A battle between natural and artificial light

Since we are in the middle of winter and the days are starting to get longer, it is time to talk about light. Sometimes natural light is not strong enough to illuminate us, or we simply cannot access it from a blind space. It can play on our mental and our physical. Despite this, we have to remain productive during the day even when natural light is not enough. But beware, artificial lighting cannot always replace it ...

Natural light:

Natural light is in other words daylight, produced by the sun, which is made up of the entire light spectrum. In other words, it is dynamic light, the light intensity and color temperature of which vary during the day. This allows us to produce serotonin as well as melatonin, two hormones that influence our internal clock, mood and sleep. This has a direct impact on our circadian rhythm, as well as on our balance in vitamin D, essential for the proper functioning of our immune system.

Artificial light:

Artificial light is created from scratch to provide for the absence of natural light. It is found in particular in the form of lamps. Artificial light can rarely replace daylight. Nevertheless, it is essential for us to illuminate us at night for example or when we do not have access to natural light. This type of lighting needs an electrical power supply to operate (battery, batteries, Bluetooth). In artificial lighting there is something for everyone: LED lamps, fluorescent lamps, halogens). There are artificial lights on the market today, whose color temperature and intensity can vary and which can be programmed in different scenarios.

Can artificial lighting replace that of natural light?

Today, some artificial lighting mimics natural light very well, thus making it possible to compensate for the absence of natural lighting in blind or dark spaces:

• Fake LED windows: Thanks to their high-resolution photos and LED Daylight lighting, virtual windows create an optical illusion of a view of the outside and bring light close to that of day.
• Illuminated false ceiling: A real trompe l'oeil, illuminated false ceilings create a feeling of a view of the sky. This creates a real skylight in the room.
• Biodynamic Lighting: Also called Human Centric Lighting, biodynamic light adapts to our circadian rhythm. The color temperature will change depending on the time of day. In the morning we will have a cold light, which will help us to be productive and dynamic. And in the evening we have a warm light, conducive to relaxation and sleep. This type of lighting respects our biological clock and contributes significantly to our comfort.
• Scenario creation: Thanks to a Casambi chip, we can create scenarios (color temperature) during the day. Enough to create an illusion of view of the outside in real time.