Humanergy Balance

Humans have their expectations, needs, and feelings. As a living being, one needs light for good orientation, work, and a sense of comfort. The existence of light seems to be a complete given for people. Plants also grow towards the light. However, there is a clearly recognizable difference between light and "light": between daylight and artificially created light, or between a single source of light and a dynamic lighting system. As the environment becomes increasingly polluted, the effort to save energy is perceived very positively from both social and economic perspectives. Zumtobel adjusts the balance between human, economic, and ecological aspects of light with its Humanergy Balance concept - always with regard to aesthetic solutions.

Humans and Light

To safely move from one place to another, people require a minimum amount of light for spatial orientation. But where concentration, efficiency, and creativity are required, the lighting demands are much higher. The requirements for proper lighting depend on the type of human activity being performed. The correct lighting for working at a computer is different from the lighting for a meeting with a client. The lighting used during presentations greatly differs from that of a regular workstation. Nevertheless, the development of artificial lighting is undergoing diverse changes. Lighting that utilizes multiple sources and dynamically fluctuating light yields noticeably better results than static solutions with only one type of light.

Light as a Source of Emotions

Light is part of the environment we perceive and has a direct impact on human senses and mental well-being. The brightness of light, color, its diffusion, and dynamics influence our mood. Human biological clocks are attuned to the natural changes in light throughout the day. Our experiences and culture significantly affect our perception of light. In contrast to southern countries, where people prefer cooler light colors and greater sudden changes in light, in Scandinavia, soft light with warm colors and slow light changes is preferred.

Light for Biological Functions

Good lighting has beneficial effects on human health. Research shows that light can even accelerate the healing process. Its influence can aid in treating certain skin conditions. Moreover, the blue component of light causes the body to reduce melatonin production during the day and to increase it in the evening. This hormone can cause insomnia and has a crucial effect on our sleep and wake rhythms. Poor lighting can be very harmful. Weak and monotonous light quickly fatigues the eyes. Even skin and other parts of the body are sensitive to good and poor light. People have a much better mood and are more active on bright summer days than during dreary November.

Light and Environment - Efficient Use of Energy

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), on average 19% of the world's electricity production is consumed for lighting. Therefore, responsible and intelligent use of light contributes to energy efficiency. Lighting can significantly help save energy resources and reduce CO2 emissions, thus contributing to fulfilling voluntary and binding agreements related to energy saving.

The first key factor is the lighting concept itself. It involves the division of lighting into several parts. When designing lighting, the aim is to meet the emotional and biological requirements for workplace and environmental lighting while simultaneously utilizing intelligently controlled lighting components to reduce energy demands.

The second step concerns the quality of light fixtures and light sources. Modern fluorescent lamps and some high-pressure lamps and LED light sources can be interchangeable and are evidently more economical and have greater durability than conventional sources.
The most modern technology, such as the new PSP + reflector coated with pure silver or systems for improving thermal flow inside the fixture, optimizes the performance of the fixture and thus reduces energy costs.

The highest potential for energy savings is in the use of intelligently controlled lighting systems. Ideally, in buildings with controlled lighting, depending on the amount of natural daylight, energy savings of up to 60% can be achieved. Proven savings of up to 30% can be attained through systems controlled by the presence of individuals, where artificial lighting is reduced in unused spaces. Particularly in buildings with glazed facades, it is recommended to interconnect these systems with ventilation and air conditioning systems. Last but not least, optimization of overall costs, including lighting costs, can be achieved through automatic control of shading blinds.

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Humanergy Balance

is a lighting solution for the balance between the environment, energy, and humans.

Light is more than just consumed energy. The proper use of light is focused on visual and biological requirements and feelings. In an effort to provide people with light of the best quality, Zumtobel explores the physiological and psychological effects of light and continually improves their practical applications - and for the first time comes up with how to make them measurable.

ELI - ergonomic light indicator - sets a new standard in the lighting industry. It establishes ergonomic factors of light such as the very lighting, optical comfort, feelings, and individuality and integrates them into an energy-efficient index. More information >

LENI – numeric factor of light energy – provides information through annual energy consumption per square meter, including operation in energy-saving mode. It is also part of the new European standards for determining energy consumption EN 15193. More information >

The concept of balance between humans and energy-saving light enhances both aspects of light:


Humanergy Balance, a lighting solution concept for the balance between the environment, energy, and humans, meets the demands for an optimal combination of lighting quality while utilizing the potential of technological innovations.

> More about Humanergy Balance (in English)

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Zumtobel Lighting
Vlastislavova 11, 140 00 Prague
tel: +420 241 740 301
fax: +420 241 740 308
e-mail: praha@zumtobel.com
www.zumtobel.cz

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> Page of Zumtobel in the catalog