Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Presentation by Scheid Mumtaz
at the event of
The International Association of Color Consultants, N.A.
San Francisco, CA., USA on Friday 20th April 2007
Copyright LifeEnergy! Systems Germany
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
We owe all life on our planet to sunlight
Our health and wellbeing are truly dependent on sunlight
Our ability to see is perfectly attuned to sunlight
This extraordinary light source makes plants grow and
lets the colours of our world shine out
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Conventional indoor light sources produce a yellow tinged light with low colour temperature low colour rendering a spectrum which differs significantly from that of natural sunlight with the result that we do not see the colours around us as nature intended.
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
The start of artificial lighting People have always lived and worked in the great outdoors and were continually exposed to natural sunlight until in 1879 the great American inventor Thomas Alva Edison produced a reliable source of artificial light using electricity.
In December 1879 Edison’s Menlo Park Laboratory in New Jersey, NY, USA was the first building on our planet to have electric lighting.
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Birth of the incandescent light bulb - December 1879
Thomas Alva Edison in his Menlo Park laboratory, New Jersey, NY
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Light: food for our bodies Each of our eyes contains about 137 million photoreceptors. These photoreceptors transform light into electrical impulses that are sent to the brain, travelling to the visual cortex for the construction of images, while others travel to the brain’s hypothalamus and affect our vital functions.
(Excerpt from Light: Medicine Of The Future – Jacob Liberman, O.D., Ph.D.)
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Chart developed by LifeEnergy® Systems – Germany
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Full spectrum daylight improves our visibility and reading comfort Reading under full spectrum light causes less strain to the eyes because it offers high contrast and reflects colours accurately.
1.
Try this test: read this under a full spectrum lamp
2.
Try this test: read this under a full spectrum lamp
3.
Try this test: read this under a full spectrum lamp
4.
Try this test: read this under a full spectrum lamp
5.
Try this test: read this under a full spectrum lamp
6.
Try this test: read this under a full spectrum lamp
7.
Try this test: read this under a full spectrum lamp
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
John Ott and the apple tree In the early 1950s Walt Disney asked the well-known photographer and biologist John Ott to make a time lapse film of apples growing from the bud to the ripe fruit. It was to be used for a film “Secrets of life” released in 1957. For time lapse photography it is important that the object does not move. As it was very windy, John Ott decided to put a glass box around the apples he wanted to photograph. After many weeks at the end of filming John Ott was surprised to discover that all other apples on the tree were looking great, had Yellow/red colour and were juicy. But the apples he filmed in the glass box were small and looked pale and sickly. This was clear evidence about the importance of UV for the growth of plants because the glass filtered out most of the UV from the sunshine. Our modern living today is not very different. We live in homes with glass windows, work in modern offices with glass windows and drive automobiles with glass windows.
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination John Ott and the apple tree
Chart developed by LifeEnergy® Systems – Germany
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Pros and cons of UV light After the invention of the electric incandescent bulb in 1879, people began to withdraw more and more behind their walls and windows and to expose themselves to artificial light which differs significantly from natural sunlight. Looking at our homes, buildings and automobiles today, we discover that our modern life is not so very different from that of John Ott’s apples, with glass separating us from the essential components of natural daylight that are so important for our wellbeing. During my travels to different European and North American countries, I have always found that in southern regions with plenty of sunshine I see more happy people with smiling faces compared to those in the north with less sunshine.
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Pros and cons of UV light In our modern way of life, our skin is no longer used to natural sunshine and there is a high risk of getting sunburn on vacation in a sunny place. In his book “Light: Medicine of the future” Jacob Liberman points out that for millions of years life evolved under the constant influence of sunlight. People have always felt and recognised their connection with sunlight. Its effects were so profoundly obvious to ancient cultures that they revered the sun as a god, blessing it daily for its gifts. According to photo biologist Dr. John Ott, there are strong indications that UV light received through the eyes stimulates the immune system. There is no question that UV light in large amounts is harmful; however, according to Ott, in trace amounts it acts as a highly beneficial “life supporting nutrient”.
