Category: Daylighting

Research shows that daylight can impact wellness by reducing illness, shortening hospital stays and leveraging Circadian Rhythms toward greater health benefit in the clinical setting and in the home. For these reasons, Solatube Daylighting Systems are making an impact on healthcare now more than ever. Here’s why this technology is helping health-conscious individuals, patients, doctors and even healthcare staff see a “new light” with improved outcomes as people illuminate interiors like never before.

What does health research say about daylight?

Did you know that natural light has health benefits that are instrumental in improving wellness? For years, doctors have known that appropriate exposure to the sun can treat skin disease, seasonal affective disorder — or “SAD” — depression while even strengthening someone’s overall immunity. While direct sunlight has risks, indoor delivery of daylight doesn’t have to. Furthermore, greater natural light during the day can help stabilize circadian rhythms, affording a host of hormone-regulated health benefits:

Benefits of restored circadian rhythms include:

• Patients experience a boosted mood. Psychologists believe that sunlight stimulates serotonin production, which promotes a positive outlook while aiding in stress-reduction and enhancing one’s mood, productivity, stamina and overall well-being.
   
• Patients sleep better. Sunlight triggers the brain to stop producing melatonin. This allows a person to stay more awake in the day and sleep better at night.
   
• These light cycles promote a healthy heart. Heart attack incidence rises around daylight savings. Researchers credit this phenomenon to increased inflammation in the body from stress-hormone production, caused by the absence of light. It’s no surprise that increased sunlight — thought to lower cholesterol, blood pressure and arterial sclerosis — is good for the heart indoors too.
   
• People feel an increase in energy. More light means greater energy and health in the brain. Heightening oxygen levels and triggering endorphins, daylight can enhance vitality to support concentration, endurance, muscle-development and fitness pursuits.
   
• Daylight helps stabilize many body processes. Derailed hunger and metabolism, weight gain and even headaches can result from disruption to natural body cycles set by the sun. By stabilizing one’s exposure to daylight, the body’s natural rhythms take over and promote enhanced wellness in these areas and more.

How can daylight help patient recovery?

In addition, researchers have found that patients recover faster when exposed to more daylight. In fact, recovery times in well-lit hospital rooms sourced by natural light came down from anywhere between 16 to 41 percent!

This type of “daylighting” has caused noticeable improvements in patients with Alzheimer’s, depression, dementia, cancer, heart disease and many others. Consequently, more hospitals, geriatric and assisted-living facilities, health-care clinics and rehab clinics are installing mechanisms to bring daylight in.

Discover new options to deliver natural light safely.

Although harsh, interior lighting can cause an excessive transfer of heat and harmful UV exposure, lighting rooms through tubular daylight devices (TDDs) rather than windows can harness wellness-benefit while eliminating these negative side effects.

Furthermore, experts have proven that safely filtering daylight into healthcare facilities improves staff performance and job satisfaction, making work environments better places too.

How do Solatube daylighting systems work for healthcare?

Solatube Daylighting Systems re-route daylight from outside and bring it inside. Highly efficient and customizable to a facility’s needs, they promote wellness gained through natural light via highly reflective, tubular-daylight devices. Plus, they also reduce the need for electric lighting during the day, decreasing the footprint left on our environment. People can install this type of lighting anywhere because they don’t require extreme structural adaptations, and they’re economical and efficient.

What’s the bottom line?

Humans have innate connections to nature that restore the body’s natural rhythms toward wellness, connecting us to what’s green. Studies have shown even minimal contact with nature reduces stress, lessens anger, minimizes fear and heightens happiness. Imagine what a day of natural light can really do for someone – whether they are healing or just trying to live a better life.

Do you have rooms that are in shadow for all or part of the day? Do you sometimes hold your clothes up to a window to make sure the colors match? Are you forced to turn on your electric lights during the daytime to see clearly?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be able to overcome these common home lighting issues if you upgrade your current electric lighting to natural lighting from a Solatube Daylighting System. 

To find out which of your rooms may benefit the most from daylight, click to access our interactive daylighting worksheet. During daylight hours, take it with you as you walk through your rooms with the electric lights turned off. Rank each room’s natural light level on the worksheet, then read the key below to see whether or not a Solatube Daylighting System can help brighten your home. 

