Client: Na Pražačce Grammar School
Field of activity: education
Description of the assignment:
Conventional fluorescent or standard LED luminaires in classrooms commonly emit light whose spectral power distribution shows significant dips compared to natural sunlight. First of all, they only emit a narrow energy within the blue region and exhibit a dip in the key cyan circadian region and the red region during the day. The lack of cyan energy in the spectrum of electric lighting during the day has, among other things, a negative effect on cognition and functions that are essential for learning. In addition to deficiencies in spectral composition, conventional lighting in schools does not achieve the necessary intensity, colour rendering index (CRI) and correlated colour temperature (CCT) of the emitted light.
The aim of the application was to…
- …replace the lighting in the classrooms and evaluate its effectiveness compared to the conventional lighting at another control high school;
- …apply lighting that will be beneficial for learning, physical and mental health and maximum comfort for students and teachers. At the same time, it will be gentle and beneficial for their eyesight;
- …test the effects of full-spectrum lighting on alertness, concentration, attention and memory. Also assess the impact on academic performance and absenteeism in the first morning classes. Finally, the lighting was subjectively evaluated.
Description of the solution, technology used:
- Spectrasol IBP 600×600 mm procognitive luminaire, embedded in raster soffits, installed throughout the school in 2 phases in classrooms, workshops, teachers’ offices and the teachers’ lounge.
Main results:
The University Centre for Energy Efficient Buildings of the Czech Technical University in Prague (UCEEB CTU) in cooperation with the Department of Education of the Prague City Hall conducted a pilot installation of Spectrasol’s bio-optimised procognitive LED lighting at Prague’s Na Pražačce Grammar School with a view to creating lighting with properties close to natural daylight.
The effects of the new lighting on students and teachers were monitored during an 18-month science experiment. The intention was to compare a number of subjective and objective parameters in students and teachers from classrooms equipped with conventional lighting and with cognitive lighting. The results of the experiment showed a significant effect on improvements in memory tests and cognitive tests of sustained attention. The results of the experimental research can be found in the press releases below, or in the detailed report from CTU UCEEB here:
Client statement:
“The initial subjective feedback from students and teachers is very positive. The new light has not only increased the visual comfort but also the overall vitality of the environment in the classrooms and cabinets. Students find it much easier to work in the classrooms. And not only the students. In the first phase, when the lighting was not yet installed everywhere, colleagues from the teaching staff also went into the classrooms with this lighting. For example, they would grade tests there”, says the principal of the Na Pražačce Grammar School, Mgr. Martin Kašpar, sharing his initial impressions after the installation of the upgraded lighting. He went on to say regarding the installation: “The lighting was installed throughout our school in 2 phases in 2018 and 2019. All works were completed exactly to the schedule and the client’s requirements, including the adjustment of the lighting in certain rooms. Immediately after installation, we noticed a subjective improvement in lighting comfort in the school. We have not had any breakdowns during the entire time the luminaires have been operated. At the same time, we have seen energy savings from the very first moment“.
A prominent foreign expert in the field of chronobiology , Prof. Manuel Spitschan of Oxford University, arrived to witness the installation. “As far as I know, similar projects validated by such detailed research have thus far only been carried out in healthcare facilities. There, biologically optimised lighting has proven to have great potential due to its positive effect on patients and medical staff. I was very impressed by the results of your project“, he said.
Press releases:
https://www.spectrasol.cz/projekt-spectrasolu-a-ceskych-vedcu-s-inovativnim-osvetlenim-zaujal-i-mezinarodne-uznavanou-kapacitu-z-oxfordu-biooptimalizovane-pro-kognitivni-osvetleni/
https://www.spectrasol.cz/denik-cz-specialni-osvetleni-ve-tridach-pomaha-zakum-se-razem-zlepsil-prospech/
https://www.spectrasol.cz/reportaz-tv-nova-z-vysledku-rocniho-vyzkumu-vlivu-svetla-na-studijni-vysledky/
https://www.spectrasol.cz/idnes-cz-studenti-se-uci-lepe-kdyz-maji-vhodne-osvetleni-prokazal-experiment-cvut/
https://www.spectrasol.cz/respekt-cz-bystri-jako-na-slunicku/
https://www.spectrasol.cz/svetlem-pro-zdravi-a-vitalitu/
https://www.spectrasol.cz/21-stoleti-cesko-je-svetovou-velmoci-v-bio-optimalizovanem-osvetleni/
Illustration photo:
