Learn more about smart buildings
The emergence of smart building technologies has reinvented lighting solutions to become the backbone of integrated building eco-systems. From way finding and automation, to data driven space utilisations, we explore the latest evolution in lighting technology.
Read moreRelated News
NEWS ARTICLE |
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.
NEWS ARTICLE |
Can smart lighting solutions help businesses meet their energy and sustainability goals?
As businesses increasingly prioritise environmental responsibility, lighting is emerging as a key player in helping to achieve ambitious energy and carbon reduction targets. Smart lighting technology offers numerous advantages - from reducing energy use to enabling precise energy reporting - which can support businesses in their sustainability journeys. Dean Campbell-Smith, Director of Sustainable Innovation at Fagerhult, discusses how implementing smart lighting systems can help companies reach their goals efficiently and sustainably. What sort of energy efficient targets are customers working to? “At a super high level, net zero is certainly a target that we find ourselves talking to customers about more and more, particularly for larger clients who signed up to be net-zero by a certain date and have had their net-zero target endorsed by the science-based targets initiative. “For the Fagerhult Group, we need to account for the GHG emissions from the use of our products as part of our net-zero target. These emissions also need to be accounted for by our customers in their reporting – so it is a common goal – we are in this together. “Customers also need to be aware of Part L of the building regulations, which focuses on the conservation of fuel and power, and sets standards for meeting energy efficiency goals, reducing operational costs, and staying compliant with legal requirements in the UK.” How does smart lighting play into these targets? “From a smart lighting perspective, it’s twofold; one is the lighting control piece. By putting in a sensor and measuring occupancy and daylight, energy consumption can be reduced by something like 35 to 45%, and that's great. But with smart lighting, the light can be controlled autonomously, whilst also connecting with other sensors and systems to share information - we can start to learn how the building is actually being used. “For instance, if a building has different tenants with different ways of working, the lighting control system can be adjusted or optimised based on those tenants’ actual usage. We might find, for instance, that some staff come in at the weekends, walk through the office, all the lights come on, then they sit down in their corner and work. But all those lights might remain on for a period of time, so we look at how can we adjust the settings to take advantage of these kind of occupancy behaviours. Often this is where we can see up to 25% in energy savings. “It's obviously very dependent on the building, but what smart lighting solutions give customers is the ability to make energy savings based on behaviour, and it allows customers to report on their own energy consumption.” Is it mandatory for customers to report on their energy consumption? “It’s not currently mandatory for all businesses, but it’s on the horizon. However, even if it’s not compulsory to report energy consumption yet, it’s important to understand where emissions are coming from, that’s how we effect change. Smart lighting solutions produce reports which allow customers to have this kind of visibility, which is fantastic.” Are there other areas where smart lighting solutions can help reduce emissions? “Absolutely. In offices for instance, occupancy sensors are distributed throughout the space for the lighting control system, and that information can be shared with the heating and ventilation systems, which can then be optimised based on our information. This allows us to come together and potentially create more savings for the building. “Smart lighting will also be a key enabler (likely the key enabler) for transitioning to circular solutions, by providing real-time updates on repair or replacement needs, enabling proactive maintenance planning, and reducing service costs. “Additionally, by tracking luminaire usage, smart lighting allows warranties to be based on actual burn time rather than fixed durations. This not only extends the lifespan of the lighting asset but also supports the reuse of luminaires and or components through more realistic and adaptable warranty terms.” What factors should building owners take into consideration when looking to implement a smart lighting solution? “It’s important to understand the system that they already have, and what their journey is: are they constructing a new building? Are they renovating an existing building? What kind of technology do they need? “The Fagerhult Organic Response system is very compelling for renovation projects because it’s wireless. A light with a mains plug can be taken down, and a new smart light, with a mains plug and wireless technology, starts working from day one. For customers, having a vision for how their building can become more intelligent by sharing data with other systems and therefore saving energy is really exciting. “There are other benefits too of course; people want to work in nice places, and creating an environment with excellent light quality that can be tuned according to individual needs has significant benefits for occupants’ comfort and wellbeing.” Smart lighting: a forward-thinking solution In addition to being an effective tool for reducing energy consumption, smart lighting is a forward-thinking solution that supports sustainable practices, health, and long-term cost savings. By embracing these systems, businesses can meet their energy targets more effectively, prepare for future regulations, and create a positive impact on the environment and their bottom line.
NEWS ARTICLE |