Coloured light is one aspect of modern aircraft cabin design. It could be used intentionally to influence thermal sensations: Coloured light may convey the impression that the environmental temperature is warmer or cooler than it actually is while still providing thermal comfort. A study was conducted in a light laboratory to test these assumptions. Subjects were exposed to different lighting situations, which were evaluated in terms of light and comfort. It was found that room temperature was perceived as being different depending on the colour of the lighting: In yellow light, room temperature was felt to be warmer than in blue light. Conversely, air quality was perceived as being higher and subjects felt more alert in blue light. All the coloured lighting situations tested were comfortable.

This paper examines whether the use of coloured light can influence aircraft passengers' temperature sensations and can make the climate be perceived as cooler or warmer ('hue-heat hypothesis'), a phenomenon shown in earlier light laboratory experiments. Experiments with 199 subjects were conducted under realistic conditions, a cabin of a single-aisle aircraft. Two lighting scenarios (yellow and blue) were combined with different temperatures. Results show an effect in the hypothesized direction. The impact of lighting colour on climate perception and evaluation can be observed in the whole sample and in certain subgroups of subjects. The size of the effect agrees with former studies. A largescale application of this effect in the aircraft/aviation industry could lead to energy savings and contribute to cost effectiveness.

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