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Pros and cons of UV light We should also consider that over the last hundred years we have polluted our atmosphere to such an extent that parts of it are now unable to act as a healthy filter against the harmful short waves that travel down to the surface of our planet. With the development of artificial full spectrum light — which has small traces of UVA and a spectrum, colour temperature and colour rendering close to that of sunlight — we are able to enjoy indoor lighting that is beneficial to our wellbeing.
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder Dr. Norman Rosenthal identified the symptoms of SAD in 1981: Drastic mood fluctuations Increased need for sleep Low energy level Excessive eating Increase in weight
(Excerpt from “Winter Blues” – Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D.)
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Estimated SAD and subsyndromal SAD at different latitudes Latitude
SAD
Sub-SAD
45°-50° Washington, Montana, N. Dakota, Minnesota, N. Michigan, Maine, S. Quebec, S. Ontario, Manitoba,
Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC
10.2 %
20.2 %
8%
17.1 %
40°-45° Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, S. Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, N. Indiana, Ohio, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Estimated SAD and subsyndromal SAD at different Latitudes
Latitude
SAD
Sub- SAD
35°-40°
N. California, Nevada, Utah, Kansas Colorado, Oklahoma, S. Illinois Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, W. Virginia, Maryland, N. Carolina Washington D.C., Delaware,
5.8 %
13.9 %
30°-35°
S. California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, S. Carolina
3.6 %
10.6 %
It is estimated that nearly 25 million people in the United States alone
suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder
Analysis of sunlight wavelengths measured in nanometres
Chart developed by LifeEnergy® Systems – Germany
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Analysis of sunlight wavelengths measured in nanometres
The UV component is
approximately:
UVA – 5.4%
UVB – 1.2%
UVC – 0.4%
The light intensity of sunshine
in summer months can be
around 100,000 Lux
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Wavelength of sunshine in nanometres Sunlight is composed of a variety of energies that are transmitted to our planet in the form of electromagnetic waves. Only a small part of these waves actually reaches the earth’s surface, including UV ( the colours of the rainbow from violet to red) and infrared. UVC UVB UVA Violet Blue
100 – 290 Nm 290 – 320 Nm 320 – 380 Nm 380 – 440 Nm 440 – 495 Nm
Green Yellow Orange Red Short infrared
495 – 570 Nm 570 – 595 Nm 595 – 625 Nm 625 – 700 Nm 700 – 4000 Nm
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Colour Rendering Index (CRI) CRI is the measure of the ability of a light source to reproduce the colours of objects being lit by the source.
The best possible rendition of colours is specified by a CRI of 100.
The higher the CRI, the more natural the colours of objects appear.
CRI is especially important when evaluating fluorescent light
sources because they have a wide range of CRI.
For example, triphosphor fluorescent lamps have a CRI of around 85.
Some full spectrum fluorescent lamps have a CRI of 96 or more.
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Colour temperature This refers to the colour variation of the light. The colour temperature of a lamp creates the mood of the space around it and can influence the way we see the colours of various objects and our work performance. The colour temperature of a light source is measured in degrees Kelvin. A low colour temperature corresponds to a “warm” or reddish yellow appearance like incandescent lamps at 2800° Kelvin
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Colour temperature
Candle light Incandescent light bulb Standard fluorescent lamps Cool white fluorescent lamps Noon daylight Full spectrum fluorescent lamps Blue sky
1850 K 2800 K 2700 – 3500 K 3800 – 4100 K 5500 - 5800 K 5500 - 5800 K 10000 -12000 K
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Spectrum of a cool white fluorescent lamp
Under natural daylight we see colours as nature intended. In our homes and offices we mostly use incandescent light bulbs or fluorescent lights with low colour temperature and low CRI. The spectrum of these lights is significantly different from that of natural sunshine. All colours under such a light will look yellowish or reddish.
