Light is a big part of the answer. People have always known that light promotes well-being. Coaxing the sun to return amidst the darkest depths of winter was the point of some of humanity’s most ancient rituals, some of which still persist in some form today.

More recently, connected LED lighting has in important ways rivalled the sun when it comes to promoting human well-being, especially indoors. It certainly represents an epochal advance over the capabilities of conventional lighting. 

Consider the human-centric illumination capabilities that a smart lighting system makes possible. Users can program luminaires to change their levels of intensity at certain times of day and in response to daylight conditions, perhaps brightening as dusk approaches on a short winter day. Automation makes the change essentially invisible for occupants, a point that’s as important as it is obvious: People will be aware only that they’re located within a cheerful, emotionally healthy environment, if “aware” is the even right word. 

More specifically, users can personalize their lighting by deploying preset scenes appropriate to various tasks. They can use smart lighting systems to support occupants’ circadian rhythms, boosting blue light levels in offices in the morning to promote alertness, and lowering them as the workday ends to ease employees into those restful hours that are so important for holistic health. 

In addition, smart lighting solutions minimize flicker, strobe effects, and glare, and provide optimal color visibility and spectral composition. Subtle as they might be, these advantages make people feel better. A lighting system is working most effectively, after all, when nobody notices it. 

When outfitted with the proper sensors, smart lighting systems can track occupancy and footfall patterns within a building, identifying high-traffic areas that need enhanced cleaning—an especially crucial concern while the COVID-19 pandemic rages. Businesses can also advise employees in real time which floors or areas of a building they should use, based on workspace capacity and occupancy levels. Smart systems can even predict demand through occupancy trends over time. With an indoor positioning system in place, employees can find and book safe desks and meeting areas via an app, and navigate to their destinations through the least crowded areas.

Sensors embedded in smart lighting systems can pick up data relating to indoor conditions, including temperature, humidity, noise, and air quality. Using that data, managers can optimize conditions for health and well-being. Or they can program the system to do that for them: in a smart building, a lighting system may connect, to the HVAC system, for example, which will respond in real time to the data it’s receiving--or to a window system, which might open ports to let in fresh air.

Then there’s UV-C light. This type of light, provided by special lamps and luminaires, is incredibly powerful for both air and surface disinfection. At a time when building owners are responsible for protecting people from harmful viruses, this technology is proving to be a game-changer.

Lighting is a key component of healthy buildings, which help create healthier people. 

And not only healthier people—a healthier planet, too. All too often, ingenious technologies that promote human comfort take a toll on the environment. Smart buildings, equipped with smart lighting, protect the environment as well. 

Energy-efficient LED technology can cut lighting-related energy use by up to 80%--a significant number, because 10% to 20% of the energy a building uses typically goes to lighting. 

But it’s not only LED light sources that make a difference—it’s also sensor-driven smart systems. When such a system prompts a building to lower its air conditioning in conjunction with the onrush into the premises of a cool breeze through newly opened louvers, it’s bathing occupants in oxygen-rich fresh air—but it’s also taking a step toward sustainability. 

The same is true when, in response to strong sunlight, the system dims electrical lighting and opens skylights instead. Or when, based on what motion sensors are telling it, the system turns down the heat in a consistently underpopulated corridor. Or when sensor-bearing luminaires signal in advance to managers when they'll need maintenance, making it possible to avoid the unplanned shutdowns that degrade operational efficiency.