Lords disappointed by Government’s response to light and noise pollution on the UK
(UK)- House of Lords Science and technology committee has written to the Nature Minister, Rebeca Pow MP, on 31 January, to raise concerns with the Government’s “disappointing response” to its report on the effect of artificial light and noise on human health.
The report, “The neglected pollutants: the effects of light and noise on human health”, was conducted by the committee believing that valuable public health interventions could improve quality of life and NHS pressures in the UK. The committee urges the Government to reconsider its policy on light and noise pollution.
In a statement, the Committee states that it is concerned that the Government has rejected its recommendations on light pollution and the creation of a light policy statement, which would set out the expected roles of different departments in tackling light and noise pollution.
It says: “The Government acknowledges the need of more research to address the significant gaps in understanding of the effects of artificial light, however the recommendation for a research programme was rejected. The committee asks again if the Government will commit to fund further research into the effects of light pollution on human health, with a view to establishing metrics that can measure the extent and severity of light pollution in the UK.
“There’s a concern that the Government response contains no clear commitment to ensure that local authorities are sufficiently resourced or incentivised to address these issues on noise and light pollution, or to set out any standards to local authorities to help them manage light or noise pollution.
“There is a sense that the Government is not concerned about this policy area, despite the 25 Year Environment Plan’s promise to “ensure that noise and light pollution are managed effectively” – hence the report “the neglected pollutants”.”
The full letter to the Minister is available via the link https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/43158/documents/214669/default/
Young Lighter Final from the SLL
Each year, the Young Lighter competition provides a high-profile opportunity to help younger lighting professionals in the early stages of their careers. This year, LiGHT 23 will host the final presentations, which include:
Anna Freiesleben | Michael Grubb Studio
Light Beyond Earth: Illuminating life on exoplanets
Irene Mazzei | Edinburgh Napier University / Stoane Lighting
Improving sustainability in the lighting industry
Teresa Aguilar Carrasco | Architect
CircaLight, a new circadian light assessment tool for Grasshopper environment
Tom Ruddle | EGG Lighting
Lighting Remanufacture
Danish Mette Lyng Hansen appointed as new Head of Light Bureau
As of 1 January, Mette Lyng Hansen has been appointed as the new Head of Light Buerau, part of AFRY. Currently CEO of Gottlieb Paludan Architects, Hansen will continue to work across both practices.
“I am very pleased to be able to present the important and broadened responsibility for Mette. Her proven skills and competence will ensure the future business of AFRY Architecture & Design, both within Gottlieb Paludan Architects, as well as Light Bureau,” said Helena Paulsson, VP and Head of Business Area Architecture & Design at AFRY.
Light Bureau, established in the UK more than 25 years ago, is an independent full-service lighting design agency consisting of multi-disciplinary lighting experts. With numerous, global awards and award-winning projects, Light Bureau has received international recognition, with offices in the UK, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
Mette Lyng Hansen added: “To shine the light on society has always been a big part of my life, even privately. Family members have worked professionally in the industry for multiple years, which has provided me with both understanding, insight and dynamics of light. And after many years in the architectural industry, I can vouch for the fact that the design of daylight and architectural lighting plays an integrated role in creating coherent spatial experiences."
www.lightbureau.com
Workplace Design Show Unveils Talks Programme 2024
UK)- Workspace Design Show, taking place 27-28 February 2024, Business Design Centre, London, has announced more than 120 speakers covering four key elements of discourse during its talks programme.
The Workspace Design Talks programme, which will take place in the Design Talks Lounge, designed by global design and architecture firm Gensler, will feature sessions from leading industry professionals over the event’s two days.
