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Human-Centric Lighting

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The Lighting Industry’s €3 to €300 Opportunity

The lighting industry is making a costly error by competing on energy efficiency alone. The 3-30-300 rule from real estate puts a building’s yearly costs per square metre at about €3 for utilities, €30 for rent and €300 for the people working in it — yet lighting innovates almost entirely inside the €3 category. Good light that follows natural light and keeps the biological clock in sync improves alertness, concentration and cognitive performance, which is where the €300 is. This episode argues for selling value through human health and well-being instead of minimal savings.

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The Lighting Industry's €3 to €300 Opportunity

LED professional Podcast · Episode

The Lighting Industry's €3 to €300 Opportunity

2nd, December 2025 · 8 min

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This episode asserts that the lighting industry is making a costly error by focusing solely on energy efficiency rather than the vast potential of enhancing human output.

It introduces the 3-30-300 rule, a real estate metric showing that salaries and personnel costs (€300) far outweigh utilities (€3) — yet the industry primarily innovates within the minor energy category.

Good light, which mimics natural light to synchronise the biological clock, improves occupant alertness, concentration and cognitive performance. By shifting the emphasis from minimal savings to creating value through human health and well-being, the sector can move past price pressure and capitalise on the substantial €300 cost category.

All episodes: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BJk7BpHwWBUVsf5c7fFyz

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