Melanopic Green The Other Side of Blue

By Ian Ashdown, P. Eng. (Ret.), FIES
Senior Scientist, SunTracker Technologies Ltd.

Numerous medical studies have shown that exposure to blue light at night suppresses the production of melatonin by the pineal gland in our brains and so disrupts our circadian rhythms. As a result, we may have difficulty sleeping. It is therefore only common sense that we should specify warm white (3000 K) light sources wherever possible, especially for street lighting.

True or false?

task tuning

[13.3.3] NOTE: This term was added in RP-16-17 Addendum 1. The practice of adjusting the maximum luminous flux and/or the spectral power distribution of the luminaires in a space to a desired target illuminance and/or spectrum in support of the visual or non-visual needs of the occupants and/or to save energy.

personal tuning

[13.3.4] NOTE: This term was added in RP-16-17 Addendum 1. The ability of occupants in a space to adjust the luminous flux and/or spectral power distribution of luminaires according to their personal preferences.

vacancy sensor

[13.2.3] NOTE: This term was added in RP-16-17 Addendum 1. A type of occupancy sensor that requires the luminaires to be turned on manually.

tunable lighting

[13.3] NOTE: This term was added in RP-16-17 Addendum 1. The ability to alter the luminous flux and/or spectral power distribution of a lamp or luminaire.

spectral tuning

[13.3.1] NOTE: This term was added in RP-16-17 Addendum 1. NOTE: The definition was changed in RP-16-17 Addendum 3. Deletions have a strike-through. New text is bold. The ability to change the color appearance of a lamp or luminaire independent of the luminous flux. Sometimes referred to as color tuning. Adjustment of a light source spectrum in response to task, space, or occupant needs.

dimming

[13.3.2] NOTE: This term was added in RP-16-17 Addendum 1. The ability to change the luminous flux of one or more lamps or luminaires.

lighting zone (exterior lighting)

[11.7.2] NOTE: This term was added in RP-16-17 Addendum 1. In exterior lighting: One of several categories (descriptive and/or prescriptive) that designate outdoor ambient light levels. (Refer to lighting zone guidelines in the Model Lighting Ordinance User Guide, http://www.darksky.org/our-work/public-policy/mlo/.)

lighting zone (interior lighting controls)

[13.1] NOTE: This term was added in RP-16-17 Addendum 1. In interior lighting controls: Any number of individual luminaires in a space that, when combined, form a logical control group. (Sometimes called a control channel or a lighting control zone.)

adaptive lighting

[13.2.1] NOTE: This term was added in RP-16-17 Addendum 1. Lighting with the ability to automatically adjust light level and spectral content based on environmental conditions in order to optimize space, human, and building performance.