Speakers include Helen Berresford, Head of ID:SR, Sheppard Robson; Alan Bainbridge, Director of BBC Workplace; Naomi Sakamoto, Principal, Gensler; Matt Jackson, CEO, BDG architecture + design and Grant Kanik, Partner, Foster + Partners. The latter will be speaking as part of a panel entitled “Insights and perspectives on the convergent future of workplace” which also features panelists Yasmin Al-Ani Spence, Director, WilkinsonEyre and Nicola Gillen, EMEA Lead, Total Workplace, Cushman and Wakefield, chaired by workplace design journalist and author Helen Parton.
During the talks programme, arc editor Matt Waring will moderate a panel titled “The new aesthetic of repair and re-use: Why we need a mindset shift”, with lighting experts Ruth Kelly Waskett (Hoare Lea), Kristina Allison (AtkinsRealis UK), Dan Lister (Arup), and Simon Fisher (F Mark).
Returning for both days of the show is the FIS Conference, an in-person gathering for the non-profit representative body of the finishes and interiors sector in the UK. Sessions will provide a platform for the latest industry thinking, supporting the organisation’s aims of improving safety, minimising risk, enhancing productivity, and driving innovation in the sector. The conference will include professional insight from the likes of Chris Webb, Head of Sustainability, tp bennett; Helen Gawor, Group Director of Strategy & Innovation, ISG; Vidhi Sharma, Creative Director, Modus Workspace and Ana Rita Martins, Sustainability Lead, MCM.
Sustainability Works returns for 2024 and is held on 27 February, bringing together a selection of key figures behind the workplace market’s leading sustainable initiatives and projects. Curated by Mick Jordan, Editor of Works magazine confirmed speakers include Golnaz Ighany, Sustainability Director, BDP; Gurvinder Khurana, Director, M Moser; Pernille Bonser, CEO, Resonate Interiors and Mario Viera, Head of Sustainability, Scott Brownrigg.
The Occupiers Forum, held on 28 February, is the complete “The View from HQ”. Located in the Insights Lounge, it will provide unique insights into what employers are doing to create an engaging workplace experience. The Forum’s speakers include Steve Wright, Director of Workplace Design & Change Management, GSK; Sarah Murdoch, Corporate Real Estate Director, Visa; Sue Glew, Programme Director, The Better Workplace Programme, BT and Kate Smith, Executive Director, Occupier Consulting UK, CBRE.
Both the Sustainability Works session and the Occupiers Forum will be held in the Insights Lounge, designed by BDP.
Registration information and the full talks programme can be found on the Workspace Design Show website.
Recolight respond to WEEE Consultation
(UK) – On 28 December 2023, the UK government launched the WEEE consultation, where a range of measures were proposed within the joint UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive consultation.
The reform of the WEEE regulations is intended to encourage reuse and collection of waste electricals. And for products that cannot be reused, or remanufactured, proposals are in place to make it easier for consumers to recycle. Recolight has responded to the consultation and is said to be pleased to see that the initial policy proposals cover what had been expected.
There are two separate consultations – proposals for short term regulatory change, and a call for evidence in other areas to aid the development of new policy proposals.
Proposals for short term regulatory change include:
- Free of charge collection of WEEE for consumers.
In essence, providing householders with free of charge collection of both small WEEE, and also of bulky WEEE, financed by the producers of new products. - Enhanced options for consumer takeback via retailers.
This includes strengthened obligations on retailers, in particular free collection of used appliances when delivering new appliances, and simpler in-store take back options for consumers. - Tackling non-compliant product sold via online marketplaces.
The government propose a new class of producer. This would require online marketplaces to take on the financial obligations for collection and treatment of their overseas sellers. This would be consistent with the current packaging reforms. - New category for vapes.
Establishment of a new category for vapes to ensure the cost of collection and treatment of these products is correctly borne by vape producers – and not by other producers. - Setting up a new central WEEE administration body
This would manage several functions currently undertaken by various organisations, together with managing household WEEE collections, to control costs.
The call for evidence invites stakeholders to provide input into future policy development in a range of areas and measures to incentivise better eco-design of new products, requiring producers to finance fly-tipped WEEE, incentivising reuse over recycling, and providing business end users with easier to access WEEE collections.
