Healthy lighting follows a 24-hour cycle, making it significant for our biological, behavioral, and mental processes. Most healthy adults sleep for a predictable sleep pattern of seven to nine hours every night to stabilize their circadian rhythm.
Do you recall the days of bright summer mornings, when you made plans to maybe go golfing, fishing, gardening, hiking, bicycling and so forth with the family? You spend your entire day awake & active, and just as dusk approaches, you get drowsy & you sleep like a baby. Do you know what that means? When you are basking under the natural light, you are more prone to having a healthy circadian rhythm.
Human bodies have been directed for thousands of years to wake up at dawn and sleep when the sky gets dusky. For increased sleep quality, our ancestors invented a torch that glowed amber in color, which illuminated their nights, without being fully aware of the benefits.
In the last era, scientists have linked the nanometers of this change in light to a healthy environment. To simulate a productive life-style, scientists have invented sleep promoting light bulbs. Hence, the abundant benefits available to be explored in the
circadian rhythm lighting realm.
Circadian rhythm lighting informs the pineal gland what hormones to produce throughout the day, and it heavily controls:
• Sleep and wake cycle
• Productivity and alertness
• Body temperature
• Digestive system
Without further ado, let’s delve into the top 5 benefits of circadian rhythm lighting:
Restores Sleep Disorders
Circadian rhythm lighting increases sleep quality because LED circadian lighting assists in the release of 2 chemical hormones: melatonin and dopamine. These hormones are required in the evening hours to make a person feel relaxed and tired at night, meanwhile suppressing secretion of these hormones during the day and helping in the release of cortisol which enables a person to be more alert and active throughout the day.
Circadian sleep disorder disrupts your normal sleep pattern. Healthy circadian rhythm is the best antioxidant one can benefit from. Did you notice your cold or flu gets better with more sleep? According to research, circadian rhythm lighting can reduce hospital stays, the desired result for the patient/resident, government, and others.
Does Wonders for Eye-Sight!
Circadian rhythm light bulbs eliminate glare to help people see much better.
Circadian light bulbs users experience fewer headaches and enjoy better visual acuity. This is very important for older adults whose eye lenses turn yellow and thicken as they age, requiring much more light to see. Traditional lighting is the biggest culprit of glares.
There was a time when our mothers knitted and our father read a newspaper daily. Did you ever wonder why they don’t anymore? As they started aging, they need 75% more brightness than a 25-year-old to see things the same.
Circadian rhythm lighting is installed with edge-lit LED panels in educational institutions and hospitals. The major benefit? It further reduces the glare, a major culprit in shadowing that causes depth perception issues and thus, increases productivity & visibility.
Improves Productivity!
Have you heard of the term seasonal affective disorder? It is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder. It can lead to depression and is a major cause of suicide. By creating a healthy outdoor environment, the person diagnosed with the seasonal affective disorder - wide awake and active in the dawn – can be effectively treated.
Employees exposed to healthy lighting suffer fewer sick days and experience increased productivity at the workplace. Students tested under the circadian rhythm light bulbs improved 13% on standardized tests than other students on identical tests. According to hard-facts, warming the classroom lighting makes students & teachers more relaxed.
Saves Money & the Environment
Did You Know: Circadian rhythm lights reduce the electricity consumption of lighting by up to 85% and last at least 50,000 hours?
The Result: The maintenance crew can be directed to another function in the facility because the replacement of bulbs after 10,000 or fewer hours saves time.
Circadian rhythm LED light bulbs are devoid of dangerous metals, lead or mercury mostly found in some conventional fluorescent and incandescent bulbs. Companies are collaborating to merge the biological benefits of a healthy circadian rhythm with the energy-saving circadian rhythm light bulbs to improve productivity in the work-place.
Circadian rhythm products do not interfere with sensitive wireless or wired electronics typically found in medical facilities.
Uses Automated Control Systems
The evolution of the Circadian rhythm light products has completely invalidated the requirements of manual adjustments. Many of the facilities are opting for an automated scheduler network using wireless control systems. The designed mesh systems can work as the main system in a building. The smart building system is integrated with other systems to control the entire network.
The Structure of Smart System: It enables the user to manually override when needed and allows each fixture to have its own identity so the user can make each light bulb, group of light bulbs or entire facility provide the healthy lighting at any time. How to reduce installation costs? Either use radiofrequency or handheld controls for manual adjustments, removing the need for dimming wires to a wall switch.
Circadian rhythm lighting is likely to represent a market share of $14.3 billion by next year in Europe alone. In the United States, these systems are being tested now by many facilities. If it is not installed in your workplace now, you likely will have circadian rhythm lighting within the next 2 years.
Wrapping Up
Did you know “The World Health Organization” has listed “shiftwork that involves circadian disruption” as a most likely carcinogen and the American Medical Association has recognized it as a carcinogen and health risk.
The scientific community is studying the complexity of circadian rhythm disruption and the role of melatonin suppression from too much artificial light at night. Scientists are finding an undisputed connection between sleep quality and good health.
Furthermore, they are acknowledging the significance of exposure to daylight during the day and darkness at night to maintain a routine healthy circadian rhythm.
If you have further queries or suggestions regarding the benefits of circadian rhythm lighting, please share it with us in the comments below!
