It’s Mental Health Awareness Week here in the UK. The theme this year is movement. So what does that have to do with light? An outside view boosts mental health and can even make you more likely to move around – Impact of Windows and Daylight Exposure on Overall Health and Sleep Quality of Office Workers: […]
Mind’s Eye – world mental health week – and an invitation Read More »
Tackling some DIY this weekend? You’re not alone! May is when almost half of all homeowners are motivated to tackle DIY in May. Here are three tips to improve the lighting on a budget – and do your bit for the planet too – May and June are top months for homeowners to take on home
DIY and diversity dividends – and an invitation Read More »
Revision notes All the parents I know are stressing about getting their children through the exam season. While the results are obviously important, making sure they’re healthy and happy is the issue that keeps them up at night. They’re right to worry as the majority of long term mental health conditions begin in early teenage
Count down to exams – and strolling and scrolling – a pain in the neck Read More »
The weakest link? The drive for ‘smart’ buildings automated controls risks leaving the humans who use the buildings in the dark and wasting electricity through inappropriate, inefficient or poorly-calibrated automated systems. Time and again, post-occupancy evaluation across a range of settings suggests that occupants want more, not less control over their environment, with lighting frequently
The weakest link, making sense of the numbers – and overturning Tesla’s legacy Read More »
Recovered from Daylight Savings yet? You can thank the International Meridian Conference held in Washington 140 years ago in 1884 for the introduction of time zones and this government-sponsored global experiment in social jet lag that sparks a passionate debate every year. In this fascinating paper, Professor Timo Partonen reviews the evidence for and against Standard and
Reading between the lines: – and worms seeing in full colour Read More »
You’re probably reading this on a computer, catching up on social media after hours. You’re not alone. Europeans spent two to three hours in front of a screen per day outside of working hours – Time spent watching TV or other media, playing computer games and any similar screen activities (as main or secondary activity). Americans use
For your eyes only Read More »
The science of blushing and seeing (infra-) red… This week was April Fool’s Day, the moment for pranks and practical jokes. Social pressure – good or bad – triggers an involuntary autonomic response – increased core body temperature and heart rate which in turn leads to subtle shifts in blood flow to the face – a
Blushing, infra-red, LEDucation and PoE Read More »
Melatonin Our obsession with sleep driving explosive growth in the melatonin market – $2.5 billion, growing at annual rate 14.5% – Melatonin Supplements Market Size. Our investment in drugs that promise to help us to snooze seems reasonable given cost of poor sleep in financial and economic terms: 10.3% productivity loss, adding up to $136billion estimated
Melanopsin = Melatonin = Sleep Read More »
Light and Building 2024 – worth the trip? The cost of the space, design and build, marketing materials, travel and accommodation plus salaries – let alone the opportunity cost – will blow a hole in even the most lavish marketing budget. According to the Messe Frankfurt site, an all-inclusive package for a 9m2 booth comes
Light&Building Frankfurt Read More »
I’ve spent the past few days researching a talk for LEDucation in New York in March. It’s an incredible line-up – over 400 exhibitors, 49 sessions and loads of great people to meet. I’ll be talking about the need to look beyond the simple Melatonin solution and stand up for integrated approaches to healthy workplaces.