The consultation will run for 10 weeks, as Recolight will be working closely with scheme members to gather views and to develop a response that seeks to ensure changes will work well.
Nigel Harvey , Recolight Chief Executive, said: “This consultation is long overdue, but it is pleasing that it has prioritised some ‘quick wins’ for early implementation. For the lighting industry, the most important is no doubt action to end the scourge of WEEE non-compliance through online marketplaces. Research has shown that the overwhelming majority of smaller electrical products, such as light bulbs, offered for sale through online marketplaces do not comply with the WEEE regulations. The proposed changes will require marketplaces to finance the WEEE obligations of products from outside the UK sold via their platform. For the lighting industry, this cannot happen soon enough.”
www.recolight.com
IALD Awards open for entries
(International) - Preparing for its 41st year, the IALD has opened the entries for the 2024 cycle of its annual IALD Awards.
Since 1983, the IALD International Lighting Design Awards has honoured lighting design that reaches new heights, moves beyond the ordinary, and represents excellence in aesthetic and technical design achievement.
Entries can be submitted for award consideration by any individual lighting designer or lighting design firm, provided they performed the design of the architectural lighting for that project. Eligible projects must be a permanent architectural lighting design solution for which construction was completed after 1 January 2022. Projects that were entered for consideration in the previous year can be resubmitted, so long as they adhere to the date requirements.
A seven-judge international panel spanning across professional disciplines will conduct two rounds of review, awarding points from a design criteria. The projects whose combined scores meet or exceed specific benchmarks can earn IALD Awards of Excellence or IALD Awards of Merit. IALD Special Citation awards may be given for a project that demonstrates a particularly innovative aspect of lighting design.
The IALD Radiance Award, the top honour of the IALD Awards, is presented to the project that yields the highest point score, thereby being considered the finest example of lighting design for the year.
IALD Awards Co-Chair Yah Li Toh, IALD and CLD said: “Given the success of the previous year, this is something to be excited about. Being presented with such a volume of projects that maintain a high level of technical and aesthetic mastery is an indicator of our strength as a profession.
“We’re proud to see the lighting design industry emerge so well from post-pandemic challenges. Around the world, designers and firms have adapted, evolved, and maintained integrity and excellence in their work. Our judges are eager to see and celebrate the results of that effort.”
Standard entries will be accepted from both IALD members and non- members through 26 February 2024, with a late-entry deadline of 17 March 2024.
Complete information on the guidelines for project submissions, required materials, and examples of the judging criteria are found on the official Call for Entries submission platform at www.iald.org
Martin Klaasen Launches Light Talk
(International) - Lighting industry expert, Martin Klaasen, has announced the launch of a new knowledge-sharing platform, Light Talk.
Light Talk is a digital hub of information, guidance, and advice for those engaged in the lighting profession or those looking to start their career in the sector. It has been curated by Klaasen, drawing on his four decades of lighting design experience.
Light Talk caters for a wide audience across different methods of learning by curating a range of media including articles and blog posts, podcasts, and video interviews under one roof. From lighting designers to manufacturers, architects and interior designers, or students of design-led disciplines, Klassen has ensured there is something for all the community.
There is also the option to sign up for Klassen’s masterclass for an annual fee, which offers access to a growing collection of learning modules covering a wide range of topics related to lighting and lighting design. The site also has Martin’s two books, which are available to download.
Martin Klaasen said: “Light Talk is an exciting venture for me as it allows me to share the knowledge I have built up over 40 years with those in the industry who can benefit from it. The lighting sector is known for being collaborative and welcoming, and I want to give back to the industry that has offered me so much. I hope my insights help those already working in the industry, as well as those just starting on their journey or even looking for a career change.”
Urban Glow: Night Walks in Barcelona
(Spain) - SCEWC (Smart City Expo World Congress) and CICAT (regional Catalan lighting Cluster) hosted a Barcelona NightSeeing night walk, aiming to raise awareness of light and shadow in night time environments in cities for government and lighting decision-makers from Europe and America.
