best possible levels of wellness are different and focus on the relationship between human beings and the varying intensity of sunlight during the day.

In other words, Human Centric Lighting uses parameters already understood and in use, such as glare, chromatic rendering, light intensity levels and light temperature, but it uses them to achieve a balance between the proper lighting of working environments and the variation in the human need for light as the day progresses, while meeting the various needs of each individual work context.

In addition to addressing physical and emotional aspects, this approach takes into account all aspects linked to visibility, safety, productivity, concentration and the availability of sunlight, making it ideal for a wide variety of different work contexts.

Selecting lighting designed with HCL in mind means creating greater well-being for each person, but the companies that invest in it also benefit directly and indirectly from its implementation.

For individuals, the benefits enjoyed from lighting that imitates daylight include lowered stress levels and better quality of sleep, work performance and creativity. Mental health and effectiveness and alertness at work also benefit.

For example, a 2012 study compared the effects of artificial and natural light on the work of 29 participants. Those exposed to natural light in the afternoon were notably more attentive and responsive towards the evening, with better work results compared to those who worked under artificial light.

Human Centric Lighting also helps improve working environments where, for various reasons, there are no windows exposed to sunlight. Here too, the mental health and sleep quality of those working in simulated natural light improves, demonstrating the advantages of lighting capable of reproducing this cycle.

There are also industrial contexts where employee well-being contributes in an even more direct and measurable manner in terms of economic benefits for the company.

A 2015 study by A.T. Kearney estimated the benefits of HCL in industrial contexts – for both repetitive and highly specialised manual tasks – to be a 4.5% increase in productivity compared to traditional LED lighting, a 1-2% reduction in errors and 1-2% fewer accidents at work due to greater attention. In addition, a 1% reduction in days of sick leave and better physical resilience of workers over the mid-long term, leading to fewer absences and greater efficiency in carrying out operations.

Advantages both in terms of productivity and safety – with obvious positive consequences in terms of savings, but also a favourable trend towards reducing energy costs. To obtain the best results from Human Centric Lighting, it needs to be designed in conjunction with the most innovative technologies that smart lighting has to offer.

Designing a lighting project that truly places people at its centre also means giving them the option to customise the light based on personal requirements, so that it responds dynamically to the passage of time and to the needs of each individual. 

In this sense, smart lighting is capable of broadening and enhancing a Human Centric design to achieve the best in terms of savings and customisation. IoT and home automation are both essential to provide ecosystems that respond immediately to environmental changes and include:

Light and movement sensors, network-connected devices that receive weather information, and brightness adjustment to reduce waste and keep the environment as comfortable as possible without sacrificing energy efficiency.

With the synergy between new technologies and awareness of the effects of the natural light cycle on the body, lighting systems can be created that provide the best balance between work requirements and human needs, opening up possibilities for configuration, savings and efficiency that were unthinkable - let alone feasible - just a few decades ago.