Natural Light and the Elderly
As people age, falling can become a very serious health issue. One of the leading causes of falling is insufficient light in the environment. Since aging eyes require a lot more light in order to see, standard lighting often becomes inadequate lighting. Artificial light also tends to be glaring, which hurts aging eyes. When natural light is introduced into a living environment, the non-glare light can create a space with less light/shadow patterning that is often found with artificial light. It is this patterned light that can confuse the aging eye, often resulting in a stumble and fall. The National Safety Council contends that falling accidents are the leading cause of injury related death for people 75 years and older.

Quality light and a quality life seem to go hand in hand. When older people live in an environment filled with non-glare natural light, they not only negotiate the terrain more confidently, but they also tend to be less depressed, more social, less anxious, have a better appetite and even sleep better! All these factors add up to a much healthier and happier life, especially for people who are confined to an indoor environment.

Are You "SAD"?
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

The days become darker. Less sunlight filters your life. The air becomes crisp early in the morning. And you want to sleep just a little while longer. You even reach for a cup of hot cider rather than a glass of cold, iced tea.

What has changed, you say? Fall is in the air. And winter will soon follow. During these colder, darker days, you may begin to experience such intense feelings as fatigue, lethargy, weight gain or even depression. You might even have other lesser, more vague symptoms like feeling “cooped up” or having “cabin fever.” Your increased anxiety, oversleeping, or loss of energy may have nothing at all to do with simply going through “the winter blues.” You may, in fact, have a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, is a cyclic, seasonal type of depression, which causes serious mood alterations in some people during lighting and temperature fluctuations caused by the four seasons. The onset of SAD can occur during any part of the year but most people experience symptoms beginning in the late fall to early winter. Symptoms of SAD can even last until late summer! Every year, half a million people in the United States suffer from this common type of fall- and winter-induced depression.

What are the symptoms of SAD?

Not everyone who develops SAD experiences the same symptoms. You may have Seasonal Affective Disorder if your symptoms come and go about the same time each year.

Do you:

• Feel sad, grumpy, moody, irritable or anxious?
• Have a drop in energy levels, or feel fatigued?
• Lose interest in your usual activities and avoid social situations?
• Have a change in appetite, especially a craving for sweet or starchy foods such as pasta?
• Sleep more and feel drowsy during the daytime?
• Have difficulty concentrating?

What causes SAD?

Experts are not exactly sure what causes Seasonal Affective Disorder. However, they note that these series of mood shifts in those who do experience this syndrome are related to the changes in the amount of daylight to which a person is exposed during different times of the year. The lack of light may upset a person’s sleep-wake cycle, or what is known as circadian rhythms. Lack of natural light may also cause a person’s mood to shift off-kilter due to non-sufficient amounts of serotonin in the brain.

What Can Solatube Daylighting Systems Do For You as a Year-round Cure for Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Did you know that Solatube Daylighting Systems are actually good for you? Several prominent studies have shown that increasing daily exposure to natural light can enhance mental and physical well-being, boost concentration and energy levels, and provide a number of other unexpected perks. Now you can have the best solid defense against the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder on an ongoing basis – all day…everyday… conveniently within the privacy of your own home or business – without ever having to go outside. Our exceptional variety of Solatube lighting products actually lets the sun shine in while giving you total control over the amount of light you let in. By providing more continuous, evenly dispersed sunlight to even your darkest rooms, Solatube Daylighting Systems adds an abundance of clear, pure natural light to every interior, thereby creating a natural elevation in mood at all times!

Backed by the highest performance guarantee for all of our Solatube Daylighting System products, Solar Lighting of Virginia will always focus its light on brightening your day! And with our patented, breakthrough technology, you have 24-hour access to all the light therapy you will ever need… year-round... in all the changing seasons.

Inexpensive Natural Light
Light is becoming a very important design element for homes and office buildings. Studies have shown that when people live and work in a well lit environment, they are happier, healthier and more productive. Unfortunately, bringing the light to the people is becoming a more expensive proposition as each year goes by. According to some power company studies, nearly one quarter of annual electrical use in the United States is attributed to lighting. But all is not lost! When Solatubes are integrated into the design of interior rooms and hallways, the natural light brought in through these highly reflective tubes is often the only light source required during daylight hours. The Solatube not only brings in the benefits of natural light (improved moods, increased energy levels, reduced eyestrain, true color rendering, making interior spaces appear larger) into the home or workplace, but it costs absolutely nothing to operate during daylight hours. Now that is a true energy savings!

Sell That House!
Do you have a house that has been sitting on the market just a little too long? For less than $1,000 a dark and dreary house can be turned into real show stopper with the simple addition of one or two strategically placed Solatubes. Since light is becoming a real design element in home decorating, give your buyers what they want—natural light!!! And give your seller what they want - a "sold" sign on their front lawn.