The night walk in Barcelona, Urban Glow, encouraged attendees to discover the nocturnal landscape of Barcelona's Sant Antoni neighbourhood. The event's walking route underscored the values of after-sunset experiences of visual quality by experiencing the streets, street corners, an evening market, neon signs, and eccentric streetlights.
The objective was for leaders in the lighting industry and governmental civil servants to return to their cities, companies, or organisations to influence and advocate for liveable and safe night time environments for businesses, late shift workers, night clubbers and those traversing the nocturnal streets and pavements.
The tour was conducted by New York-based urban lighting designer Leni Schwendinger, supported by the local context knowledge of Alberto Barberá, lighting designer of Anoche Iluminació. Schwendinger, known for her work in urban lighting, public art, and urban infrastructure, created NightSeeing, in which, through city tours, she shares her deep knowledge of light and dark in everyday life.
During the programme attendees learned how implementing a thoughtful urban lighting design helps prevent traffic accidents by improving visibility, while also increasing citizens' sense of safety. Creative and functional illumination in public space, such as the pavement and plazas, encourages after-dark space usage and facilitates orientation through illuminated accents, such as façades, monuments, and brightened street crossings. A well-lit environment can encourage economic activity through late open-hours and for the adoption of sustainability to ensure longevity.
During the walk attendees evaluated the lighting successes, missteps, and oversights in the city's nightscape. The journey was analysed and studied beforehand to elicit participant opinions on aspects of urban lighting – controversial, neglectful, or well designed. The route covered several streets of Eixample and culminated in the renovated Sant Antoni’s Mercat, which features a tactical urbanism approach.
As a result, quality urban lighting design emerged as essential to ensure the safety and welfare of the population. This also pinpointed was the need to consider the natural darkness dusk through dawn including the circadian cycles of biodiversity.
The CICAT Lighting Cluster promotes this type of initiatives with the aim of promoting an innovative, efficient, and healthy Light Culture. To learn more about their objectives through their website: www.clusteriluminacion.org
Krypton Red
The Krypton is the perfect lighting solution for large and high venues, controllable via DMX.A fixture is completely silent in use, as it uses no fans and is available with a single colour, AWB, Tunable White, RGB-W, and RGB-A LED modules. Due to its modular design, the applications are numerous. This is the ideal product for Concert halls, theatres, event centres, houses of worship, and other spaces where one wants to have high-quality white light with the possibility of creating different moods by programming colours.
Designed and made in the Netherlands.
All about the journey: Silhouette Awards Fay Greenhalgh and Annabelle Hill
Ahead of the deadline for applications for “Season Three” of the Silhouette Awards, Mentor and Mentee Fay Greenhalgh and Annabelle Hill, who were paired for the 2023 programme, reflect on their experience together.
As the six-month mentorship programme for the second annual Silhouette Awards draws to a close, aspiring mentees for season three are encouraged to submit their applications to meet the December deadline for this fantastic mentoring opportunity.
Launched in 2021, the Silhouette Awards programme rewards and nurtures emerging talent within the lighting industry through recognition and mentorship. Through its selection process, the awards programme pairs promising junior designers with senior lighting professionals for a transformative six-month mentorship opportunity.
Established by Parrot PR and Marketing and Archifos, the Silhouette Awards are dedicated to enhancing the skillsets of talented individuals, advancing their career aspirations, and elevating the industry’s creativity. They aim to set new standards for industry leadership while facilitating learning from established figures in the field.
As the six-month mentorship programme for the second edition of the awards concludes, we take a moment to reflect on the journey of one mentor-mentee pairing, Fay Greenhalgh, Design Director, and Annabelle Hill, Lighting Designer.
