Lighting & Productivity

Lighting & Health
According to the National Lighting Bureau, lighting can affect physiological responses as well as visual (mental) perception.

In research by Dr. Levin, published in 1995, variable spectral power distribution showed significant biological as well as psychological effects. In fact, early fluorescent light sources put out concentrated output in the yellow-green instead of blue-green spectrum, believing that this concentration increased perception of brightness.

In addition, audible ballast hum and lamp flicker (usually seen in peripheral vision) can become a major irritant to people sensitive to it. According to Dr. Levin's research, almost 10 percent of the U.S. population is sensitive to flicker from magnetically ballasted fluorescent and metal halide lamps; these people are more likely to suffer from migraines.

Finally, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is linked to a lack of light in the winter months; treatment includes a daily period of exposure to high light levels. A Lighting Research Center study showed that nurses at a hospital produced higher subjective responses of states of well-being, and those working the night shift scored faster and higher in performance tests, when exposed to a period of bright light.

Introduction

Lighting & Health

Productivity vs. Energy Savings

Sustainable Case Studies

The Importance of Daylighting

 

Above: The Canadian Institute for Research in Construction provides a huge collection of outstanding research reports. Ranging from full-spectrum lighting to lighting quality, all of these reports are useful. If you would like copies of these reports, visit
http://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/ie/light/