DEPARTMENTS
Green Tech
Lighten Up Your Life
How to be Happier and More Productive with a Simple Lighting Upgrade
By Patricia Miller
How do you feel in your office? Are
the lights too harsh or not quite bright
enough? Do you leave the office in the
evening surprised that it’s suddenly
nighttime? If so, your office probably
isn’t using circadian lighting.
Most people are familiar with
circadian rhythms. They help our
bodies align with the natural cycle of
the sun so we’re awake when the sun is
up and tired when the sun is down.
Similarly, circadian lighting seeks to
emulate outdoor lighting in an indoor
environment. This helps our bodies
feel tired at night so we can rest and
feel alert during the day so we can be
productive.
Some lighting companies have now refined
their technology to such an extent that
changes in intensity or hue are nearly
imperceptible, yet they make a notable
difference in how they impact human biology.
For example, Healthe’s SunTrac Ecosystem
just expanded their offerings to include a
dynamic panel light and control device for
motion detection and daylight sensing.
SunTrac’s newest lighting panel has zero
glare and is edge-lit, making it resemble a
skylight. The unique panel’s luminaires are
able to track the sun’s light spectrum and
reproduce that spectrum throughout the day.
It is self-powered, so there are no wires
trailing from the ceiling. Bluetooth control
allows the user to adjust timing for motion
sensor responses and set thresholds for
ambient light levels.
Suzanne Cavanagh, owner of Century
Lighting Oregon, shared her thoughts on the
technology in a recent Healthe press release:
“The circadian lighting brings the equivalent
of natural sunlight into the space and
20 Residential Tech Today | Jan/Feb 2020
Healthe’s SunTrac Ecosystem offerings include a dynamic panel light and control
device for motion detection and daylight sensing.
illuminates the ceiling like a skylight. The
day and night spectrums adjust
autonomously throughout the 24-hour
cycle and commissioning takes literally less
than a minute.”
Circadian lighting solutions are powerful
additions to both office and home lighting
systems. Director of the Lighting Research
Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Mariana Figueiro was quick to note their
importance during an interview with Architect
Magazine, stating: “Clients are increasingly
requesting and expecting
lighting systems and
applications that can support
human health and well-being
and make an impact on the
circadian system.”
Many LED tunable white
light systems mimic daylight
patterns by adjusting
correlated color temperature
(CCT) and brightness levels
as the sun moves across the
sky. Healthe’s panel has a
CCT range of 2500K to
4500K and is available in 1x4,
2x2, and 2x4 configurations.
Healthe’s Head of R&D Ran Zhou
explained why the latest expansion to their
product line is such a revelation, “By
expanding the SunTrac line with the Motion
& Daylight Sensor and Panel Light, we’re
simplifying circadian lighting even further.
We have combined common form factors,
energy code requirements, and Bluetooth
controls to create an elegant lighting
ecosystem that maximizes energy efficiency,
enhances user experience, and delivers
health benefits.”
Circadian lighting may not be a suitable
substitute for real sunlight, but as more and
more research shows, it can be a powerful
mood enhancer while increasing
productivity and overall wellness.
If those results aren’t what’s driving
your decision to implement circadian
lighting, perhaps Figueiro can influence
your decision with a financial consideration:
“Offices with daylight are more valuable
and can be sold or rented for higher value.
The same can be established for offices with
good circadian lighting.” x