Benchmark of circadian effects of conventional white light sources

Abstract

The influence of light on human physiology, including its non-image forming effects, has been recognized for several decades. A significant breakthrough in understanding these non-visual effects came with the discovery of a new type of photoreceptor: intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. The circadian effects of light include the regulation of melatonin secretion, circadian entrainment, and an increase in body temperature. The scope of this paper is to present a benchmark for the evaluation of artificial lighting systems considering visual, circadian aspects and their energy efficiency. In other words, this paper demonstrates a holistic evaluation methodology for optimal luminaire selection by benchmarking the visual aspects but also the melanopic effects and its energy consumption.