Key for Daylighting Worksheet

Dark Rooms

If you categorized any of your rooms as “dark,” you probably rely heavily on electric lights to see during the day. This wastes electricity and may be driving up your energy bills. A Solatube Daylighting System is designed to pipe in loads of natural light so you get a brighter, more beautiful room…without the need for electricity.

Heavily Shadowed Rooms

Some of your rooms may receive daylight from a small window, but are still heavily shadowed—even during the brightest part of the day. If you’re using your electric lights to brighten these rooms, you’re spending your hard-earned money to power those lights. With a Solatube Daylighting System, you can keep that money in your wallet by lighting your rooms for free with endless, abundant, sustainable sunlight.

Lightly Shadowed Rooms

Lightly shadowed rooms tend to have a mix of light and dim areas. As a result, you may find yourself occasionally flipping on your electric lights to brighten these rooms during the day. A Solatube Daylighting System can even out shadows and enhance the beauty of your rooms while making it easier to see clearly and reducing your electricity use.

Moderately Lit Rooms

Although moderately lit rooms typically receive adequate natural light from one or more windows or traditional skylights, the sunlight streaming through them may result in hot spots, glare, and shifting light patterns throughout the day. A Solatube Daylighting System eliminates these issues by spreading daylight evenly throughout the room and preventing heat from entering your interior.

Brightly Lit Rooms

With some residential floor plans, the builders took care to effectively integrate daylight into the interior through the use of precisely placed windows and traditional skylights. If this describes your rooms, you don’t need a Solatube Daylighting System. You already have a naturally bright and beautiful home!

To see examples of Solatube Daylighting Systems in actual homes, visit our Residential Showcase. 

If you’d like to find out where to buy a Solatube Daylighting System, visit our Where to Buy page. 

How much natural light do you have in your home? 

Company invented tubular daylighting devices in 1990

And is now in over 120 countries worldwide

Vancouver, WA (Nov 2, 2015) — San Diego based Solatube® International Inc., the worldwide leading manufacturer and marketer of tubular daylighting devices (TDDs), is celebrating its 25^th Anniversary. The company invented TDDs (also known as tubular skylights), which harvest and distribute daylight in homes and commercial buildings, opening up an entirely new category in the lighting industry. Solatube Daylighting Systems are now frequently installed as part of energy-saving and sustainability efforts in residential and commercial spaces in over 120 countries.

Using patented technology, a Solatube Daylighting System harvests daylight at the rooftop, transfers it down a highly reflective tube (which bends up to 90 degrees and can be up to 70 feet or more long) and distributes it evenly into an interior space through a diffuser at the ceiling. The products have been installed in everything from homes to warehouses, schools, offices, manufacturing facilities, museums and government buildings, in every part of the world.

“So much has changed in the past 25 years,” said Solatube International CEO and Co-Founder David Rillie. “When we invented the tubular daylighting device back in late 1980s, daylighting wasn’t even a term anyone used; now it’s ubiquitous. We approach product development with the same passion and innovation as we did back then, bringing forth technological advances that change how millions of people around the world enjoy daylight.”

The first Solatube Daylighting System was sold in 1991 and millions have been installed since.

Solatube Global Marketing Inc. has been assisting with this growth specifically developing the markets of Europe, Latin America, Central Asia, and The Middle East since 1998 when it was founded by Solatube Co-Founder John Hanley.

President Brett Hanley shares, “We change the world and connect people to nature on a daily basis by offering innovative, sustainable solutions for everyday living.” This passion is changing the way people use daylighting through the introduction of the highest quality tubular daylighting devices on the market and educating the public worldwide on the benefits of daylighting their homes, offices, and warehouses.

Some notable types of installations from the past 25 years include:

• Classrooms – in schools around the world, students benefit from natural light delivered by Solatube Daylighting Systems. Numerous studies have shown higher test scores and improved academic performance by students exposed to daylight.

• Hospitality – the ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi Sweden needed light but not heat, perfect for the Solatube Daylighting Systems.

• Warehouse/Manufacturing/Processing – for companies like PepsiCo and ArcelorMittal, daylighting contributes to building efficiency and productivity.