Fay Greenhalgh
Having built a successful career in the lighting design industry, mentoring young talents has always been a fulfilling pursuit for me. The Silhouette Awards offer a unique platform for guiding emerging lighting designers in discovering their true paths. My mentee, lighting designer Annabelle Hill, possessed undeniable potential, with a diverse background spanning civil engineering, construction, project management, fine art, and lighting art installations. Our journey aimed to unlock her full potential and help her find her true calling.
Our collaboration was marked by shared enthusiasm, candid discussions, and a realisation that Annabelle’s true passion lay in her artistic expressions. We decided to shift our focus toward her artwork and entrepreneurial nature, a journey that showcased adaptability and the beauty of aligning with one’s true calling.
Annabelle has now founded Mindful Designs, unveiling unique surface design patterns inspired by her lighting research, and is crafting lighting art installations as an independent artist. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the courage to make bold decisions.
Annabelle Hill
During my time in the Silhouette Awards programme, I had the privilege of being mentored by Fay Greenhalgh, whose experience and guidance were invaluable as I delved into the creative world of lighting design. While we explored diverse opportunities, my heart led me in a slightly different direction.
My artwork, a facet of my identity I’ve treasured, emerged as a newfound focus. Fay’s steadfast belief in my capabilities gave me the courage to pursue this path. A decision both challenging and rewarding. Throughout this mentorship I was also kindly sponsored by LED Luks to attend and present my lighting research on biophilic lighting projections and brainwaves at the CIE conference in Slovenia. Afterwards, I had the unique opportunity to be a part of the LED Luks 10-year anniversary, where I visited its manufacturing facilities and was also welcomed to present my research.
Under Fay’s mentorship, I learned it’s not just about a profession, but about aligning with one’s passions. Inspired and supported, I’ve now founded Mindful Designs, where I’ll be unveiling unique surface design patterns, inspired by my lighting pattern research, for many applications from lighting projects to interior decor.
Concurrently, I’m crafting lighting art installations, including the Watery Perceptions installation for the Aarhus Festuge, with preparations underway for the Copenhagen Light Festival 2024 as an independent artist, including installations Liminal Spaces and Our Consciousness.
Season Three
Applications for the season three programme closed on 11 December, with winners to be announced soon. The selected 20 mentees will embark on a six-month mentorship journey individually guided by one of the 20 mentors. With the support of the Silhouette Awards’ impressive array of sponsors and supporters, the winners will have the opportunity to enhance their skillset, pursue their career ambitions, and elevate the industry’s creativity.
Entries can be submitted by designers with eight years of experience or under within the lighting industry, who believe their talent should be recognised, and who wish to benefit from a bespoke mentorship programme led by an expert panel of judges. The Mentors comprise of senior influential lighting designers who are on the lookout to nurture young talent and help other like-minded individuals benefit from their own personal experiences.
The process for mentee applications is straightforward:
1. Complete the application form.
2. Upload a 3-minute (max) video recording.
3. Submit a short biography (max 200 words).
4. Upload your professional headshot.
The current mentees are receiving much-deserved recognition and publicity for their achievements to date, adding real value to the creativity of the industry while raising the bar for talent to steer and lead the industry in years to come.
www.silhouetteawards.com
BBC calls on expertise of The LIA for SAD lamp investigation
(UK) - The LIA Laboratory has been showcasing its breadth of expertise as Ayça Donaghy, CEO of the LIA, recently featured on the BBC’s Morning Live to discuss Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
The call to The LIA Laboratory came as the BBC set out to investigate the effectiveness of SAD lamps; a common technology used to counter the effects of the disorder. Known for its technical prowess, The LIA Laboratory was selected to test the products, with Donaghy taking to our screens to present the findings.
With more than two million people in the UK suffering with SAD, it is a vital topic to raise awareness of. SAD is a form of depression that occurs during the winter months when there is less daylight. SAD presents as persistent low mood, oversleeping and overeating, with fatigue affecting sufferers in their day-to-day activities.
