Lighting for Education: Six Ways LED Lighting Supports Healthier, More Sustainable School, College, and University Campuses

Lighting for education presents both challenges and opportunities. Secondary schools, colleges and universities are all under pressure to reduce their campus operational costs while also supporting the wellbeing of students and staff. 

LED lighting systems are a key part of the solution to these ongoing challenges. LED lighting supports healthier, more sustainable school, college and university campuses while also offering considerable cost savings. 

Here’s how:

1. Enhanced Learning Environment: Proper lighting levels and quality can positively impact students' concentration, mood, and overall wellbeing. From bright, stimulating light for classrooms to softer, warmer tones for study areas and libraries, LED lighting systems allow teachers to tailor lighting conditions to suit different activities and learning spaces.
2. Health and Wellbeing: LED lighting is proven to have numerous benefits for health and wellbeing, including improved mood, increased productivity, and better sleep patterns. This is because LED lighting systems can mimic the qualities of natural light, known as ‘daylighting’, by providing a balanced spectrum of light that closely resembles sunlight. This enhances the visual comfort of students and teachers by supporting the body’s natural circadian rhythms - promoting alertness during the day and restful sleep at night. A 2023 study published on Frontiers found 248 scientists to unanimously agree that artificial lighting’s key function should be to support circadian rhythms.
3. Energy Efficiency: Educational institutions, which often feature large campuses and extensive lighting requirements, can significantly reduce energy consumption by switching to LED lights. LED’s consume up to 80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs (Energy Saving Trust), resulting in substantial cost savings on utility bills. This allows educational institutions to reallocate these funds to other critical areas such as academic programs and student resources.
4. Longevity and Durability: LED lights last up to 25 times longer than conventional lighting options, reducing the frequency of replacements and maintenance efforts.
5. Sustainability: LED lighting supports educational organisations’ wider ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) and sustainability goals due to its energy efficiency and more environmentally friendly design (compared to traditional lighting systems). LED’s are free of hazardous materials such as mercury, making them safe for disposal and recycling.
6. Technological Integration: LED lighting systems can be integrated with smart technologies, allowing for advanced control and automation features. Using wireless platforms, estate managers can remotely monitor and adjust lighting settings across campus, optimising energy usage as well as enhancing security. For example, motion sensors and occupancy detectors can be integrated into LED fixtures to automatically adjust lighting levels based on occupancy.

By investing in LED lighting systems, including retrofitting existing lighting systems, educational establishments can more efficiently manage their estate energy needs. At the same time, campuses benefit from operational cost savings while promoting student and staff wellbeing.

• Tamlite offers a full range of products for the education sector designed with occupant wellbeing, sustainability and performance in mind. The products in this range can be retrofitted to existing lighting systems and includes luminaries specifically tailored to meet the specific lighting needs of sports halls, corridors, lecture theatres, classrooms and reception areas.
• For further information about our products for the education sector, please visit our website.