Is Efficient Lighting Sufficient Lighting for Humans? Look Beyond Metrics.

Differentiation in product offering is what all suppliers are looking for. LED efficiency increase is coming to an end. Decade of development has brought LED performance close to its limits, currently 220 – 230 lm/W Signify reading. Still several LED suppliers show big “potential” improvement, but going deeper into these claims, it can only be concluded that these values are fake, via calibration tricks of self-made factors. The next race is on CRI claims, driving for higher color representation, however higher than 90, CRI value have little to non-proven effect for humans unless very specific applications come in play. To bring even more new parameters to the table, full spectrum has been pushed forward, copying the sunlight in expectation that the sunlight is what humans need. There is not a single solution that covers all aspects required for humans. Only certain parts of the spectrum humans use in their daily life. Depending on the location and applications, using differentiation in spectrum, it can enhance safety, visibility, wellbeing, creating more “healthy” lighting for humans. Spectrum differentiation tailored to the task, the environment, the internal body processes, these bring new opportunities to use “lighting” to enlighten tasks and bring humans out of the biological darkness.

Baseline experience on lighting / LED / spectrum is recommended

Learning Objectives

• Understand the LED efficiency roadmap and limitations with current market claims
• Differentiation between visual light and spectral metrics for human benefit
• CRI is not the whole story
• Object 4 N.A.