Medical professionals recommend a higher dose of vitamin D alongside trying to get more sunlight during the day to treat SAD. Another tool used to treat the condition is SAD lamps. These are designed to deliver a dose of light that can potentially deliver the same levels of light as being in sunlight.
With a plethora of SAD lamps on the market, ranging in price from £10 up to £300, it is difficult for consumers to know where to start. This was the driving factor behind the BBC enlisting The LIA Laboratory’s expertise to test the lamps.
Any lamp can be marketed as a SAD lamp, and there is no requirement for them to be registered as medical devices. The three lamps selected by the BBC team and scrutinised by The LIA Laboratory are not registered, so the testing on these lamps is likely to be limited in its scope. The lamps spanned three price ranges – low, middle, and high.
First, the lamps were tested for their UV output. Donaghy revealed to viewers that all of the products were risk group zero, or exempt, which meant they could not cause any damage to the end-user.
Next, The LIA Laboratory tested colour temperature. Donaghy was able to confirm that all products were in 1% of their claims, meaning they are close to the natural sunlight levels they state they are.
Finally, lux levels were tested. It is recommended that SAD lamps have a brightness level of 10,000lx to mimic outdoor light. All three lamps passed this, however, The LIA Laboratory also tested how far users need to be from the lamp to benefit from the effects and receive the 10,000lx. Donaghy told viewers that it was actually the lowest price point product that performed best when it came to the lux levels. Users could sit as far away as 18cm from the product to get the 10,000lx. From the middle of the range, it was 13cm and the highest price point product, it was 8cm.
Overall, of the three products tested, Donaghy concluded for viewers that it was the lowest price point product that performed best. While the scientific evidence on the effectiveness of SAD lamps on treating the disorder remains limited at present, lots of users report strong success rates. The LIA Laboratory testing does conclude that price isn’t always the best indicator of effectiveness, which will no doubt be a useful message for those currently making a purchase.
Donaghy said: “We are honoured to have been approached by the BBC for testing, a testament to the excellence of our accredited laboratory and the expertise within the LIA Laboratory team. The positive collaboration has sparked a mutual desire to work together again, so watch this space!”
Donaghy advised: “Do your research, have a look at the instruction manual and what it says the correct distance to sit away from the lamp is to achieve the correct levels for the desired effect. If you want the extra reassurance, you can look for the ‘Class 2A Medical Device’ which means it has gone through third-party verification above and beyond what is required.”
Follow the link to watch the Morning live episode with Ayça Donaghy https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001sxwq/morning-live-series-5-29112023#t=09m50s
Ambient Communication: Part two
In the second of a two-part series on the subject, Tapio Rosenius demonstrates how Ambient Communication strategies can lead to a tangible change in human behaviour and architectural interaction.
Ambient Communication is a novel approach to influencing human behavior through light. Our goal is to revolutionize how architectural spaces are strategically optimized to impact human decision-making processes. We aim to demonstrate the influence of connected and real-time lighting as a new tool for lighting designers, bringing added value to building owners, operators, and users.
In the first part of this two-part article, we introduced the concept and its application in lighting design (see arc #136). In this second part, we will describe a new research framework developed specifically to deploy and validate the concept in real-world settings.
For the development of this new research framework, Skandal Technologies, a technology startup, and the developer of the Poet Creator Software, joined forces with The Center for Behavioral Decisions. This established research and consulting firm specialises in the application of behavioral science, combining behavioral insights with strategic lighting innovations.
Introduction
The interplay between human behavior and the surrounding environment has been a focal point for researchers, architects, and designers. At the core of this exploration lies the concept of behavioral interventions – strategies or treatments introduced to groups or individuals to change certain behaviors.
Ambient communication refers to the subtle cues that an environment provides, influencing behavior through gentle nudges rather than direct instructions. Given our continuous interaction with the environment, the potential of ambient communication as an intervention mechanism is immense and untapped.
