Honourable Prime Minister of India- Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi Ji
Namaskar!
IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHY LIGHTING FOR OUR INDOOR SPACES
There is the tacit assumption that as a species we are unfettered by the demands imposed by our biology and that we can do what we want, at whatever time we choose. Since we are spending more than 80-90% of our time in the indoor spaces thus we are deprived of the most desired visible and non-visible parameters of light which are induced by the SUNLIGHT for our immune system, circadian rhythms, cognitive skills, ATP (Adenosine Tri Phosphate), metabolism, behavior and many molecular as well as neuronal activities.
Apart from this, with the arrivals of LEDs as the lighting source, the DNA of the lighting industry changed from the heat energy to the electromagnetic energy with the spikes of short wavelengths which has lot many physiological disadvantages along with the negative contribution to the circular economy at the moment, as there are poor quality of LEDs being used / imported/ manufactured. There are many researchers and experts who are continuously sounding everyone on many platforms over the past few years (not being heard). I am one of them.
We need to strategies w.r.t. legislative (or regulations) to be proposed and implemented regarding ILQI-INDOOR LIGHT QUALITY INDEX., as there is an exponential rise in severe neuro and retinal disorders as well as the related illnesses.
Some of the effects of the inappropriate forms and sources of light that are contributing negatively to our health are:
- Retinal damage
- Brain fatigue
- Stress
- Migraine
- Insomnia
- EFD
- Cancer
- Obesity
- Age related Macular degeneration
- Skin diseases
As compared
INDOOR AIR QUALITY, INDOOR LIGHTING QUALITY IS EQUALLY ESSENTIAL TO GUAGE.
The human energy system is in a continual ever-changing & holistic state. This harmony is accomplished by constantly synchronizing our body’s atoms, glands, genes, molecules, cells hormones in the alignment of time cues- the LIGHT.
LIGHT IS THE MOST POWERFUL MEDICINE AND SUNLIGHT IS THE ONLY MEDICINE THAT CAN HEAL MANY DISORDERS- RIG VEDAS
Ultimately, the combined and interlocking effects of physiological, psychology, and psychosocial stress lead to emotional, cognitive, and physiological pathologies
Lighting (artificial and natural) is one of that zeitgebers that has direct control of molecular activities. Light is the governor of the universe and the molecular mechanisms.
Endeavouring in the quest of understanding the notion of light as a zeitgeber, I for one have no doubts as I have received the copyrights, accolades, and some recognition, etc. that LIGHT is the governor of the universe and we being the part of this cosmic world, our body is a type of little but a wholesome universe.
It’s been 200 years the artificial light was experienced by very few populations of the world initially and it’s approximately 100 years that people living in urban, suburban, and few villages have experienced the artificial form of light. Even in these 100 years, the form of light changed from Incandescent, IRC, mercury, metal halide, and now LEDs.
Sunlight is the unpolluted form of healthy lighting since our eyes, molecular mechanisms, and neuronal activities have had several million times span to optimize to the parameters of SUN than to LEDs.
It is, therefore, reasonable to proclaim that human eyes, organs, and behavior are not yet optimized to LEDs.
As it’s been only one decade, we are subjected to LEDs which does not have the Physiological – favorable parameters in the SPDs, while being used in our workplaces and the residences.
We have been bullied with the new source of light – LEDs and in return what we received is the bullying behavior, migraine, irregular diurnal process and disrupted circadian rhythms and most importantly weal immune systems.
The lighting fraternity is no less the medical fraternity that has been proven by our ancestors and Vedas.
Being tenacious and ascertaining a healthier lighting space always requires a process of trading off some aesthetical and volumetric aspects of the space for healthier future gains. However, this has been a very thick proposition from an architectural and interior point of view, especially in the office and the residential segments. It is always easier to choose the solutions from the traditional and time-tested methodologies, rather indulge with the innovations and research-based inventions or the discoveries, to meet the economy and the timelines framed by the respective project owners and the clients.
Apart from this, those (consultants, importers, manufacturers, architects, PMCs, etc) who have never bothered (or are unaware) of what kind of healthy and circular design-based solutions they are offering and are busy meeting the economical and timeline targets always gain from it.
The gain in timelines and the CBA [Cost benefit Analysis by choosing on L1, L2 basis) is at what cost? For sure compromising and trading of our health benefits. (For example lower immune system because of deprivation of NIR, Diurnal and Circadian alignment because of poor quality of LEDs/design and farcical lighting consultancies).
We are unable to witness any circular-based lighting design in India, so how an architect or a PMC (project management consultants) will achieve their Circular designs. The unimpeded methods over the prosaic ones are always driven by a sense of adopting unprecedented measures.
Every project has a limited reservoir of funds and timelines, it is our responsibility to adhere to the same but ascertain the health of the occupants. Emerging technologies may have to be learned so that we are all well prepared for our next assignments. The mundane existence to learn on wellbeing and health has to go off,
I am sure that we all must be knowing someone or the other to assist us in this direction, look for them.
Of my past experience of two decades with the experimentations, studies, research work, advisory, as an author and light therapy.
I am definitely counting on you, and the respective departments / Ministries to stand by this and take lighting as one of the most important features of offices, healthcare facilities, and the roads very seriously.
There are many levels of complexities and understandings LIGHT as a subject from Physiological point of view , thus our involvement with physiology and psychology as key indicators are very important and must not be ignored or avoided, or else we will be heading for the crash towards the health of ourselves and the generations to come.
My recommendations
- Lighting specialized courses in all the schools from Class IX till Cass XII
- Dedicated colleges and universities on lighting (not only manufacturing point of view or the way it is being taught in other universities but it has to be taught from the physiological point of view).
- Low-intensity light therapy (Non-Invasive) to be promoted for treating stress, Insomnia, migraines, and muscular atrophies. I am already performing
- The governing standards, audits and the committee to have a “Healthy lighting “in the respective offices, healthcare facilities and the roads. (The governing committee must include Physiologists, Lighting therapists and the lighting fraternity with the adequate knowledge and base of Physiology)
- Buyback plan of LEDs and its component to manage the waste / junk components which are hazardous for the environment and the human health. The poor quality of LEDs are becoming the most unmaintainable source of light, thus negatively contributing to Circular Economy. We need a proper plan and regulation on this.
- Since the present government has an immaculate and impeccable plans to envisage electronic industry to quadruple to $300 billion by 2026 and lighting is going to play an essential role, thus the sources and the components of LEDs are to be regulated.
None of your government, as well as Indian Private Offices, have given importance to LIGHT. Saving energy, contributing to global warming are not the only key to addressing lighting specifications. We need to balance the demands and the design between SMART LEDs and HEALTHY LEDs, Fluorescent and incandescent lamps. Allow the brainstorming sessions, we still have not gone that far from where the return is impossible.
I do not know how much I could explain to the reader, who is going to take this letter to the highest levels, but I need a chance to meet the influencers and the decision-makers.
Life did not begin at our birth and nor shall it end with our departure, all that matters is our contributions before our departure.
आदित्यहृदयं पुण्यं सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम् ।
जयावहं जपं नित्यमक्षयं परमं शिवम् ॥
Thanks & Regards
Girish Bhardwaj
Managing Partner
Read all blogs : https://yellout.in/girish/blog/
Girish Bhardwaj is a renowned wellness and sleep specialist and also a founder of Theralicht llp company which specializes in lighting consultancy, Indoor air quality consultancy, circular economy and product design.