The lovers embrace and kiss. A fireplace comes into view. The focus blurs and the light gets warmer. Soft music begins to play in the background.

Part of the reason a scene like this has become a familiar Hollywood cliché is, simply, that it works.
After all, the switching on of a blinding, white fluorescent light that continuously drones overhead wouldn’t exactly seem appropriate in a situation like this. It would be more like a jarring, unforgiving assault on the senses.

The idea that the color temperature and spectrum of a light source can dramatically alter a person’s mood or productivity level is nothing new. It is a generally accepted concept and its overuse in television and movies is only proof of its validity.

What is exciting is that new advancements with LED technology have made it even easier to adjust the lighting to fit a mood or develop a customized lighting solution that is perfectly aligned with the specific goals of any organization.

The industry has come up with a term for how it is possible to manipulate the color of an electric light source to match a variety of individual preferences - color tuning.

There are basically three methods for color tuning:

1. Warm Amber – To successfully mimic the well-known and comfortable tone of incandescent lights, LEDs adjust their color temperature to intensity in the exact same manner as incandescents. Widely used in residential applications, hotels, restaurants and anywhere else that humans like to feel calm and comfortable, these highly efficient LEDs produce a warmer, more amber-colored tone at lower levels of light and a cooler color temperature with more intensity.
2. Tunable White – Developed for use in office environments and educational and health care facilities, these allow for the modification of color temperature and intensity within a set of pre-designated parameters. Numerous studies have shown that providing an opportunity to control color temperature has a direct, positive impact on health, comfort and productivity levels.One of the coolest aspects of Tunable White LED technology is that it typically allows end users the capability to separately adjust the color temperature and intensity of their light source, a feature with the potential to provide any business with added efficiencies and happier employees.
3. Full Color Tuning – By mixing several different base color LEDs, usually red, green and blue, it is possible to produce a color of light that emulates anything in the visible spectrum. Originally developed for movie theatres and the stage to strike a mood or make a dramatic impact, full color lighting solutions have now been widely adopted for residential and commercial environments. Interior designers and landscape architects incorporate this concept into their creations to accent walls or highlight notable features. Retail businesses are embracing the idea as an effective means of enhancing the appearance of their products.

As space becomes more limited, more and more people work from home and more organizations embrace the idea that a comfortable work environment makes a healthy bottom line, the need for rooms that serve multiple purposes will become more prevalent. The use of color tuning to ensure that the lighting is the best possible match for the mood or need will rise alongside this trend and the technology will continue to evolve, as well.

For a free consultation about how to develop a solution that best fits the unique goals and requirements of your business, contact me at the number or email address listed below.

Joe Marston is a seasoned entrepreneur and the president of Wilmington Winlectric, a leading distributor of lighting solutions and electrical supplies. Offering reliable guidance and trusted insights, Wilmington Winlectric serves clients in the industrial, commercial, and residential markets. Wilmington Winlectric is a locally-based provider of consultation services as well as lighting solutions, controls and electrical equipment. To find out how Wilmington Winlectric can benefit your business, call 910-790-1909, email [email protected], or visitwww.WilmingtonWinlectric.com.