IntelEfficient

I remember as a child the commercial about a popular glass-cleaner encouraging the viewer to “bring all the sun in.”  There is an energizing feeling to have bright, natural daylight pouring into a room.  While dark, quiet spaces may have their place, a well-lit room is an inviting space to work and play.

Studies in the early part of the twentieth century showed that increasing light levels in factories had a positive effect on production, and industrial engineers looked for ways to capitalize on this idea.  As electricity became an increasingly insignificant cost of production, buildings were designed to replace natural light and ventilation with artificial light and air-conditioning.  Over time, we learned that natural light plays a key role in the body’s biological rhythms, immune system and brain chemistry.  Numerous studies have shown that daylight has a positive effect on health, productivity, learning, and general well-being in schools, offices and retail spaces.  So it’s only logical that these same benefits would be experienced at home, too.

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