Darkness or insufficient light in any interior area makes it feel gloomy. That is a fact proven by scientific research all over the world. According to researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina, insufficient light in a house during the day can lead to unwanted negative mood increases – “When the circadian system is not receiving normal light, that in turn might lead to changes in brain systems that regulate mood.” That is why architects today are placing such importance on the availability of natural daylight indoors. But what about older homes that were designed before the importance of natural light was discovered to be so vital or even new homes where external factors limit the amount of light that is able to enter? People living in such homes need to find ways to increase the amount of natural light that is in their houses.
Psychologists say that "living in a dark house or being constantly in a dark, closed-in space can make us feel lethargic. We are simply not getting enough light to make us alert, which in turn lifts our mood.” A study done in Denmark shows that after the clocks are turned back to standard time in winter, there is an 11% increase in the number of people with depressive disorder. This is directly linked to the reduced availability of sunlight. Exposure to the light from monitors and hand-held devices in rooms that have inadequate amounts of sunlight during the daytime hours can lead to an upset of the brain rhythm because of the conflict between low natural ambient light and the focused artificial light from the devices. The brain is naturally programmed to be more active during the day when in natural ambient light focussing on electronic devices uses that natural programming.
The effects of inadequate sunlight are slow to develop and often so subtle that people do notice the effect on them. It is only when there is a sudden exposure to sunlight and the body and mind are stimulated and energy levels rise that people begin to realize how worn out they had been. That is the reason why vacations on the beach or other areas where there is a great deal of sunlight are so popular. However, the effects begin to fade away after the return to the inadequately illuminated home environment.
The bottom line is that allowing more sunlight into a home will make it a brighter, healthier and more energetic place to be in. Artificial lighting will not provide the same benefits.
Bringing more sunlight into a house is not as difficult as people think. It is true that adding windows or traditional skylights is a costly and complex job, often involving structural alterations to the building which no homeowner wants to get done. Using Tubular Daylighting Devices (TDDs) is a quick, clean and cost-effective way to bring sunlight indoors. These devices, which are in use all over the world, work by collecting sunlight from the roof of the house and carrying it through walls to even the most interior parts of the home where little or no sunlight enters. This sunlight is then diffused through the space by the use of ceiling-mounted light fixtures. These fixtures are not industrial products - they are designed to be elegant and effective and work with almost any interior décor. With TDDs, sunlight is available throughout the house, from sunrise to sunset. Not only is this better for the mental, emotional and physical health of the occupants, but it also offers significant savings on utility bills because electricity use for lighting is cut down during the day.
If your house needs more natural light or if you are looking for ways to go green by cutting your electricity consumption, there is a quick and hassle-free way to get started. Solatube is the world leader in TDDs and in the SF Bay Area, Sunlight Concepts is the premier dealer. Contact us for a free consultation where we will identify your daylighting needs and give you details of the type of TDD that will be best for you. If you decide to go ahead with the installation, our expert teams will do the job in just a few hours, usually on the same day. Check out our website to learn more about daylighting systems and the benefits they offer your family.
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