The Story Of Daylighting

Human beings may be the dominant creatures on the planet, but we are not the hardiest or strongest. We require shelter from the forces of nature to keep us from injury or worse. That is why the first humans lived in caves. These natural rock shelters offered protection from the wind, rain and snow; but there was a downside – the opening of the cave was the only way light could enter, and that meant that the further back one went, the darker it became. However, the entrance was the area of most exposure and also the most risk of attacks from predators. Having no choice, man lived this way for millennia. It was only when man learned to make shelters with wood, stones, mud and leaves that people were able to leave the caves for more comfortable living spaces. However, the problem of interior illumination remained – the more the openings in the walls to allow light to enter, the greater the risk to the inhabitants.

Light In the Home

Archeology has uncovered evidence of the existence of glass in Egypt more than 5,000 years ago. This means that man now had a way to exercise control over the size and number of openings in a structure while not restricting the amount of light that entered. However, it was not until around the 1st century BCE that glass was first used in the construction of buildings in Rome. This was a revolution as it enabled people to work, eat, rest and socialize in the security of controlled environs. Starting with small panes set into walls, the use of glass rapidly accelerated and soon glass windows that could open and close and skylights were common features in all types of construction. Soon the availability of natural light became an important aspect of building design. At night there were candles and oil lamps to provide basic lighting.

Light In The Workplace

The glass manufacturing process progressed over the centuries and by the 1600s large panes of glass could be made and fitted to big buildings. This allowed a group of people to gather and work in unison – in other words, the start of organized manufacturing. This led to the industrial revolution in Europe (and later in North America). Glass walls, wrap-around windows and other innovations enabled people to work for longer hours, from sunrise to sunset and so to be more productive. Functioning at night with candles and lamps was still not easy.

Light At Night

The arrival of electric lighting at the end of the 19th century meant that sunset was no longer the end of the day, either at home or at work. With cheap electric power available, the focus was no longer on the availability of sunlight indoors. Windows became smaller and ceilings lower. There was even a short-lived architectural movement towards windowless buildings for schools and offices as this would mean less distraction and more focus on the ongoing work indoors.

Too Good To Last

The energy crisis arrived in the 1970s. This was followed by the understanding of climate change. People and governments around the world began to understand that (a) natural resources to fuel electricity production were not unlimited and (b) the more fossil fuel used, the more the planet was being harmed. This caused nations to turn their attention to the use of renewable sources of energy. That was fine at the macro level, but for home and commercial establishments, that was an easy-to-install, economical and environment-friendly source of lighting available. This was tubular skylights or tubular daylighting devices (TDDs). Light collectors mounted on the roof passed light down special reflective tubes to even the most interior parts of buildings. This light was free, used no energy and did not harm the environment.

Today, TDDs, or daylighting, as it is often called, is the way of the future. Maximizing the amount of natural sunlight available indoors has huge benefits in terms of the environment, human good health and enhancing human well-being. Daylighting has proven its value and importance over the centuries. Today is the right time to add it to your home or workplace. The use of daylighting costs nothing and the well-being it promotes adds to peace and comfort and home and productivity in the office.

If you want to find out more about daylighting ad the best and most advanced systems available, visit the Sunlight Concepts website or give us a call at (408) 583-6031 (Bay Area) or (831) 208-5806 (Monterey area). We will offer you a free consultation and give you all the information you need to make an informed decision about the use of daylighting for your home or workplace.