Light and people
Light has always been a prerequisite for human existence. Inspired by daylight and the latest science, we can create lighting that makes life even better. Humans are made to be outdoors, and daylight affects the way we are – biologically and psychologically. New research has shed light on these links.
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Creating Human-Centric Workspaces with Double Dynamic Lighting
Lighting transcends its traditional role of mere illumination in modern, evolving work environments. Of course, providing the right light in the right places is still the core function, but it has also become a pivotal element in enhancing employee well-being, satisfaction, and productivity. Yet, a significant portion of the workforce remains dissatisfied with their current lighting conditions. A 2024 study by Ipsosrevealed that 32% of UK office workers are unhappy with their lighting, highlighting the need for increasingly innovative solutions. While another 2022 study by IEOM Society International found that 85% of employees strongly prefer natural light to be the dominant source of illumination in offices, and over 82% believe that access to natural light directly enhances their alertness, concentration, and productivity. This area was addressed by the groundbreaking Double Dynamic Lighting (DDL) study carried out, in collaboration with Fagerhult, at Aalborg University in Copenhagen. The results - by harmonising artificial lighting with natural daylight, and creating daylight-like effects, DDL creates dynamic, responsive environments that cater to human psychological needs, positively influencing visual comfort, naturalness, stimulation and leading to positive outcomes related to work engagement, motivation and concentration. Understanding Double Dynamic lighting (DDL) Double Dynamic Lighting is a design approach that integrates both direct and diffuse lighting, with colour temperature adapting in real-time to natural daylight variations. This method aims to replicate some of the characteristics and dynamic qualities of natural light within indoor spaces, enhancing the overall ambiance and functionality of the workplace. It’s not only about illumination levels but about creating lighting conditions that feel right to people. This includes changes in colour temperature over time and the balance between diffuse and focused light, both of which can have a significant psychological impact on how a space is perceived and experienced. Key features of DDL include: Dynamic adaptation: Lighting adjusts in response to external daylight conditions, ensuring optimal lighting conditions throughout the day. Enhanced visual comfort: The combination of direct and diffuse lighting helps deliver daylight-like effects, creating a comfortable visual environment. Work engagement, motivation and concentration: natural feeling, daylight-like effects delivered by DDL lead to positive psychological outcomes in the workplace. The research conducted at Aalborg University demonstrated that DDL positively influences employees' mood, concentration, and overall work engagement. Participants reported a more pleasant atmosphere and increased motivation when working under DDL conditions compared to static lighting setups. Going forward, Double Dynamic Lighting setups may also help us deliver better biological alignment in workplaces in line with the growing knowledge that human circadian rhythms can be positively supported by workplace lighting, potentially helping alertness during the day, relaxation in the evening, and deliver important health benefits. The science behind DDL The effectiveness of DDL lies in its ability to mimic the natural characteristics and progression of daylight. By adjusting colour temperatures, light intensities and the balance of direct and diffuse sources, DDL creates a dynamic environment that helps deliver natural-feeling workplaces. DDL's real-time responsiveness ensures that indoor lighting complements outdoor conditions. Whether the day is overcast, sunny, or anything in between, DDL can adjust the fundamental characteristics of indoor lighting to help provide lighting conditions that are, to all intents and purposes, naturally expected. Steve Shackleton, Lighting Application Manager at Fagerhult UK comments: “Human beings actually prefer daylight. We migrate to it if we get the chance. Double Dynamic Lighting lets you recreate just a bit of that, but it’s enough to completely change how a space feels. Try it. The effect is quite magical.” Implementing DDL in modern workspaces Fagerhult's DDL is not just a theoretical concept, it's a practical solution already enhancing workplaces worldwide. By integrating advanced sensors and control systems, DDL seamlessly adjusts lighting conditions to suit various tasks and activities. Key components of a DDL-enabled workspace include: Sensor Integration: Occupancy and daylight sensors monitor environmental conditions, informing lighting adjustments. Personalised Control: Employees can customise lighting settings to their preferences, enhancing comfort and productivity. Energy Efficiency: By closely aligning artificial lighting with natural daylight and the needs and whereabouts of building occupants, DDL can reduce energy consumption and support sustainability goals. Fagerhult's Control Track Versa system exemplifies this integration, offering modular lighting solutions that adapt to changing workspace needs. With features like adjustable luminaires and integrated sensors, it provides both flexibility and efficiency. Benefits beyond illumination Daylight-like lighting benefits extend beyond improved lighting conditions: Increased productivity: Comfortable and adaptable lighting environments can boost focus and efficiency. Sustainability: Optimised lighting and control reduce energy consumption, contributing to environmental conservation efforts. Employee satisfaction: Providing personal control over personal lighting preferences can lead to higher job satisfaction and retention rates. Enhanced well-being: Taken to its optimum, by aligning lighting with natural circadian rhythms, DDL can help support mental and physical health. One barrier to wider adoption is cost, though Steve is quick to challenge assumptions: “In the grand scheme of things, the benefits widely outweigh the costs. It’s not like the old days where tunable white lighting was double the cost. Today, we’re talking perhaps 20-30% extra. Not a great deal in a world where, as the BCO puts it, ‘it is becoming increasingly clear that there is a difference between office environments that are simply not harmful - that is the absence of bad - and environments that positively encourage health and wellbeing and stimulate productivity’”. He also points out the deeper value of the investment: “If you’re building a space for people and you know what helps them feel and perform better, can you justify not including it? Is it even sustainable NOT to include it?” Putting people first As workplaces shift to becoming more people-centric to meet the expectations of modern employees, lighting solutions must do the same. Fagerhult’s approach to Double Dynamic Lighting prioritises occupants and human well-being, as well as environmental sustainability and operational performance. By embracing DDL, organisations can transform their environments into dynamic, human-centric spaces that inspire, engage, and support. And it’s not just office workers who can benefit. In retail environments, where access to natural light is often limited by infrastructure, employees may spend 8–9 hours a day without any daylight exposure. DDL could help replicate the dynamic qualities of daylight, promoting a natural feeling environment, for better mood and comfort throughout the day. Similarly, in education settings, where focus, concentration, and cognitive performance are critical, DDL could create optimised, more stimulating classrooms that support both students and teachers. From corporate HQs to classrooms, and retail back-of-house to deep-plan floorplates, DDL isn’t just a lighting upgrade, it’s a shift toward environments that put people first.
