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Background Daytime light helps consolidate sleep in persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD), but light levels required are high and available lighting fixtures cannot deliver the light level and spectrum needed for the circadian system. Moreover, ambient light levels cannot be measured to determine treatment dose. The present study tested whether a tailored lighting intervention could improve sleep in eight ADRD patients living in long‐term care facilities and used a novel device to measure light dose (RAD). Method In a crossover, repeated‐measures design, we exposed ADRD participants (MMSE<24) to an active (circadian stimulus, CS=0.3) and inactive (CS=0.1) tailored lighting intervention for successive 4‐week periods, spaced by a 4‐week washout period. RAD devices, calibrated to measure circadian light, were placed in spaces where the intervention was administered. The lighting intervention was energized from wake time until 6:00 pm. Measures of sleep disturbances (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI and actigraph) and mood (Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, CSDD) were collected at baseline and during the last weeks of each intervention periods. Result Compared to their respective baseline conditions, the active lighting intervention significantly decreased wake percent and increased sleep percent. Compared to baseline and to the inactive intervention, PSQI scores reduced in the active intervention. Depression scores were significantly lower after the active than after the inactive intervention. The mean ± SEM PSQI scores was 10.9±1.1 and 7.3±0.7 at baseline and after active intervention and 10.0±1.0 and 10.3±1.6 at baseline and after the inactive intervention. The mean ± SEM CSDD scores was 9.0±1.7 and 8.0±1.3 at baseline and after active intervention and 12.0±1.6 and 12.0±2.1 at baseline and after the inactive intervention. Conclusion When carefully delivered to patients’ eyes and monitored with a calibrated instrument, daytime light can improve sleep and mood in nursing home residents with AD/ADRD. Additional data need to be collected to extend these preliminary results.

Innovative wireless communications, embedded sensors, data analytics, and controls can help meet California's ambitious energy efficiency goals by reducing lighting energy use in commercial buildings. The project team applied advances in these information and communication technologies to three main research areas: 1) sensor-rich networked lighting systems; 2) intuitive, standardized user interfaces for networked lighting systems; and 3) verifiable performance for networked lighting systems. This project developed a suite of networked lighting solutions (area 1) including the PermaMote, a self-powered sensor and controller for lighting applications, and the Readings-At-Desk system that integrates sensors with data-driven daylighting control using an open communication interface. In the laboratory, these technologies showed lighting energy savings of up to 73 percent with occupancy control and daylight dimming features, compared to operating the same light source (LED replacement lamps) via simple on/off scheduling.To reduce potential confusion for building occupants about operating traditional lighting control systems, the research team created content that could be the basis for a user interface standard for lighting controls (area 2). The project team also developed a proposed standard lighting data model. The team provided the user interface content and data model to the American National Standards Institute Lighting Systems Committee for standardization.To help ensure that advanced lighting controls deliver energy savings, the project team developed a new method for evaluating lighting system performance (area 3). The project team proposed energy use intensity (kilowatt-hours per square foot per year) as a more effective design metric and code requirement than installed lighting density (watts per square foot) and validated the ability of three commercial lighting systems to self-report energy use intensity through testing in FLEXLAB®, showing a wide range in the accuracy of reported energy-use, from 0.5 percent to 28 percent error.The project team estimates that these advanced technologies can reduce California office lighting energy use by 20 percent above normal advanced lighting controls mandated by Title 24 standards, saving about 1,600 gigawatt-hours per year.

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