What Is Circadian Rhythm Lighting & Why Is It Important?

What If Your Home’s Lighting Followed the Sun? 

On a cloudy, overcast day, areas of your house may feel gloomy and dark. You could turn on the lights—but what if your lights are a warm, yellow color? It may make the house feel even more stuffy and sleepy. 

The cool, bright lighting you’re looking for works perfectly during the day but is far too harsh for nighttime use. If only there were a way to get the best of both worlds… And you can, with tunable smart lighting systems like Lutron.  

Lutron lighting is reminding the world that technology really can help us live better. Circadian rhythm lighting uses smart technology to adjust your LEDs’ brightness and color temperature throughout the day. Here’s how that benefits your well-being and home’s atmosphere in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

SEE ALSO: Lutron Lighting Control’s Best Accessory: Luxury Wall Keypads 

First, What Is the Circadian Rhythm? 

Before electricity, human life revolved around the sun. When it was up, people worked. When the sun set, they rested. Light still influences our internal clocks, telling us when to feel awake, tired, and even hungry. That routine is called the circadian rhythm, and it uses signals in our environment to activate certain hormones over the course of 24 hours. 

But when we spend the majority of our time under artificial light, our circadian rhythms can be thrown off. Our eyes capture lighting changes around us, sending signals to our cells to activate certain functions. If our home is lit too warmly during the day, it can make us feel tired or even melancholic. And if the lights are too cool at night, they can hinder our sleep and make us anxious. We’ve all heard that the blue light on computers, phones, and TV screens can tamper with sleep quality. The same applies to the light bulbs in your house. 

How Does Lutron Lighting Help Your Circadian Rhythm?

Lutron smart lighting can be programmed to follow a circadian routine, which involves gradually increasing the intensity of blue light in the morning and gradually decreasing it in the evening. Without requiring any input from you, lights can automatically adjust their brightness and color temperature to more accurately match the sky outside.  

In the morning, the LED lights will emit an icy, cool white, which stimulates the production of cortisol, a hormone that promotes alertness and helps us wake up. As the day progresses, the lighting gradually shifts to warmer, softer hues, mimicking golden hour and sunset. In the evening, the lighting becomes dimmer and warmer, signaling the brain to wind down and prepare for sleep.

What Are the Benefits? 

Studies have shown that exposure to blue light in the morning can improve mood, alertness, and cognitive performance, while exposure to warmer light in the evening can enhance sleep quality and duration. Exposure to blue light at night can make it difficult to fall asleep, which can lead to even more problems. By programming Lutron lighting to follow the natural circadian rhythm, homeowners can reap these benefits and promote a healthier, happier home environment.  

Not only can circadian lighting help balance hormones, but your home will look more inviting and atmospheric. Bright lights during the day will open the space. Warm, cozy lighting at night will feel welcoming to your family and friends. Lutron lighting systems can also control and automate motorized shades so that you can let in more natural light during the day.  

If you’d like to learn more about circadian lighting and whole-home lighting control, we’re here to help. First Priority Audio designs, installs, and programs home lighting systems across South Florida. Contact us here to get started!