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Our increasing recognition of the effects of light on circadian clocks and rhythms is fueling exciting applications in agriculture, wildlife conservation, architecture and lighting design, and human lifestyles and treatments for disease. And yet, newcomers to the field may not be familiar with its basic concepts, technical language, and data visualization. To fill this gap, a freely-available online book has just been published by chronobiologists and Good Light Group Science advisors Roelof A. Hut and William J. Schwartz. This online book is intended to provide a “road map,” a first and engaging step towards understanding the essential principles and practice of circadian biology. Three expanded chapters, along with 20 original figures, build on one another, and supplementary (bonus) material is included to support the main text without interrupting its flow. All in all, Hut & Schwartz is an attractive, accessible launching pad for those wishing to acquire a basic and practical knowledge of the field and its expanding literature.

Lighting is often treated like background scenery. Yet it quietly shapes energy use, cognitive performance, sleep quality, and even the credibility of companie’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting. Human-centric lighting (HCL) turns illumination from a utility into a strategic lever, supporting people and the planet. What is Human-Centric Lighting? Human-centric lighting is an architectural lighting approach that aligns artificial light with human biology, especially to our synchronise our circadian rhythm with the time of the day, rather than focusing only on visual acuity.   Core principles Circadian support: compensates the lack of daylight by adjusting intensity and color temperature to cue alertness by day and relaxation toward evening. Melanopic metrics: Design to sufficient melanopic EDI (Equivalent Daylight Illuminance) to reinforce healthy sleep–wake cycles. Dynamic tunability: Shift from cooler, brighter light in the morning to warmer, dimmer light later in the day. Visual comfort: Reduce glare, harsh contrast, and flicker to cut eye strain and boost focus. User adaptability: Provide task- and age-appropriate control so people can tune light to their needs.   Why HCL Matters for ESG Enivornment: By centering lighting design around people, this approach not only improves individual performance and wellness, but also lays a strong foundation for organizations pursuing sustainable and socially responsible environments. Social: light that supports our circadian rhythms improves alertness, mood, sleep quality, and visual comfort—factors linked to engagement, productivity, and attendance. Governance: investing in human centric lighting demonstrates a transparent and forward-thinking approach to workplace design. Lighting strategies aligned with WELL or LEED certification reflect a commitment to evidence-based health standards. Read the full blog of UPRtek here and discover, among other things, where HCL delivers the greatest benefits.

The third issue of Ciluz magazine is out! Ciluz is a pioneering centre in Chile for research into light and energy, working to make both fields accessible to everyone. The team is deeply committed to raising awareness of the importance of light and energy for the healthy development of people and biodiversity in today’s world. Light is ever-present. It regulates the biological cycles of all living things and is essential to everything we do, at home and at work. When well-designed and properly applied, lighting supports health and wellbeing, boosts performance and uplifts mood. This third issue showcases initiatives that put light at the centre—from health and science to public engagement, art, and sustainability—each guided by a clear mission and objectives. We’re delighted to be featured too: our founder, Jan Denneman, introduces our group and explains how his passion for light led him to launch an outreach project that now reaches a wide international audience, also on social media.   Download magazine

What if lighting were no longer seen merely as an energy issue, but as a key to health, productivity, and well-being? Photo by Copernico P on Unsplash In the recent commentary of Jan Denneman in LED professional Review  (LpR), he explains how the 3-30-300 rule  shows that even a small improvement in human performance and well-being yields far more value than major savings on energy or real estate. Yet the lighting industry still focuses mainly on the €3 for energy, while the largest category, €300 for people, often remains overlooked. The right light, at the right time, can synchronize our biological clock, improve sleep quality, increase energy and concentration, and reduce stress. That’s not only beneficial for people, but also for organizations and society at large.   Read the full commentary in LpR on page 8 here: LEDpro     GoogleDrive      ISSUU

In this episode we’re talking about sleep and light: how daylight sets your body clock, helps you drift off at night, and also why that matters for your skin. Good sleep supports healthier-looking skin, but to sleep well you need enough bright light during the day, especially in the morning, to tell your brain it’s daytime and dim light in the evening so your body can prepare for sleep. Ageing changes this a bit. As we get older, the eye’s lens becomes denser and slightly yellower, so less light reaches the retina. That means we often need more, or brighter, light to keep the body clock synchronised with the time of day. Sit back, listen, learn and enjoy this episode! Listen on spotify

Just checking that one last thing or just one more scroll and suddenly it’s 00.00, your thumb hurts, your eyeballs are twitching, you feel kind of sleepy but you’re just stuck in the scroll. Here’s the thing: You’re not weak-willed. Social media is designed to hijack your attention and  your emotions. Social media works to make you addicted to scrolling. Photo by Kinga Howard on Unsplash But what happens when we actually walk away? Researchers from Stanford and NYU decided to find out. They asked over 35.000 people to deactivate Facebook or Instagram for six weeks , no other interventions, no meditation videos, no 10-step morning routines. Just log off and live life. And here’s what they found: ·       People felt noticeably happier ·       They were less anxious ·       Their depression scores dropped ·       Overall emotional health improved, even just a little So what does this mean for you? If you’ve been feeling more frazzled than fulfilled after scrolling, If you’ve noticed your sleep feels lighter, your mood a little flatter, your evenings more chaotic. It might be less about what’s missing in your routine, and more about what’s still overstimulating your brain before bed. Try this (mini but mighty) experiment: Take two hours before bed and go screen-free, no social, no emails, no doomscrolling. Instead? Try: ·       A bath ·       Reading ·       Watc a relaxing television program (????) ·       Stretchinging or a little yin yoga ·       A brain dump into your journal or drawing ·       Or absolutely nothing  at all You might feel your body unwind faster.You might sleep deeper.You might even wake up happier. No hacks. Just less noise. Your brain (and your bedtime) will thank you!   Source: Stanford University Mollie Eastman

