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LUCTRA
Light is as important to health as a balanced In a recent survey collated by Raconteur, and Clinical Chronobiology research group
diet or regular exercise. It has a huge impact workers listed natural light as the fifth most in collaboration with psychiatrist Dr Dieter
on our performance, sleep and emotions. important area of improvement needed Kunz, to prove the biological effect of light on
in their workplace after their desk, chair, humans. Yet despite these positive findings
meeting room spaces and office temperature. there has been no revolution in the workplace
Over 4 million years of evolution, the cycle of
day and night has shaped us. Studies have
to change existing lighting schemes. "Most of
shown that blue-white light found in morning Initiatives such as the WELL Building the lighting currently available is detrimental
sunlight suppresses our sleep hormone Standard® have recently been introduced to health" argues Dr Kunz.
melatonin and causes the production of the to measure the performance of buildings stimulating hormone serotonin. Warm red against some crucial factors that affect Although there is a growing awareness of the
light found in evening sunlight increases human health, including light. The built importance of light for healthy living, clearly
melatonin production which makes us feel environment is therefore increasingly being more can be done to use these findings in
tired and encourages sleep. designed to ensure that people receive the design of the built environment; to create
exposure to natural daylight or biologically spaces that will support the levels outlined
Since we now spend 90% of our time indoors, effective light that can imitate the changes in the WELL Building Standard®. Spaces that
the buildings we live and work in can have in sunlight throughout the day, despite will cater for our basic individual needs.
a huge effect on our health and wellbeing. spending less time outside.
The artificial lights found in many buildings
contain high levels of blue light. Exposure Modern LED lights such as LUCTRA® can
to this all day affects and disrupts our almost completely replicate the colour
hormone production. As a result of spending spectrum of sunlight at a Kelvin range
most of our days at work, our offices have a of between 2,700 and 6,500. The award-
proportionately high impact on how we feel, winning luminaries were used in a clinical
act and sleep. study conducted by the Sleep Research
www.luctra.co.uk
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