What Is Circadian Lighting Control?

Sleep Better & Live Well with Help from Tunable Lighting  

Do you wake up feeling groggy each morning, hitting the snooze button until you’re running late? Do you rely on several cups of coffee to get through the day? And by nightfall, do you lie in bed with racing thoughts, unable to sleep? 

If that sounds like your daily experience, your circadian rhythm may be out of sync. The circadian rhythm is the internal clock that tells our bodies when to feel alert, sleepy, and even hungry. Our circadian rhythms are self-regulated but are largely influenced by the sun. 

So, what happens to our inner clock if we spend most of our time indoors? Artificial lighting can throw our sleep patterns off course, wreaking havoc on our health. Luckily, smart lighting control systems are transforming how we light our homes, leading to healthier lifestyles. 

In this article, we’ll share how human-centric lighting works, why it’s important, and how it will enhance your home. And if you’re interested in circadian lighting control in Dallas, contact Texadia Systems to get started on a new home system. 

SEE ALSO: What Can A Lighting Designer Do for My Home? 

What’s Wrong with Artificial Lighting? 

“Sleep in modern humans is delayed from taking off the runway, which would naturally occur somewhere between eight and ten p.m.…Artificial light in modern societies thus tricks us into believing night is still day and does so using a physiological lie.” 

–Why We Sleep, Matthew Walker 

Matthew Walker is passionate about sleep and its dire condition in the modern era. His research shows that sleep deprivation can lead to every kind of health issue, including anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even cancer.

Our sleep is heavily influenced by our circadian rhythm, or internal clock, which receives its cues from natural light. But since we spend most of our time indoors, we aren’t getting the correct signals. Artificial lighting can’t adequately replace sunlight because the brightness and color of incandescent and fluorescent lightbulbs are stagnant. After all, the sky in the early morning does not look the same as in the evening.  

So, if you’re using warm-tinted lamps during the day, they could make you feel sluggish and groggy. On the flipside, cool-toned lights at night may accidentally keep you up late. Thankfully, smart lighting offers a better solution.  

How Does Circadian Lighting Work? 

If you’re like most modern folks, you can’t switch to spending the entire day outside. However, smart lighting systems by brands like Lutron are revolutionizing the ways we illuminate our homes. 

Lighting control can automatically schedule your lights to shift their color temperature and brightness hour to hour. In the morning, lights will shine brightly with a cool white tone. By afternoon, lights will soften to a moderate white color. In the evening, your house should be set to warmer, dim lights, like a candle or campfire’s glow.  

You can adjust and activate your LED lighting directly from the smart system app. Then, customize lights to your preferences and save personalized lighting scenes to relive over and over. With LEDs replicating natural sunlight, it should help your mind ease into a rhythm for better sleep and mental health. 

Why Your System Matters 

While you may be tempted to skip the lighting system installation and instead buy DIY smart bulbs, these off-the-shelf solutions have their drawbacks. Firstly, most smart bulbs that you find on Amazon or at the Home Depot require Wi-Fi or Bluetooth communication to work. This means you’ll be waiting on connections every time you want to adjust the lights. That gets tedious quickly! These bulbs only work via smartphone control, which is not the case with an advanced system like Lutron.

Lutron lighting control allows you to manage lights via smartphone and tablet, yes, but also wall keypads, handheld remotes and voice control. Tap “Morning” on a wall button, and instantly your whole home’s lighting adjusts. Every light is synced to one control system, and communicates either over hardwire or wireless radiofrequency signals. This ensures your lights respond instantly to every command—no matter what. 

Start Living Well with Circadian Lighting 

Are you interested in bringing tunable lighting solutions to your Texas home? Connect with our smart home company to get started today!