StaffLet’s be honest. We’ve all seen it: beautifully integrated smart homes with sleek touch panels, discreet speakers, and a healthy price tag, undermined by a ceiling full of £7 sub-standard luminaires. It’s not just disappointing. It’s unacceptable. Michael Meeneghan, Director at MP Tech Solutions, shines a spotlight on the topic…
At MP Tech, we believe everyone has the right to good lighting, lighting that enhances wellbeing, supports lifestyle, and aligns with how people actually live in their homes. That’s why we’re raising awareness within the industry: to move the conversation on from lighting control to lighting experience. Because no matter how advanced your control system is, if it’s driving poor-quality luminaires, the outcome is still poor.
We’re fortunate to work at the leading edge of both residential and marine lighting systems. Whether we’re fitting out a superyacht or a high-end smart home, our approach is the same: lighting should not only look good, but do good. That’s where human-centric, and more specifically circadian-friendly, lighting comes in.
Beyond Dimming
Circadian friendly lighting is built on a simple idea: our bodies are biologically tuned to respond to light over a 24-hour cycle. This isn’t a lifestyle trend, it’s neuroscience. The human circadian system is governed by light-sensitive cells in the retina, which send signals to the brain’s internal clock.
These signals are most sensitive to short-wavelength blue light (460–480nm). In the morning, exposure to this light suppresses melatonin and increases alertness. In the evening, reduced blue content allows melatonin production to resume, promoting rest and recovery.
But here’s the catch: standard LED lighting, especially the cheap, low-quality kind, is often rich in blue light, flickers at high frequency, and lacks proper spectral tuning. That means it can disrupt the body’s natural rhythm, impair sleep, and reduce wellbeing.
For smart home clients, many of whom are investing in high-end environments to enhance their lifestyle, it’s a contradiction we can no longer ignore.
Science-Backed Lighting for the Real World
To implement biologically supportive lighting in our projects, MP Tech partners with RAY – a company pioneering a new standard in circadian lighting by combining the latest in neuroscience, photobiology, and lighting engineering.
Here’s what sets RAY’s lighting technology apart:
Full Spectrum Output RAY’s unique phosphor blend delivers a broad, natural spectrum with a CRI of 99 and TM30 of 96, for sharper whites, accurate skin tones, and balanced colour across the board.
Flicker-Free Performance Using Flicker Free Bridging Technology, RAY luminaires reduce flicker to near zero, including GU10s that test between 1-8%, helping to minimise eye strain and support neurological health.
Precision Beam Control Their CBCP lens system focuses light exactly where it’s needed, allowing for clean, controllable beam angles without compromising spectrum quality.
Thermal Efficiency A custom thermo-conductive casing and splayed conduction system manage heat effectively, protecting LED performance and extending lifespan.
This isn’t just high-quality lighting; it’s lighting that supports how people feel, function, and live in their homes. It’s also why we’re selective about what we integrate. With RAY’s system architecture, we can deliver dynamic, circadian-supportive lighting that’s rooted in science, without compromising on aesthetic or control.
Application in Residential and Marine Projects
In residential spaces, this translates to subtle but profound experiences: lighting that energises home gyms in the morning, supports deep focus in the study, or creates calming transitions into evening routines. We’ve designed homes where bedroom lighting aligns with sunrise and sunset, bathroom lighting mimics spa environments, and kitchens transition from vibrant daytime hubs to relaxed evening lounges.
In the marine sector, these principles are even more critical. Without access to natural light in many areas throughout the vessel, and with passengers crossing multiple time zones, yachts present a unique challenge. We use circadian lighting systems to help reset body clocks, reduce jet lag, and improve sleep quality.
Knowledge Is the Differentiator
So, what does this mean for integrators? It means that if you’re still selecting lighting based purely on price, beam angle and dimmer compatibility, you’re missing an opportunity.
Our clients don’t want science lessons, they want outcomes: better sleep, calmer evenings, more energy. But behind those outcomes is a growing need for integrators who understand the biology, the technology, and the integration of it all.
Lighting is no longer a second fix afterthought. It’s a wellness tool, a lifestyle amplifier, and a differentiator in the competitive smart home market. And it’s our job as integrators to deliver on that potential.
Time to Set a New Standard
The industry can do better. Clients deserve better. And with the rise of biologically tuned lighting, integrators now have the tools to deliver lighting that’s not just smart – but intelligent.
It’s time to leave the budget friendly luminaires behind and embrace lighting that reflects the value of the systems we build around it. At MP Tech, we’re committed to pushing that conversation forward – on land, at sea, and everywhere in between.
For more about MP Tech’s approach to circadian friendly lighting and our work with RAY, visit mptech.solutions.