Sponsored By: Lumax
With Gayathri Unnikrishnan
8/6/18 – Lighting Episode 37(Full Version) – Gayathri Unnikrishnan 39:54
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is leading the global movement to transform our buildings and communities in ways that help people thrive. As Concept Lead for Light at International WELL Building Institute, Gayathri Unnikrishnan focuses on the importance of natural and electric lighting on the well-being of occupants in the built environment. People are the most important asset for any business, so protect that and make your lighting WELL.
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One Response
Greg Yeutter
This was a great interview, guys—Gayathri did a good job articulating the new WELL features, the limits of current research, and how IWBI is responding.
Even though the research on circadian artificial light is in its infancy, we know that that biologically, humans and other animals recognize blue light as daytime. There are specific cells—ipRGCs—in the eyes that are sensitive to blue light, and these are wired to the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which houses the circadian rhythm.
When ipRGCs are triggered by blue light, the circadian rhythm is entrained (synchronized) to daytime. If it’s nighttime but lighting triggers the ipRGCs, your sleep cycles are impacted, resulting in reductions in productivity, focus, memory consolidation, and cellular repair.
While the exact thresholds are tough to define, the intensity of blue light plays a major role, and household lighting is bright enough to trigger ipRGCs. Thus the current wisdom of eliminating as much blue as possible from nighttime light sources and providing stimulating blue during the day.
The EML function that WELL references, while not perfect, is a practical tool lighting designers can use to promote circadian stimulation during the day and minimize stimulation at night.