IES 2019 Annual Conference

People are more aware of the concept of Food as Medicine than ever before.  In a related way, the understanding of Light as Medicine or at least light as a component to maintain health is becoming more popular.  
As people become more aware of the benefits of light, the demand for quality of light as a combination of daylight and electric light will increase. We are building more density into our urban cores and as a result, access to daylight will change over time for city dwellers. What happens to our quality of light when a new high rise is built across the street from our high-rise abode? Will it have a negative impact on health? Are you entitled to a minimum quality of light? How do we quantify the effect? Should this impact be part of an environmental assessment prior to permits being issued? The WELL Standard has settled on EML but is it the right one?
Equivalent melanopic Lux (EML) and Circadian Stimulus (CS) are being proposed as methods of measurement of light for its effect on our non-visual, circadian system.  The industry has not yet selected a standard so we will look at both in the context of an existing high-rise residential complex and a proposed neighboring new complex.  In a case study, we’ll see what the existing conditions are, how they are impacted by the proposed new conditions and what it would take for electric lighting to make up the difference.