Within ambient communication, lighting emerges as a significant and potent medium. The omnipresence of lighting in our daily lives underscores its potential as a powerful tool for behavioral influence. Through nuances in intensity, colour, and pattern, lighting can shape decisions, encourage actions, or evoke specific emotions.
By merging insights from behavioral science with the art and science of lighting design, we embark on a journey to redefine spaces and positively influence the choices and behaviors of occupants.
Our Goal
Primary Goal: Utilise lighting as a dynamic tool to encourage healthier decisions, such as staircase use, and enhance workplace productivity.
Secondary Goal: Adapt lighting ambiance to specific tasks, events, and situational needs, fortifying an environment that continuously boosts human performance.
Unique Approach: Employ an adaptive method to fine-tune interventions, setting a novel standard in integrating behavioral insights with ambient cues.
Introducing JITAABI
The adaptive approach, exemplified by Just-In-Time Adaptive Ambient Behavioural Interventions (JITAABI), marks a groundbreaking shift in behavioral interventions. JITAABI is a nuanced adaptation of the Just-In-Time Adaptive Intervention, tailored specifically for ambient communication through lighting.
Significance and Benefits Over Traditional Methods:
Traditional behavioral interventions often assume static human behavior, employing a generalised strategy. In contrast, the adaptive method, particularly JITAABI, recognises and adapts to the dynamic nature of human behavior. JITAABI undergoes numerous trials, utilising momentary passive-assessed data from embedded sensors to determine the most opportune intervention – both in terms of timing and type. This process ensures greater efficacy and minimises counterproductive actions.
Ability to Identify the Best Intervention:
JITAABI integrates several components like tailoring variables, decision points, and a range of intervention options. Through continuous evaluation and real-time feedback from embedded sensors, JITAABI refines its strategies, swiftly identifying and implementing the best interventions. This iterative process, backed by real-time sensor data and realised by the Poet Creator real-time content and control system crafts environments that adaptively and positively influence individual behaviors, seamlessly marrying ambient communication through lighting with behavioral science insights.
In essence, the adaptive approach of JITAABI offers a pioneering roadmap for the future, delivering precise, effective, and timely interventions. Through this innovative methodology, it heralds a transformative era in environmental design, seamlessly integrating behavioral science.
Early Findings
A dynamic pixel-controlled luminaire was suspended in an existing spiral staircase for an office building refurbishment project in Zurich, Switzerland. The lighting, controlled by the Poet system and treated as an ambient communication intervention, was tested using the JITAABI research framework to explore its influence on building users’ choice architecture and stair usage.
Specialized 3D AI sensors were installed at each floor level to record stair use, with separate data collected for each flight of steps in both up and down directions. The data was fed live to the control system that in turn generated real-time visual content controlling the fixture. A six-month control period with the luminaire in a static white setting provided a baseline of stair usage.
Observed Benefits
For a controlled period of six weeks, the lighting setting was changed to generative upwards light movement, resulting in a 6% increase in stair usage. A second 12-week period with interactive lighting behaviors, where white light patterns responded to people on the stairs, led to an additional 8% increase compared to the baseline.
Dynamic & Interactive lighting increased stair usage by: 14%
From research literature, we know that:
• A single step up burns approximately 0.17 calories.
•A single step up extends life by approximately four seconds.
We can also observe that each time the stair is used, an elevator trip is saved.
During the six-month period of dynamic and interactive lighting control with real-time data collection, we deduced:
• 78,342 extra calories burned by building occupants
• 21 days of life extended
• 11,549 elevator trips saved
Conclusion
This pioneering study underscores the transformative power of combining behavioral science with strategic lighting design. The innovative JITAABI mechanism highlights the immense potential of adaptive ambient communication through lighting to influence human behavior in real-time. The future beckons a new era where the subtle cues from our surroundings play a pivotal role in shaping our decisions and actions. This adaptive approach positions lighting not just as a medium of illumination but as a dynamic tool for efficient behavioral intervention and enhanced environmental design.
www.poet.software
www.becisions.com