• Sports Arenas – in 2008 for the “World’s First Green Olympics” theme, Solatube Daylighting Systems were installed in the Beijing Science & Technology University Gymnasium for the judo and taekwondo competitions.

• Museums and Zoos – Solatube Daylighting Systems have been installed over fish tanks in homes, as well as in places like the Miami Science Museum, to provide natural light so aquatic life can flourish. They are installed in zoos around the world, such as the Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria, Toronto Zoo in Canada.

• Transportation – Solatube products natural light to a road tunneled through a mountain in China and transportation hubs, such as the Santa Domingo Airport in the Dominican Republic.

• Agriculture – companies like Algae to Omega had Solatube Daylighting Systems installed over its tanks to promote growth of algae that’s harvested for use in a variety of products.

• Underground Installations – from underground parking facilities in China to an underground Mammoth Park in Serbia, Solatube Systems deliver daylight.

About Solatube Global Marketing

Solatube Global Marketing Inc., based in Vancouver, Washington in the United States, is the exclusive licensee and marketer of Tubular Daylighting Devices (TDDs) in Europe, Latin America, Central Asia, and The Middle East. Established in May of 1998, Solatube Global Marketing, Inc., Is changing the way people use daylighting has simply been the result of our passion to challenge conventional thinking and find a better way. Together with Solatube International, we are introducing the highest quality tubular daylighting devices on the market and educating the public worldwide on the benefits of daylighting their homes, offices and warehouses. For more information, please visit the Solatube Global Marketing website at www.solaglobal.com  or call +1 (360) 844 0055.

About Solatube International

Solatube International, Inc., widely recognized as the daylighting industry innovator, has earned worldwide acclaim for its unrivaled ability to transform interior spaces with natural light. , the company’s flagship product, the Solatube® Daylighting System, provides a revolutionary natural lighting solution for all types of residential and commercial applications and is the only specification-grade TDD currently available on the market. The maxim “Innovation in Daylighting™” reflects the company’s commitment to the development and distribution of breakthrough daylighting technologies, which has resulted in numerous patents dating back to the mid-1980s. Based in Northern San Diego, California, the company is the leading manufacturer and marketer of tubular daylighting devices (TDDs) for all types of residential and commercial applications. For more information, please visit the Solatube International website at www.solatube.com.

Business owners are constantly looking for ways to provide a better in-store experience to their customers. An often overlooked, but still critical, part of the retail experience is lighting. Research has shown that daylight helps to reduce eye strain and increase visual performance, thereby allowing people to perform tasks longer and more accurately. Good lighting, especially natural daylight, can have a positive impact on the overall shopping experience.

Setting the Shopping Mood

The benefits of sunlight as a mood booster have been demonstrated by multiple studies, and consumers that are happy and comfortable tend to buy more goods more frequently. Just as playing soft music helps to set a calm, relaxing mood in retail stores, adequate daylight can create an inviting environment for shoppers. A 2003 study found that retail stores with ample natural lighting experienced as much as 40% more sales than poorly-lit stores. Taking advantage of the positive influence of daylight can help create a retail space where customers will love to shop.

Happier Employees Means Happier Customers

Customers aren’t the only ones impacted by better lighting solutions. Employees spend hours in retail spaces every day, and they are often a customer’s first point of contact with a business. Exposure to daylight has been shown to improve employee satisfaction, help reduce on-the-job errors and increase productivity as much as 10%. Reducing the stress levels for employees helps ensure that customer service quality stays high, giving customers a better shopping experience overall.

The Downside of Sunshine

While natural sunlight often seems like the best solution for creating a well-lit shopping environment, that isn’t always the case. There are a few significant drawbacks to sunlight can prevent businesses can seeing optimal results. Shops in retail centers and mall shops often lack an adequate natural lighting source. Furthermore, while leveraging natural sunlight to provide lighting for retail spaces can help cut down electricity costs from lighting, sunlight also brings heat and potentially harmful UV rays. Businesses that utilize sunlight can end up paying more for air conditioning costs in order to maintain a comfortably cool working and shopping environment.

