Now that it is being clarified that light affects our well-being and health much more than most people realize and also having the technical means to act on this knowledge – it has become a Societal Social Responsibility to take action to make use of the new knowledge to alleviate negative effects of inappropriate lighting. In a wider Sustainable Development context this has significant social as well as economic and environmental implications. At the same time as a solution that provides the right light, at the right place, at the right time is the optimum for the user it is also the most effective from energy, i.e. life cycle cost and environment, point of view.

The Lighting For People research compilation shows that blue light has an awakening effect, which is most useful in the morning. It is vital that the character and variation of light sets our body clock, thus regulating our sleep-wake cycle, immune responses, appetite and many more of our functions and behaviors. Next to this, light has acute effects on mood, alertness and attention. Light can support alertness and many kinds of functionality. Bad lighting is a stress and exhaustion factor, which is crucial not least in schools, considering the growing number of diagnoses and also for the quality of life, not least for elderly people. Consequently, it is a social responsibility, e.g. for cities, to take action to make use of the new lighting opportunities in an appropriate way.