TECHNOLOGY
Smarter lighting systems improving efficiency
Lighting is evolving into a fully integrated building technology, having once been considered a standalone utility. Russell Vanstone, product manager for Connected Buildings at Legrand UK & Ireland, explores the practical opportunities this presents for facilities managers in healthcare settings.
There is increasing pressure on facilities managers in healthcare to implement state-of-the-art lighting systems that give them the data needed to improve building use and energy efficiency, all while enhancing clinical outcomes. Selecting a platform that uses open protocols enables the lighting control systems to connect with other building systems, reporting and management tools. With the appropriate tools, hospital facilities teams can reduce maintenance time on site, identify and address issues before they escalate and optimise energy performance. Meanwhile built-in occupancy sensing means lighting can respond quickly to even unanticipated changes in building use. At the same time, proactive maintenance tools make it possible to significantly reduce the costs and work hours needed to locate, diagnose and action faults. But how exactly can this be achieved in healthcare
settings? Furthermore, how can it support clinical teams in improving patient outcomes?
Meeting the demands of clinical spaces Advances in lighting controls mean that facilities managers in healthcare settings can now create dynamic, responsive environments that adapt to both patient needs and the requirements of clinicians. Circadian lighting, for instance, also known as human- centric lighting (HCL), has been shown to improve sleep patterns, mood and recovery times by aligning artificial light with the body’s natural rhythms. In specialist care settings, such as dementia wards and residences, this can
help reduce restlessness and confusion. In paediatric units, colour-changing (RGBW) lighting can create calming or playful environments that help to reduce young patients’ anxiety. For healthcare estates, lighting controls also deliver tangible operational benefits. Automated monitoring and fault reporting reduce the burden on maintenance teams, while remote management and centralised control, minimises disruption to wards and patient care. Integration with wider hospital systems, such as nurse call systems and emergency type ‘all or’ scenarios ensure lighting can respond instantly in critical situations. Bedside controls further enhance patient comfort and autonomy, allowing individuals to tailor their environment to their own needs.
Networked lighting for smarter hospitals Lighting and other sensors can be networked and managed centrally with user interfaces and live dashboards allowing for remote monitoring. If a light fails, the system can report the fault and give diagnostic information, so engineers know what and where the problem is, allowing them to reduce the time needed on site. Having lighting networked means it can be treated and maintained more like an arm of the IT system and lend itself to remote diagnostics, troubleshooting and commissioning. The need for physical rewiring can also be minimised with a system that supports wired, wireless and hybrid setups as well as commissioning software. When spaces are repurposed, luminaires and sensors can be reassigned
A correctly-lit healthcare setting.
Advances in lighting controls mean that facilities managers in healthcare settings can now create dynamic, responsive environments that adapt to both patient needs and the requirements of clinicians.
March 2026 Health Estate Journal 77
AdobeStock / Konstantin Yuganov
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