A Better Solution: Tubular Daylight Devices (TDDs)

Tubular Daylighting Devices provide a cost-effective and energy efficient alternative to natural sunlight that doesn’t feel like traditional artificial light sources. For businesses looking to harness the benefits of daylight without the downsides, Tubular Daylight Devices like Solatube  Daylighting Systems provide a natural lighting alternative for retail spaces including:

• More Control over Light Levels – While the position of the sun throughout the day and year can impact the amount and positioning of the natural light in a retail space, TDDs allow for more consistent control over the light levels in a store.

• Lower Energy Costs – Tubular Daylighting Devices are energy efficient light source and, unlike sunlight, won’t overheat the room, so business owners can save money on climate control and lighting costs in the long run. For companies looking to reduce their carbon footprint while providing customers with a premium shopping experience, Tubular Daylighting Devices allows them to achieve the look and results they want without incurring higher energy costs.

• Daylight in Retail Spaces without Access to Sunlight – For retail spaces located in retail centers, malls and older buildings, access to natural light is often limited. Tubular daylight systems let retailers bring the benefits of daylight into their retail space regardless of what their existing space looks like.

Finding an Alternative to Sunlight with Solatube Daylighting Systems

Solatube Daylighting Systems provide the benefits of daylight to interior spaces that don’t have easy access to natural light. We’ve created daylighting solutions that are adaptable to a variety of spaces, from retail centers and malls to individual shops. If you’re looking for ways to boost sales, employee morale and customer satisfaction in your retail spaces, our daylighting systems can provide you with a sustainable and effective solution.

The post The Secret to Happy Customers? A Little Daylight appeared first on Solaglobal.

Research spurred by sustainable school initiatives and heightened international test score competition has shown that daylight has a large positive impact on student and teacher performance. With several decades of studies to draw from, the data makes it clear that schools with a “daylight deficit” are missing the chance for serious educational improvement, and may be hurting their students in the process.

How Daylight Combats Myopia

The world is experiencing a myopia crisis, with rates in the United States and Europe more than doubling over the last 50 years. Research first conducted during the U.S. industrial boom a century ago pointed the finger at reading, with the idea that peering at books was causing myopia. Those findings were later discredited by improved research methodology, which has since settled on sunlight as the biggest player in myopia rates.

The easiest and most effective way to combat myopia is by providing exposure to daylight during childhood and adolescence, when the eyes are most likely to develop the condition. Researchers at the University of Canberra have shown that exposure to at least three hours of strong sunlight per day are necessary for students to achieve therapeutic effects.

Beyond making it easier for children to read and study, the ability for sunlit classrooms to combat myopia also reveals a link to a more fundamental human bio-mechanic: the circadian rhythm.

Circadian Rhythm and Education

The role circadian rhythm plays in human biology is both straightforward and far-reaching, and it is almost entirely dependent on exposure to sunlight. The human body is easily confused when it comes to deciding what time of day it is, to such a degree that sitting in a dimly lit classroom is enough to make the brain think it’s night and time to prepare for sleep by ramping down mental activity and hormone levels that are crucial for sustained concentration. This means that a poorly lit classroom is quite literally putting the brains of students to sleep.

Daylighting and Education Performance Levels

The California Public Utilities Commission funded a study of three schools across the country that evaluated classroom performance in comparison to levels of sunlight. By comparing student and teacher results between classrooms with poor window coverage and those with abundant sunlight, researchers discovered an average 25 to 30 percent performance boost in well-lit rooms, across all subject areas and curriculum types.

Meta-studies of national research reinforce these findings and report more than 20 percentage points, on average, of improvement in test results for day-lit elementary schools when compared to the U.S. average.

How Tubular Daylight Devices Can Help

Many schools around the world use buildings that are decades or even centuries old. Repurposed buildings are common, especially in European cities, and those older designs often have inadequate lighting thanks to small, infrequently spaced windows. With a heavy reliance on masonry-based, load-bearing outer walls, such buildings are often impossible to retrofit with larger windows.

Tubular daylight devices (TDDs) like Solatube Daylighting Systems present a perfect solution. They don’t require working around masonry walls, but are instead installed straight through the roof. By routing filtered sunlight into a classroom, a TDD can dramatically improve light levels, boosting the health of those inside.

With such clear ramifications for performance, schools may no longer have a choice when it comes to improving their students’ access to daylight.