Lighting and psychology An emerging view of lighting One of the most omnipresent yet unnoticed influences in our surroundings is lighting. There are multiple physical and psychological factors to be considered. Illumination conveys mood and can promote or inhibit work. Flickering lights, as in fluorescent fixtures and TV screens, can produce eye strain, headaches and even epileptic seizures.
Lamps have non-trivial cost to purchase, install and operate.
Conversely, the quality of the light they produce can strongly affect the ambiance - as seems to have been recognized by the new generation of trendy restaurants in New York and other major cities. In industrial and office settings, the organizational equation weighs direct costs much more heavily than the long-term impact on worker efficiency and health. My own preference is strongly against fluorescents, and I believe that a substantial amount of sunshine is essential for health. Of course, humans differ enormously in our tastes and also in our physiologic requirements. Still, even through windows, the color and vitality of sunlight produces psychological effects that are far from understood.