Developing offices which place people before profit, using sustainable technology, delivers a better business outcome in the long term. Lighting is fundamental to this brave new approach.

A modern office, with people at its heart, is the most valuable investment business today can make. That’s the view of Bob Hall, Managing Director of Greenlite Lighting Solutions. The company recently moved to new office space, which was designed specifically with its employees in mind.

“At Greenlite, when we think about office space, our key objective is, how can we use efficient lighting technology to improve our people's working lives, and build a more valuable business in every way,” says Hall.

His approach is based on this simple premise; treat workers well, offer them comfort, responsibility and respect in the workplace, aligned with a technologically sustainable, inspiring workplace, and watch the company prosper.

Greenlite's futurist approach to offices

Hall believes too many firms still use archaic office spaces. Lights have no individual switches, nor any ability to lower or control lighting levels. Heating control doesn't exist; windows can't be opened. Stuffy air recirculates, computer screens pump out glare.

“Not only are such facilities unkind and unpleasant to work in, they have a direct, negative impact on employee health, productivity and happiness,” says Hall. “Our approach is very different. We seek to use the most modern, most sustainable lighting solutions, plus further investments, in a modernist, individualised approach to office working.”

What does human centric lighting in today's office offer?

Human centric lighting is light that seeks to improve health and happiness. A paper by Lighting Europe; 'Human Centric Lighting: Going Beyond Energy Efficiency,' predicts the future. 'We expect that the technology split for human centric lighting will evolve until 2020, with LED taking over a strong share beyond 90% from conventional light sources,' it reveals.

'Studies indicate that productivity gains of up to 7.7% are possible in blue-collar environments, due to higher concentration or improved motivation. Assuming that 10 employees each completed 6 tasks per day with a contribution margin of €12/task under common lighting conditions, human centric lighting could facilitate an absolute productivity gain of up to €12.2k per year.'

What human centric lighting means in practice

In terms of practical steps, Greenlite offers its employees individual lamps on individual desks. Workers can choose from soft, hard or natural settings to suit their mood and the task at hand.

Further, such options minimise glare caused by harsh, uncontrollable ceiling lights shining onto PC screens. Importantly, this gives staff individual control over their environments. And of course, LEDs are standard in such desk lamps.

Daylight harvesting

Greenlite's building roof structure features an arrangement of translucent panels which allow natural daylight through. To complement this, the ceilings beneath include opaque glass panels too, this allows daylight through, bathing the offices in natural light.

“Since we opened we have not used any artificial lighting in the ceiling in any of the offices,” says Hall. “All the perimeter offices have big windows to make the most of daylight which maximises window square footage, we have also opted for bespoke glass dividers instead of plasterboards walls to share light and space.”

Absence sensors and the final word

Greenlite's office also uses absence sensors, which can be calibrated to a number of options to turn down, minimise or completely turn off all lighting. Working alongside these, a light switch on the wall means lights don’t just come on when staff enter a room, which wastes energy if they are not needed.

Advanced HVAC and ventilation controls are also in place, recirculating air and minimising the stuffy, dust filled air computer fans can create. The air conditioning system includes additional fresh air intakes at every cassette.

As a company which holds Investor in People certification, Greenlite's offices also feature an onsite gym and shower room, enabling people to walk or cycle into work far more easily, and to exercise during lunch hours and before or after the 9 to 5.

“Lighting is crucial to a human centric office space, but as crucial are the additional add on elements,” says Hall. “Simply placing LEDs within a light-harsh, stuffy environment isn't enough.

“We truly value our people and believe in our approach to sustainable workplaces. These are the products we sell for a living, so how could we not embrace and demonstrate the theory in our own working environment?”

Hall notes that these days, office workers use monitors all day, which are lit up anyway and provide enough light as this is what they are designed to do. “There isn’t much point in lighting every corner of the room when all that needs to be lit is the bit you're looking at.”

Greenlite, and Hall personally, will be delighted to show interested parties around their sustainable workspaces, and discuss options where Greenlite can help other firms retrofit to achieve similar benefits.