Millions of adults lie awake night after night, and it's not just their health that suffers. Insomnia is now costing the economy billions each year, according to a new study by SEO Economic Research, based on GP diagnoses and data from Statistics Netherlands. Around 1.4 million adults in the Netherlands regularly struggle to get a good night’s sleep. For many, this leads to long-term exhaustion, poor mental wellbeing, and eventually, declining performance at work. Increased screen time, especially in the evenings, is fuelling the rise in sleep deprivation. Another factor is spending too much time indoors, where the level of natural light during daytime is far lower than outside and in the evenings often too bright. Our bodies rely on daylight to keep our internal clocks in sync with the time of day. Without enough exposure to daylight, the brain may struggle to send the right signals for when to feel tired and prepare the body for sleep. Photo by Tim Durgan  on Unsplash   The latest research goes a step further by calculating how insomnia affects earnings, and the findings are striking. Workers suffering from insomnia earn, on average, €800 less each year due to reduced performance or frequent absences. With 1.4 million people affected, this adds up to a staggering €1.1 billion in lost productivity. And it doesn’t stop there. When someone with chronic insomnia ends up on welfare, the economic loss jumps to €45,000 per person each year. Currently, 36,000 people with insomnia receive benefits, resulting in an additional €1.6 billion in lost productivity. Altogether, the total cost to the Dutch 1economy amounts to €2.7 billion annually, and that figure is likely a conservative estimate.   Sleeplessness is more than a personal struggle, it’s an economic issue. Tackling it effectively and educating people on what they can do to improve their sleep could not only help millions feel and function better, but also bring billions back into the economy.   Source: https://nos.nl/artikel/2573289

Proper lighting is not only a necessity, it is one of the most fundamental elements of comfortable living spaces. Tuled Elektronik, wholeheartedly believes in the potential of Good Light Group's "Good Light" philosophy to transform the quality of life, and fully supports this philosophy with their "Human-Nature-Budget friendly'', LED lighting solutions.   We are proud to welcome Tuled Elektronik San. Tic. A.Ş. as the very first representative of our group in Türkiye. We are confident that they will construct a new era in the lighting industry by combining Tuled's innovative and environmentally friendly products with our expertise in raising lighting awareness. Welcome Tuled Elektronik San. Tic. A.Ş. More info

We all know that daylight is good for us. It boosts our mood, helps regulate our sleep-wake cycle, and provides UVB radiation to support vitamin D production. But many people wonder: If I wear sunglasses and a cap outdoors, am I blocking too much light to still get the benefits of daylight? The short answer: no, you’re still getting plenty of healthy light, even with sunglasses and a cap. Photo by Zaur Takhgiriev Sunglasses and caps: smart protection, not light blockers When you're outside — even on a cloudy day — light levels are far higher than indoors. Outdoor light typically ranges from 5,000 to 10,000 lux , while indoor light rarely exceeds 500 lux . Wearing sunglasses filters about 80% of that outdoor light, but your eyes will still receive 1,000 to 2,000 lux  — more than enough to positively influence your circadian rhythm. A cap or hat might reduce this by another 50%, but even then, you’ll still be exposed to sufficient ambient daylight. So don't worry: sunglasses and caps don’t cancel out the benefits of daylight. Instead, they protect  you — against harmful UV rays, glare, and eyestrain, especially during midday sun. Think of them as filters, not barriers. You're still getting enough light to: Boost your energy and mood Support your day-night rhythm Promote overall health Just remember to protect your skin too — sunscreen or clothing can help prevent sunburn. Don’t wear sunglasses indoors Wearing sunglasses inside? That’s not a good idea. Indoor lighting is already dim, and sunglasses make it even harder for your body to detect the time of day. That can disrupt your biological clock, mood, and sleep quality. Wearing a cap indoors is more of a style choice — it doesn’t affect your light exposure as much. But still, whenever you're indoors, try to sit near a window and keep your eyes open to daylight, because indoor light is much weaker and your body needs every bit of it.   Final tip: go outside — every day Try to spend at least two hours outdoors daily, especially in the morning. That’s when your internal clock is most responsive to light. And yes — go out with or without your favorite sunglasses or cap. Soak in the daylight. Your eyes — and your brain — will thank you.

In this very first episode of the Happier with Light  podcast, Lard invites chronobiologist Marijke Gordijn to talk about light and sleep. Some say sleep is overrated and even go so far as to say, "I'll sleep when I'm dead."  Others argue that sleep is non-negotiable, that we need it as much as air and water. But how does it really work? Why do we need sleep so badly? And what is the connection with light? Marijke explains it all. Listen, learn, and enjoy. Listen to the podcast on: Spotify YouTube

Our podcast is out! In this season, you can listen to Lard and several scientists discuss how light affects various aspects of our lives, such as sleep and ageing. They also explain what kind of light you need daily to improve your happiness, sleep, energy, and overall health, and how to measure light to ensure you enjoy the full benefits of good light. Listen to the podcast on: Spotify YouTube

We’re taking another deep dive into the world of sleep. One of the key ingredients for a happy life — even for happiness itself — is good-quality sleep. But why is it so normalised, even seen as macho, to claim you don’t need much sleep? Or to say that sleep is completely overrated? Yet can’t a lack of sleep — or poor, non-restorative sleep — actually be harmful, even deadly? And what is a good night’s sleep, anyway? This will all be explained by neurologist and sleep expert Dr Inge Declercq. isten to the podcast on: Spotify YouTube