Lighting Science
Smart lighting design should bring art pieces, colors, and furnishings to life.
Different Lighting does Different Things
General Lighting
The foundation of any lighting plan, providing overall illumination for a space. Examples include recessed architectural downlights and economical disk lights that create general light for spaces you don’t spend much time like closets and kids’ bathrooms.
Task Lighting
Focused light to aid in performing specific tasks. Adjustable Recessed downlights, under-cabinet lighting, and pendant lights over kitchen islands are prime examples.
Accent Lighting
Used to highlight architectural features, artwork, and finishes like countertops, hardwood floors, and cabinets. Tunable White LEDs, track lighting, wall-mounted fixtures, wall wash or wall glaze, and floodlight LEDs are commonly used for accent lighting.
Sparkle Lighting
These are the decorative fixtures in the home. Think chandeliers, custom pendants or sconces, and high-dollar fixtures that become the focus of the room.
The Science of Light and Color Temperature
Lighting plays a pivotal role in regulating our circadian rhythm, the internal clock that governs our sleep-wake cycle over a 24-hour period. The exposure to light, especially blue light that mimics daylight, is a critical signal to our brains about the time of day.
During the morning and early part of the day, natural sunlight or bright, cooler light (higher Kelvin temperatures) can stimulate alertness and help suppress the production of melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep, thereby making us feel more awake and energetic. As the day progresses into evening, exposure to warmer light (lower Kelvin temperatures) cues the body to increase melatonin production, preparing us for rest and helping to ensure a good night’s sleep.
This understanding of light's impact on circadian rhythms is essential for creating healthy living environments.
By strategically using lighting solutions that emulate the natural progression of daylight, from bright and cool in the morning to soft and warm in the evening, we can enhance our natural circadian rhythms, improving sleep quality, mood, and overall well-being. Modern lighting design, incorporating smart lighting systems, can automate these transitions, seamlessly integrating the science of light with our daily lives to support our body’s natural rhythms.
LED Lighting - Efficiency and Sustainability
The science behind LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting represents a significant leap forward in both energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. Unlike traditional incandescent bulbs, which convert only about 10% of the energy they consume into light (the rest becomes heat), LEDs are far more efficient, converting a much higher percentage of energy into light with minimal heat production. This efficiency not only reduces energy consumption but also extends the lifespan of LED bulbs, which can last up to 25 times longer than their incandescent counterparts.
LEDs also have a lower environmental impact, as they contain no toxic elements like mercury found in fluorescent bulbs, reducing hazardous waste. The versatility of LEDs extends to their ability to produce a wide spectrum of color temperatures allowing for precise control over the ambiance of a space. Additionally, LEDs offer superior dimming capabilities (when designed with the correct dimmers) without sacrificing their color quality or efficiency, enabling further customization of lighting scenes to suit any mood or time of day. Understand that not all fixtures, dimmers, and bulbs are compatible so if designed wrong, you can get a flickering effect from the light source.
Not all fixtures are created equal…
In the realm of lighting fixtures, the adage “you get what you pay for” rings especially true. Differences in build quality, light output, color rendering index (CRI, although TM-30 is a much more credible way to measure the color of lamps), and energy efficiency sets premium fixtures apart from their lower-quality counterparts. High-quality fixtures often boast superior materials that enhance durability, better light distribution, and higher TM-30 values, which measure the light’s ability to reveal the true colors of objects. Moreover, they tend to be more energy-efficient, drawing less power for the same or better light output compared to standard fixtures. SaaviHome recognizes these distinctions and emphasizes the importance of selecting the right fixtures for the space. We take the lighting lead on your project to ensure spaces are not only beautifully illuminated but also environmentally conscious and cost-effective over time.
Making the Investment - High-Quality Fixtures vs. Cost
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