The lighting in our indoor environments plays a crucial role in how we feel, think, and perform. Whether we’re working, learning, or relaxing, lighting should be designed to support people, not just to illuminate spaces. With intelligent lighting controls, it’s possible to create environments that actively promote wellbeing.
One key strategy is human-centric lighting (HCL). By working in harmony with our circadian rhythms, the body’s internal clock, this type of lighting helps improve mood, focus, and comfort throughout the day. With the average person now spending up to 90% of their time indoors, lighting that supports wellbeing is more important than ever.
What is Human-Centric Lighting?
Human-Centric Lighting is lighting that supports the health, wellbeing and performance of people by combining the visual, biological and emotional benefits of light.
As human beings, we’ve evolved over many years with a single daylight source – the sun. This natural daylight cycle helps regulate our circadian rhythm, which governs our sleep–wake cycle and affects everything from alertness to hormone production.
Traditional artificial lighting does not reflect this natural pattern. Older systems are often static, lacking the ability to adjust brightness or colour temperature throughout the day. On the other hand, human-centric lighting, enabled by intelligent controls, can change the colour temperature and intensity of light to support our biological rhythm and overall wellbeing.
Using dynamic features such as brightness tuning and DALI Type 8 colour temperature control, lighting systems can adjust conditions throughout the day to mimic sunrise, midday brightness, and sunset tones. This helps people feel more energised during the day and more relaxed as evening approaches.
Human-Centric Lighting vs Circadian Lighting
Closely related to human-centric lighting is the concept of circadian lighting. Circadian lighting specifically aims to support our body’s internal clock through lighting that mimics natural daylight exposure. It focuses on biological and psychological health, typically by adjusting brightness and colour temperature in sync with the day–night cycle.
Human-centric lighting, while it includes circadian support, goes beyond by also considering the emotional and visual comfort of occupants. It encompasses a more holistic approach to wellbeing, addressing not only sleep–wake cycles, but also mood, performance, and the overall experience of a space.
Three examples of different Circadian Rhythms. Intelligent human-centric lighting can dynamically change colour temperatures and light levels to emulate natural light during the day.
The Benefits of Human-Centric Lighting
- Better Wellbeing
Light has a direct impact on how we feel, and aligning it with our biological needs helps create more comfortable and supportive environments. A 2024 open-plan office study in Turkey involving around 60 workers showed that a human-centric lighting setup optimised for circadian stimulus and melanopic lux improved comfort and visual performance.
- Improved Sleep Quality
Human-centric lighting has been shown to positively influence sleep duration, quality, and timing. By simulating natural light transitions, intelligent lighting systems help to regulate melatonin production, supporting healthier rest patterns.
- Productivity and Focus
Better lighting means better visual comfort, helping to improve concentration and performance. Across offices, schools, and warehouses, human-centric lighting has been linked to higher perceived productivity and motivation.
With the right lighting controls, human-centric lighting can be applied across a wide range of environments, from offices and schools to hospitals and beyond.
How Human-Centric Lighting affects different environments
Workplaces
For many, the workplace is a second home. Poor lighting can lead to eye strain, fatigue, and low morale, all of which affect performance and wellbeing. Studies show the value of getting lighting right. A Staples UK survey revealed that 80% of employees said good lighting is important in the workplace, and nearly a third would feel happier at work with better lighting.
Lighting controls allow offices to adjust light levels throughout the day or based on occupancy. This creates environments that not only look better, but also feel better.
Education
Concentration is key in any learning environment. Lighting that responds to different times of day and activities can help maintain student attention and improve outcomes.
Cool, bright light in the morning can help energise a classroom and stimulate activity. Warmer light in the afternoon encourages calm, focused discussions. With intelligent lighting control systems, it is possible to create human-centric lighting profiles that support both students and teachers throughout the school day.
Healthcare
Lighting is a critical factor in healthcare settings, not just for visibility, but for comfort, recovery, and staff performance. In hospitals and care homes, human-centric lighting has been shown to:
- Increase patient activity levels
- Reduce recovery times
- Improve sleep quality
In dementia care settings, human-centric lighting was associated with a 41% reduction in agitation, yelling, and distress. For staff, intelligent lighting supports alertness and visual comfort, which is especially important during long shifts or overnight work.
Other Applications for Human-Centric Lighting
The benefits of human-centric lighting are not limited to offices, schools or hospitals. Wherever people spend time, lighting plays a role in how they feel and how they function.
Examples include:
- Hotels: helps guests sleep better and wake up refreshed.
- Warehouses: supports alertness for shift workers.
- Airports: some lounges use human-centric lighting to help travellers adjust to jet lag.
- Retail spaces, museums, cruise ships, control rooms: enhances overall experience and performance.
Aligning with Global Wellbeing Standards
The benefits of human-centric lighting are also recognised by standards such as the WELL Building Standard, developed by the International WELL Building Institute™. This global framework measures how buildings support health and wellbeing, with lighting as one of its 10 core concepts.
Intelligent lighting controls help meet several WELL criteria, supporting circadian health, visual comfort, and performance. They also contribute to certifications across Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels. Learn more about the impact of lighting control on building standards such as WELL.
