Toward a Connected System—Understanding the Contribution of Light from Different Sources on Occupants’ Circadian Rhythms

Abstract

Light that enters humans’ eyes and impacts circadian rhythms may come from various sources, including the sun, electric lighting systems, and self-luminous displays. Occupants’ activities strongly impact the light entering their eyes, which is difficult to predict and not yet well understood. This study investigated the circadian contributions of light from different sources in real building environments to better understand the variables that influence the circadian health of occupants. Spectral irradiance distributions at a position equivalent to the front of an eye of a seated occupant in various interior office spaces were collected. Daylight and electric light were measured separately, and light emitted from displays was measured when a variety of different computer tasks was performed. Circadian stimulus (CS) and α-opic irradiance, defined by CIE DIS026/E:2018, were further calculated, and the circadian effects of light from different sources were compared. The results show that daylight has the greatest circadian effect, while electric light in spaces that were predominantly designed with conventional downward lighting has a very limited impact. The circadian effect of light from screens was considerably high. The outcomes suggest that, to optimise the circadian effects of light, connected lighting systems are needed to control light from different sources.