LED lighting transitions: Optimizing research environments through evidence-based design

Fluorescent-to-LED conversions present critical decision points for research facility infrastructure. This session delivers actionable intelligence on lighting technology differences and defines emerging metrics—Melanopic Equivalent Daylight Illuminance, Color Fidelity, and Color Gamut—with direct laboratory applications. Karen Murphy and John Hasnau demonstrate how lighting impacts physiological and behavioral research outcomes, review current regulatory requirements for building lighting, and present exclusive findings from an AALAS facility conversion survey. They equip design and facilities teams with evidence-based strategies to maximize LED benefits while avoiding costly pitfalls. They outline specific protocols for evaluating lighting systems against research integrity standards and operational requirements, ensuring facility investments support both occupant welfare and scientific validity.