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In a world that increasingly revolves around indoor activities and screens, we often neglect one of nature's most crucial gifts - daylight. We don’t neglect it when it comes to our plants but why can’t we see all the health benefits daylight gives ourselves? Both for our mental and physical well-being, good light (daylight or light that mimics daylight) has a lot of benefits. Not only does daylight help regulate our circadian rhythm and boost our mood, but it also plays a critical role in maintaining our overall health. We need the right light at the right time, and our new guide explains this in detail. What kind of outdoor and indoor light exposure you should have per moment of the day. Three simple and effective steps to live happier and healthier. The 20-20-2 rule, a rule for a healthy lifestyle when you work indoors and with screens. More info in our guide, download the full guide now on our download page

This week, we had our 15th group meeting online. During the meeting, we had the pleasure of hearing Sarah Morgan and JoAnn McKeown of Nano-Lit about the return on investment of good Light and Oliver Stefani about the Daylight Academy. The first presentation was held by Sarah Morgan, CEO and founder of Nano-Lit Technologies, a company that specializes in manufacturing circadian rhythm lighting systems. What sets them apart is their use of quantum dots, making them the pioneers in this technology. During her talk, Sarah addressed the barriers they encountered in the lighting. The industry, driven by an engineering approach, often fails to explain to customers why they should invest more in a healthy light instead of purchasing a regular LED solution for lower costs. Sarah presented several numbers showcasing the return on investment (ROI) in terms of energy savings and reduced healthcare costs. After the presentation there was an interesting discussion, so don’t hesitate to watch it! The second presentation was held by Oliver Stefani about the Daylight Academy, an international membership organisation connecting scientists, architects and other professionals with a strong interest in daylight related topics. He showed their current projects: The role of daylight for humans Can daylight protect children from myopia A room with a view (importance of the view out and its quality) Daylight metrics, measurements and data But overall he talked about how daylight affects us. Watch the presentation here

By Virginie Gabel Two weeks ago, a congress, organized by the DLA - Daylight Academy, took place at the “École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne – EPFFL”! Expert panels were set up to deepen our understanding of the effects of light on the human body. Light, as a natural resource, plays a vital role in our physical and mental well-being. We were invited to the congress where we actively participated by organizing a booth and a workshop. Our main goal was to raise awareness about our concrete actions already done by the group and strengthen our communication in the field. Through our booth, we presented in-depth information about the different type of light and their impact on our circadian rhythm, sleep, mood, and productivity. We also highlighted the advantages of regular exposure to natural light and different methods to incorporate it into our modern lives often dominated by artificial light. Participants received infographics about how to use and try good light and we could also share our brand-new version of the Good Light Guide! The workshop we conducted allowed participants first to learn more about all the actions undertaken by the Group and second to share their experiences of good light. In a second phase, we organized a brainstorming session about how to improve our communication to reach a maximum of people and provide them with practical guidance on optimizing their lighting environment. We received a lot of nice suggestions and insights for new projects that we will seriously consider. “Light is a powerful tool for improving our health and well-being, and we are proud to be part of this mission.”

Twilight indoors We spend more than 90% of our time indoors and shielded from daylight. Indoors the light level is the same as the light outdoors at sunrise or sunset. Light from outside is not able to reach into our buildings. Therefore indoors we live in twilight the whole day. For our daylight detector this twilight during the day is too dark and in the evening too bright. As a result, when we need energy we lack it… and when we want to sleep, sleep won’t come or is not deep enough. Not getting enough daylight during the day can even contribute to insomnia and depression. Fact: Indoor light levels are similar to twilight and are not good enough for our health. If you want to bring good light in your life, watch also the other steps to a healthier and happier life here: Try | Home | Good Light Group | Foundation Light supports us in everything we do. Good light means the right light at the right time. It has a great positive impact on our experience of energy, sleep, happiness and health.

Good light (daylight) is essential in our daily lives. It not only illuminates our environment but it also plays a crucial role in our overall health and well-being. Exposure to good light has a positive impact on various aspects of our physical and mental health. But in situations where direct daylight is limited, such as indoors, make sure you are within a meter of a window or use artificial light that mimics daylight as much as possible! Video: BakkerElkhuizen Increased productivity Studies have shown that daylight can improves your productivity and performance. It improves your focus, productivity and leads to a better concentration. If daylight is limited in your workspace, using lights that mimic day light can help create a healthier environment to increase productivity. Better mood Exposure to good light has a direct impact on our mood and mental well-being. It Regulates our biological clock, an internal clock that drives processes in your body, such as when we need to sleep or be energetic. When this clock is regulated, it also has a positive effect on our mood. Sleep regulation Good light exposure also plays a vital role in regulating our circadian rhythm, the internal clock (i.e. our biological clock) that controls our sleep-wake cycle. Daylight exposure during the day helps to align your body's internal clock to real time, so that we are alert and focused during the day and sound asleep at night. Sitting within one meter of a window or using artificial light that mimics daylight can help regulate your sleep patterns, especially if you spend most of the day indoors. Healthier eyes Taking in sufficient good light helps maintain good eye health. Good light offers a more balanced spectrum, which is good for the eyes compared to regular artificial light. It also reduces the risk of myopia (nearsightedness). For more information go to: goodlightgroup.org/try

We are excited to share the release of the updated Good Light Guide, a comprehensive resource that delves into on the science of lighting to help you understand what conditions good light should meet. At the Good Light Group, we are passionate about making people aware that they need good light. Daylight, but if this is not possible, people need good artificial light indoors that imitates the sun as much as possible. We updated some of the numbers according to new research. Now we added the minimal recommended light levels. Our guide is regularly updated to align with the latest research, ensuring that you always have an up-to-date guide for developing your lighting solutions. Click here for the short version of the Good Light Guide Or here to download the Good Light Guide

Twilight indoors causes sleep and mood problems. Because we are in twilight the whole day, our biological clock starts running behind the real time. As a result, when we need energy we lack it… and when we want to sleep, sleep won’t come or is not deep enough. Not getting enough daylight during the day can even contribute to insomnia and depression. Because staying in poorly lit environments, when you need the power and spectrum of daylight, prevents your brain from getting the right signals at the right time. This is why you feel sleepy during the day and can't sleep at night. If you want to bring good light in your life, watch also the other steps to a healthier and happier life here: Try | Home | Good Light Group | Foundation Light supports us in everything we do. Good light means the right light at the right time. It has a great positive impact on our experience of energy, sleep, happiness and health.

On the 16th of May, our group, together with the Society for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms (SLTBR), the Daylight Academy (DLA), the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), and Luger Research (LR), organised and presented the “deLIGHTed Talks” Mimicking Daylight indoors – Why, What, How? lectures. The videos of these lectures are now online, as well as the panel discussion! "Daylight – See me, feel me, touch me, heal me!" by Yvonne de Kort During the Delighted Talks webinar, Yvonne de Kort, a researcher and expert in environmental psychology of human-technology interaction, delivered a presentation on the scientific evidence for the importance of daylight and sunlight indoors for human health and wellbeing, and the different mechanisms through which these effects (may) emerge. watch the lecture here "Daylight in buildings – How much we need and get" by Joannes Zauner During the webinar Joannes Zauner presented real-world projects that successfully optimized daylight levels during the design phase and integrated artificial lighting to boost light levels during winter. Watch the lecture here Panel discussion and the Q&A. Watch it here

Science advisors and board members of the Good Light Group have written a position paper on the effects of good light and plea for including good light in norms and regulations. The summary of this paper is: Good indoor lighting is essential for enhancing healthy body rhythms, sleep quality, alertness, mood and productivity in the workplace. However, current indoor lighting practices and recommendations prioritise vision over health, leading to disruptions in our biological clock and alertness. Limited exposure to natural daylight also contributes to this problem. Scientific recommendations for people with regular daytime schedules call for higher light levels during the day and lower levels in the evening and night. Adopting these good lighting recommendations in norms and regulations will lead to improved indoor lighting and overall well-being of individuals as well as having a significant socio-economic impact. Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash The article discusses the dark side of indoor lighting and how it’s disturbing the biological clock, with adverse effects on sleep. It also explains how indoor lighting throughout the day, boosts alertness and mood. And concludes that this is a bright idea that benefits individuals and society. You can read the article here

BakkerElkhuizen offers a range of ergonomic office solutions. Based on research and knowledge, the company's products are designed focused on healthy posture and reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries. They realized that lighting plays a major role too in optimizing fitness, health and overall mental wellbeing of computer users. That’s why they wanted to join our Group and their dedication to improving the health and wellbeing of office workers makes them an ideal new participant. BakkerElkhuizen created an innovative bio-dynamic, human centric, lighting fixture. Called EnergyByLight. It provides the right task and ambient light at the right time for the (home) workspace. The automatically changing intensity and colour temperature, similar to the sun, promotes a sense of wellbeing and productivity by supporting your bodies natural circadian daylight rhythm. By nature, our bodies have adapted to the sun, providing us with energy throughout the day and a resting period during the night. The EnergyByLight is no different; it's not an artificial light but a biodynamic, human-centric light that mimics the colour temperature and brightness of natural daylight found at your location throughout the course of a day, regulating your circadian rhythm. More info about BakkerElkhuizen Expert video Mood video

Not only did we celebrate Kingsday last week in the Netherlands, but we also had the privilege of seeing our co-founder and board member, Marijke Gordijn, receive the Knight in the Order of Oranje Nassau award for her volunteer work in table tennis and her significant contributions to various associations focused on sleep, chronobiology, and light treatment, including the Good Light Group. Marijke's dedication to making scientific knowledge more accessible to society is inspiring, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations on this well-deserved honour! 🎖️

The Good Light Group, in collaboration with the Society for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms (SLTBR), the Daylight Academy (DLA), the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), and Luger Research (LR), is set to host the 5th edition of the "deLIGHTed Talks" webinar. "Mimicking Daylight indoors – Why, What, How?", will take place on May 16th from 16:00 - 17:30 CEST and is free to join. Attendees can listen to several talks from lighting experts on the importance of mimicking natural daylight indoors for health and wellbeing, as well as designing spaces with optimal daylight levels. The webinar will take place as part of UNESCO's International Day of Light 2023 event. This edition of deLIGHTed Talks is an interesting opportunity for anyone interested in lighting design, architecture, or health and wellness to learn from experts in the field. More info and register here