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Lighting the way: smart, sustainable, and science-backed illumination for tomorrow’s universities
As universities across the UK and beyond strive to modernise campuses, reduce emissions, and improve student well-being, one often-overlooked asset is proving to be a game changer: lighting. An active contributor to cognitive performance, energy efficiency, and the overall learning experience. Our recent projects, such as at the University of Warwick and Queen Mary University of London, demonstrate how forward-thinking institutions are embracing lighting as part of their strategic transformation. By adopting smart systems and biologically informed design, these universities are creating environments that not only look modern but also support academic success and sustainability. Smart lighting in action: The University of Warwick The University of Warwick’s recent library refurbishment offers a compelling case study in the power of intelligent lighting. By installing Fagerhult’s Organic Response system, the university achieved a 70% reduction in energy consumption, without compromising the quality of light. Organic Response uses sensors built directly into luminaires, enabling each fixture to respond individually to occupancy, ambient daylight, and usage patterns. This level of adaptability creates a consistently comfortable environment while dramatically reducing energy waste. The system also provides real-time occupancy data, allowing students to find available study areas more easily—an unexpected but impactful benefit. The Warwick project demonstrates how lighting can become a silent partner in campus operations: lowering costs, supporting carbon targets, and improving the day-to-day student experience. Lighting by biology: the role of melanopic lux Beyond energy and aesthetics, lighting plays a biological role, especially in education. Exposure to the right kind of light at the right time affects our circadian rhythms, alertness, and even mood. The concept of melanopic lux, a measure of how light impacts the body’s internal clock, has emerged as a critical consideration in educational lighting. The general recommendation is that students begin their day in environments with at least 250 melanopic lux for two hours. This aligns with natural biological rhythms, helping to boost concentration and support healthy sleep-wake cycles. This recommendation is grounded in international best practice, including the WELL Building Standard and chronobiological research such as the study published in PLOS Biology (2022), which outlines how morning exposure to at least 250 melanopic lux (also known as melanopic equivalent daylight illuminance) can significantly enhance cognitive function, mood regulation, and circadian rhythm alignment. Especially in educational settings, where mental clarity and alertness are critical, incorporating this biologically effective light level helps create environments that truly support both academic performance and student well-being. Smart, tunable lighting systems can shift light temperature and intensity throughout the day, mimicking natural daylight patterns. This kind of responsive design is especially powerful in windowless or high-use indoor areas like libraries, labs, or study zones. Queen Mary University: sustainability meets strategy Queen Mary University of London offers another example of lighting’s transformative potential. By integrating Organic Response technology into a major refurbishment, the university not only enhanced lighting performance but also achieved meaningful sustainability gains; cutting up to 75 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. In a sector under increasing pressure to meet environmental targets, lighting offers one of the most efficient paths to carbon reduction. Yet Queen Mary’s approach also shows that sustainability doesn’t mean compromise: the university improved user control, visual comfort, and building aesthetics in parallel with its environmental goals. This reflects a wider trend: universities are starting to view lighting upgrades not as maintenance, but as strategic infrastructure investments. Five Pillars of future-ready University lighting Drawing on Fagerhult’s experience in educational settings, five key pillars have emerged to guide universities as they plan for the future: Functionality: Lighting must support a range of learning styles, from silent reading to interactive group work. Flexibility: Modular lighting solutions accommodate evolving space usage and room layouts. Sustainability: Energy-efficient LEDs and daylight harvesting contribute to net-zero targets. Connectivity: Smart systems offer data-driven control and automation, improving both comfort and efficiency. Human-Centricity: Lighting should reflect human biological needs, enhancing comfort, alertness, and mental well-being. This framework helps institutions think beyond the “what” of lighting (lumens, watts) and focus on the “why” and “how”- how lighting contributes to learning outcomes, user satisfaction, and long-term adaptability. Lighting as an enabler, not just an asset As the education sector evolves shaped by hybrid learning, flexible campuses, and heightened awareness of student well-being; lighting is evolving with it. Once considered passive infrastructure, it is now recognised as an active enabler of performance, sustainability, and innovation. The message is clear: investing in modern lighting isn’t just about reducing bills or replacing old fittings. It’s about creating spaces that support people, helping students think more clearly, feel more comfortable, and succeed more fully. Fagerhult’s education projects continue to prove that the right lighting doesn’t just illuminate, it empowers. For universities aiming to future-proof their campuses, lighting is no longer optional. It’s essential.
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