BUILDINGS, MAINTENANCE & REFURBISHMENT
Lighting the way forward: why human-centric lighting matters more than ever in education
We hear from PAUL JONES, Sales Director for UK & Ireland at lighting controls specialist B.E.G.
But here’s the good news: lighting - when properly controlled and carefully considered - is one of the easiest, most effective, and immediate ways to support both learning outcomes and operational efficiency.
At B.E.G., we’ve spent decades working with schools, colleges and universities across the country, helping them harness intelligent lighting controls to create better environments for students and staff - and to save a great deal of energy and money along the way.
A
s October rolls in and the clocks prepare to go back, every school, college, and university across the UK begins to feel the shift. Mornings are darker. Dusk creeps in before the final bell rings. Classrooms rely more heavily on artificial lighting. And as energy bills rise along with demand, education leaders are once again faced with the challenge of balancing comfort and performance with cost and sustainability.
Now, as we head into the darker half of the year, there is a strong case to be made for investing in Human-Centric Lighting (HCL) and intelligent control systems - not only because it helps people function better in low-light conditions, but because it also protects already-stretched budgets. At its heart, human-centric lighting is about aligning artificial light with the natural rhythms of the human body – specifically, our circadian rhythms. These internal clocks are regulated in large part by light exposure. In the morning, bright, cooler-toned light helps us feel alert and ready to focus. In the evening, warmer tones help signal that it’s time to wind down.
Natural daylight delivers this rhythm 34
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naturally. But when that daylight diminishes - as it does rapidly in autumn and winter - the lighting inside our buildings has to take over that role.
In schools, this matters more than most places. Students, particularly younger ones, are sensitive to their environments. Dim, flat, or overly harsh lighting can lead to lethargy, lack of focus, headaches, and even behavioural issues. HCL helps counteract that.
Classrooms equipped with dynamic lighting – where the colour temperature and intensity of the light adjusts throughout the day – create a learning atmosphere that feels closer to the natural world outside. It supports alertness in morning lessons, focus during the school day, and calmness in late afternoon sessions.
The conversation around HCL often centres on student outcomes - which is important - we mustn’t forget the impact it has on staff too. Teachers spend long hours in these spaces, often arriving before sunrise and leaving after sunset in winter. The right lighting doesn’t just make teaching easier; it supports mental wellbeing and physical health. In fact, several studies
October 2025
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