Until recently, residents of Japan enjoyed unfettered access to artificial lighting, along with natural light that varies richly with the seasons.

Following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, however, lighting became an easy target for energy conservation campaigns. As people were forced to turn off lights as part of mandatory energy conservation programs related to the shut-down of nuclear power plants, many realized that they preferred the atmosphere of slightly darkened spaces. That raised an interesting question: If turning off some lights doesn't create a problem, why was the lighting designed that way in the first place?

On the other hand, some people with impaired vision who had depended on bright lights to guide their way suffered when street lamps were reduced. Safe, comfortable lighting designed from the user's perspective has become even more important in the context of limited energy.

Creating beautifully lighted spaces is an important goal for lighting designers. But they also need to think about how to reduce mental and visual strain in the spaces where people spend extended amounts of time. By offering lighting designs rooted in research into the psychological and physical impacts of light, we aim to use light to improve health and comfort, as well as to reduce energy use.

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