If you’ve ever seen how fire or candlelight can set the mood, you know that light has an effect on the human brain. The type and amount of light you choose for your office can affect employee productivity and mood more than you might realize. Here’s what you need to know so you can ask your lighting contractor for the most effective lighting setup.

What Is Color Temperature?

When talking about the different types of light a bulb can produce, experts express the temperature in degrees Kelvin. This is because, when heating up something like metal, the material goes through a series of colors as it gets hotter. It starts out with a reddish or orange glow, then progresses to yellow, then white, then blue-white. They may also talk about “warm” and “cool” lighting; warm refers to the warm colors red, orange, and yellow, while cool refers to the blue end of the spectrum.

What Are Color Temperature Ranges?

Experts use low temperatures between about 2,000 K and 4,000 K to describe warm, yellowish lighting. The mid-range, from about 4,000 K to 5,000 K, is white light. Then, high temperatures up to 7,000 K describe the blue light at the cool end of the spectrum. Natural daylight usually falls in this range.

How Do Color Temperatures & LEDs Affect Productivity?

The human brain responds to changes in light levels and color temperatures. Very high color temperatures improve productivity and concentration, while warm, low color temperatures promote relaxation and even sleepiness. If you want your workers to be at their most alert, start by letting in as much natural daylight as possible, as it falls in the energizing high-temperature range. If it’s not practical to use natural light in your office, or if you want to supercharge the creative process, have your lighting contractor install high color temperature LEDs over your employees’ work stations. If you want to take it one step further, you can even balance this effect with warm, low-temperature lighting in the break room to make it more relaxing—or even have your lighting contractor install remote-controlled color-changing LED lights so you or your employees can adjust the light anytime.

When you need a lighting contractor to design and install your new office lighting, choose J.R. Electrical LLC in Marietta, GA. For 10 years, these experienced electricians have served Cobb, Fulton, and DeKalb counties. They respect your time and provide an arrival window, so you know when to expect them. To arrange a visit, call (770) 420-1530 or get in touch online.