CSTrends in lighting in all its aspects, digitalization of household technologies and services in buildings, security technologies. These were the main topics at the largest international trade fair for the lighting industry, Light + Building 2024, traditionally held in Frankfurt, Germany, which the Spectrasol team couldn’t miss. Here’s a brief summary of the trends discussed at the event.
There is no doubt about the circadian effects of light
All major lighting manufacturers are addressing its non-visual effects and offering full-spectrum luminaires. There is now clear consensus about the circadian and non-visual effects of light, its benefits, and the body’s needs. A new focus is on adding red energy in long wavelengths for its regenerative and metabolic functions. Our luminaires have been incorporating these energies for a long time.
“In stimulating discussions, we agreed that the key and common task in this area is educating users and lighting technicians to start applying luminaires with non-visual effects mimicking sunlight into interiors where daily activities take place under artificial lighting,” explains Daniel Jesenský, Managing Director of Spectrasol.
He also adds that existing knowledge and products will be fully directed towards this goal. They will also replace the original Tunable White and Human Centric Lighting systems, which are not successful in the market because they only change the color temperature of light (CCT), which is unnatural for the body, and they do not work properly with the spectral composition of light. Users don’t feel comfortable under such lighting, and unnecessary control systems make the application more expensive for daylight.
Other notable trends
Another observed trend is the integration of acoustic elements in combination with luminaires. At the same time, two strong trends in light distribution are apparent – the first and correct one being the use of large emitting surfaces of luminaires to mimic the natural sky indoors and improve visual comfort by reducing glare.
On the contrary, under the pressure of minimalist trends in architecture, linear and point luminaires emitting from unnaturally narrow and small surfaces are gaining popularity. While architecturally pleasing, they are unpleasant, impractical, and unsuitable for users in offices and similar spaces. “This phenomenon confirms that the traditional paradigm of the mainstream lighting industry still dominates. It delivers what people are used to based on outdated but established approaches and information. However, it does not meet the needs of their bodies, which spend whole days indoors unnaturally, based on already fully recognized information from chronobiologists and doctors,” comments Daniel Jesenský.
What is the view of the industry and users?
The traditional and inertia-controlled lighting industry still inadequately considers the quality and properties of the light emitted by luminaires. They are mainly interested in the construction and design of the luminaire, its lifespan, and energy efficiency. “These topics are certainly important but fatally inadequate and often contradictory from the perspective of users’ visual and biological needs,” adds Hynek Medřický, co-founder of Spectrasol.
Spectrasol team on the trade fair: “We are leaving knowing that our luminaires are created at the top world level. What we have been doing for many years is gradually becoming mainstream in the lighting industry – for example, large emitting surfaces, full spectrum and color temperature of emitted light, glare reduction, and the best possible visual comfort. All framed by our overarching goal of bringing artificial lighting as close as possible to natural sunlight.”