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
How can we overcome this problem ?
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Spectrum, colour temperature and colour rendering index of a full spectrum LifeLite lamp is close to that of natural sunlight
The UV component is
approximately:
UVA – 4%
UVB – 0.2%
UVC – none
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Full spectrum lighting
Artificial full spectrum lighting is available in a vast range of wattages as compact fluorescent light bulbs as well as fluorescent tubes.
People often ask me:
Who makes the best full spectrum lighting?
My answer is as follows:
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Analysis of sunlight wavelengths measured in nanometres
The UV component is
approximately:
UVA – 5.4%
UVB – 1.2%
UVC – 0.4%
Any light source having a spectrum, colour temperature and colour rendering close to this is a good light source
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Alternate current
With 60 Hz we have 120 times on/off per second.
Compact fluorescent energy saving lamps and fluorescent tubes
operate with electronic ballast at 20,000 – 40,000 Hz.
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
The ecological factor Incandescent light bulbs produce about 15 lumens of light per watt.
About 95% of the power consumed by incandescent bulbs is emitted as heat:
this also forces us to use more air conditioning in summer.
The lighting efficiency of incandescent light bulbs is only about 5%.
Quality halogen incandescent lamps are close to 9% efficiency.
A 23W full spectrum energy saving lamp produces the same amount of light
as a 100 W incandescent lamp. That is a saving of about 80% in the cost of
energy.
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
The ecological factor Australia has decided to phase out the use of incandescent light bulbs by the year 2010, becoming the first country in the world to ban them.
It is estimated that the move will reduce carbon emissions by 800,000 tonnes a year by 2012.
According to media reports, many other countries in the world including some states in the USA are considering to take similar actions.
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
The cost factor A kilowatt hour is the unit of energy in which electricity is purchased
The cost of electricity in Germany is around $0.16 Euro per kilowatt hour.
60W Incandescent bulb 60W x 1000 h x €0.16 : 1000W/h = €9.60 15W full spectrum or standard energy saving lamp 15W x 1000h x €0.16 : 1000W/h = €2.40 Full spectrum or standard energy saving lamps last about 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs.
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
Full spectrum light treatment with a LifeLite table lamp
to overcome symptoms from lack of daylight. Also used as desk lamp.
School room in Vienna, Austria lighted with LifeLite Lamps
A flower shop lit by full spectrum LifeLite tubes
A bathroom lit by full spectrum LifeLite bulbs
Full spectrum LifeLite fluorescent tubes
Full spectrum LifeLite energy saving lamps
15W - 20W - 23W (E26 or E27 screw fitting or B22 bayonet fitting)
The light output equals that of a 60W - 75W - 100W incandescent lamp
LifeLite Full Spectrum Energy Saving Lamps
32 und 40 Watt with Screw fitting E27
The Light output equals that of a 130 und 160 Watt incandescent Lamp
32 Watt
40 Watt
LifeLite Full Spectrum Energy Saving Lamps
11W Spiral and 11W Candle screw fitting E14
The Light output equals that of a 40 Watt incandescent Lamp
32 Watt
40 Watt
LifeLite Full Spectrum Energy Saving Lamp with Ioniser Available in 23 W – 26 W – 32 W The Light output equals that of a 100 W – 120 W – 130 W incandescent Lamp
Shedding Light on Indoor Illumination
LifeLite Full Spectrum Energy Saving Lamp with Ioniser Besides the Full Spectrum Light, the Lamps produces negative ions.
In nature, negative ions are produced by storms, waterfalls, by the sea,
vegetation (woodland), in mountain areas, following a shower of rain etc.
Among other things, they purify Earth‘s atmosphere.
Negative ions neutralise dust particles, odours and tobacco smoke and help
create a cleaner air in the room.
For details visit: www.lifelite.de