The bright overhead lights always manage to greet us, or should I say awaken us when we walk into Palatine Highschool. With their consistent bland tone, some complain about their intensity and would rather have warm, comforting lights. Others say the bright white lights help them focus. So, should Palatine Highschool add more warm lighting to benefit students?

According to Vonn.com, warm colored lighting promotes relaxation and reduces stress levels. Warm lighting can also positively affect one’s mood, promoting feelings of happiness and contentment. Thus, warm lighting is often used in places individuals seek comfort and emotional support. Of course, school is not just meant to be a focused environment, but one that encourages seeking comfort and positivity every day.

Additionally, warm lighting not only enhances one’s mood but is significantly better for preserving one’s eye health. Doctor James Auran, from the Columbia University Irving Medical Center says that in general, warmer lights, which have more light at the red end of the spectrum, are easier on the eye than color blue/white lights.

From a scientific perspective, Onforuleds.com shares that lighting that ranges from 2,500 to 3,000 Kelvin is easier on the eyes. So, the fewer the Kelvin, the lower the wavelengths of the produced light, thus easier on the eyes.

Without a doubt, students are on their iPads each and every day, many often finding themselves struggling with eye strain due to the extensive exposure to blue light in addition to the bright white overhead lights. Thus, the combination causing eye strain to students’ which could be avoided simply by changing some of the cool toned lights to warm toned lights.

PHS Junior Zoe Turner explains, “I prefer warm lights better than bright white lights because after spending long hours at school, the bright lighting often gives me headaches and strains my eyes”. She adds, “warm lighting helps me stay relaxed and concentrated throughout the day, making my classrooms more pleasant and less tense”.

In 2025, Township High School District 211 presented their plans for future projects which include LED light upgrades. Hopefully, LED lights that change from warm to cool settings will be installed as they will significantly help promote relaxation and decrease eye strain in students while keeping both color settings as flexible options to suit all students’ needs.