ESYLUX SYMBILOGIC HUMAN CENTRIC LED LIGHTING & SMART CONTROL

WORKING WITH SYMBILOGIC: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NIGHT AND DAY

Daylight makes people happy, helps them perform well and has controlled human biorhythms since time immemorial. Human centric lighting is the magical formula for an age where people spend more and more time working indoors. But brighter light also means higher energy consumption. Or does it? ESYLUX has developed a technology that calls our assumptions into question: SymbiLogic.

Sitting for long periods with poor posture is bad for the back, and people are also generally exposed to less fresh air than in the past – now that we have largely moved into buildings to work, often at desks, we have a number of problems to contend with. We now also know how much the human body misses natural light. Even large windows and the best-designed architecture don't have the same effect as being under open skies. It is 15 years since the role of the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) in the human retina was discovered. And yet it has taken quite a while for lighting manufacturers to pay sufficient attention to the biological effect of light. That might seem a little surprising at first. However, mass implementation of this type of lighting only became possible after the introduction of the LED and subsequent improvements in its quality.

lighting boost vitality, concentraction and health

This is one reason why many people still do not know what biologically effective light or human centric lighting is all about. A glance out of the window is enough to answer that. There are two fundamental states: dimmer, warm white light in the early morning and evening, in contrast to bright, cold white light with a high proportion of blue during the day. The transitions between them are of course fluid and dynamic, determined by the interplay of the earth's rotation, the sun's path and blue skies. Each light condition affects the human body in a different way. When the bright, cold white light of the forenoon sun hits those ganglion cells in the retina, it triggers several biological processes. The ganglion cells do not contribute to conscious recognition or vision. Instead their role is to transmit non-visual information. They therefore react to changes in light colour and brightness. One of the main consequences of bright, cold white light hitting the cells is the suppression of the body's production of melatonin – a neurotransmitter which makes us tired. Through this and a number of other processes, a bright, cold white light during the day increases vitality, well-being and concentration, and helps us make fewer mistakes. Light is therefore the most important timer for the human day/night rhythm. Bright, cold white light during the day stabilises this rhythm, which results in more restful sleep and therefore contributes to good health. However, it is also important for the light to become dimmer and warmer in colour as evening approaches, so that we can start preparing for rest in good time. In short: Bright, cold white light activates and stimulates while dimmer, warm white light aids relaxation.

human centric lighting and energy efficiency - a conflict we can overcome

The advantages of indoor lighting that simulates daylight's changing light colour and brightness are very clear. Especially in the workplace, this is a classic win-win situation. Employees have a greater sense of well-being, are more motivated and therefore perform better. The employer also benefits from this, through the increase in employee satisfaction as well as through their higher productivity. Ultimately, this type of lighting is advantageous to the whole company. However, every benefit comes with a challenge. After all, something else has a significant effect on the way office buildings are run these days: increased energy efficiency requirements. The brightness of biologically effective light is continually above the 500 lux prescribed by standards, and at times significantly so. Peak values can range from 700 or 800 lux to over 1000 lux, which indicates higher consumption despite the use of LEDs.

sensors and intelligent light management provide a solution

So what do we do? ESYLUX took on this problem and developed SymbiLogic, a technology which not only provides Biologically effective lighting but also implements it in an energy-efficient way. The key elements here are the use of presence detectors and intelligent light management – as found in the light systems of the CELINE Quadro-Sets. The sensors in the presence detector alone reduce costs dramatically, since they automatically ensure that the light only shines when people are present. Each presence detector also has a light sensor. This compares the workplace brightness level to a prescribed value. Of course, the existing daylight entering through the window is taken into consideration here. If this is sufficient for work, the presence detector switches the artificial light off. Even more energy can be saved if the detector also has constant light control. This continually adjusts the artificial light so that, combined with the available daylight, the targeted amount of light is achieved. This allows the best possible use of daylight.

symbilogic offers adaptive constant light control

The SymbiLogic technology now combines all of these benefits, which make a difference even when controlling a normal light, with a biologically effective lighting. This initially sounds simpler than it actually is. Conventional constant light control cannot be used with biologically effective lighting. A conventional constant lighting control system maintains a single light value throughout the day, e.g. the aforementioned 500 lux. Although a Biologically effective lighting also has to maintain a standard minimum value at the workplace, biologically effective lighting is in fact much brighter and, above all, its brightness level constantly changes. The solution lies in the SymbiLogic adaptive constant light control. This adjusts itself based on a value which also continually changes according to the desired brightness pattern. In one sense, this is a real innovation since, for the first time, it enables optimum use of daylight even within biodynamic brightness patterns. SymbiLogic also applies trusted building automation principles to the most modern form of indoor lighting. Some people may wonder why this technology is called SymbiLogic. It's actually very simple: The name reflects the concept of symbiosis. This term is frequently used very broadly and to refer to all sorts of things, but it fits this context precisely. On the one hand, humans are benefiting from nature. Nature has taught them which light suits them best, meaning they are now able to simulate that light in indoor spaces. On the other hand, nature also benefits. Presence-based, daylight-dependent control combined with adaptive constant light control allows SymbiLogic to ensure the most energy-efficient implementation possible – thereby minimising the use of natural resources.

dynamic lighting programs which promote and increase well being

The light from the CELINE Quadro-Sets, combined with the intelligent control, employees benefit from the fact that the designs installed here utilise ESYLUX SymbiLogic technology and from the stimulating effect of human centric lighting: "You feel awake for longer and don't get as tired," confirms Mario Jahn, an administrator of VAHLE in order processing. Another factor is the particularly energy efficient implementation of the biologically effective lighting using the integrated sensors. "The users themselves don't consciously notice the dynamic changes in light colour and brightness during the course of the day," says Karsten Schmidt, Regional Sales Manager for Asia. The light is said to be very pleasant and always clear and bright. Before, explains Detlef Angersbach, Team Leader in international order processing, "it used to be too dark or too bright, depending on the weather." This was highlighted by individual employees' subjective sensitivity to the light levels. Dennis Endl points out that complaints relating to this are no longer made. This is partly because the system's light management automatically prevents a brightness level below 500 lux, and partly due to the more balanced illumination compared to the previous arrangement, where the fluorescent tubes lit some areas more than others. Investing in the ESYLUX intelligent lighting system has paid off for VAHLE, and not just because of the all-round positive feedback from staff. Dennis Endl also says: "I don't normally praise products this quickly, but these lights are just great." Director Operations Hauptreif says they will soon be ready to start modernizing the offices in Kamen. Further 650 meter square. are already scheduled. Improving communication and staff well-being will again be central to the process – supported by the CELINE Quadro-Set lighting system.

Interested to install your human centric led lighting in your projects, please contact us via email at hello@amuselighting.com or to schedule an appointment with us.