From lighting up dark spaces to supporting overall well-being, light plays a key role in daily life, influencing health, mood, and productivity. The two primary sources of light are natural and artificial. Whether you choose to rely solely on artificial light sources or incorporate natural light through windows or skylights, such as Solatube’s tubular skylight, your choice can significantly impact your health and well-being.
In this article, we will explore the differences between natural and artificial light and why Solatube’s tubular skylights are an optimal solution for enhancing natural light indoors.
Defining Natural and Artificial Light
Natural Light
Natural light comes from the sun, providing a dynamic spectrum of light waves that change in intensity throughout the day. It supports biological functions and without adequate amounts, our bodies become deficient and struggle to regulate essential processes. This leads to issues like fatigue, weakened immunity, and disrupted sleep cycles.
Artificial Light
Artificial light is man-made and comes in the form of incandescent bulbs, LEDs, and fluorescent lamps. While artificial light offers a consistent light spectrum and controlled intensity, it lacks the biological benefits of natural light. It is typically used to supplement natural light during nighttime or in enclosed spaces but does not offer the same physiological advantages.
Spectral Composition and Intensity
Natural Light
A primary difference between natural light and artificial light is the spectrum of wavelengths. Sunlight contains visible light, ultraviolet (UV) and infrared radiation (IR), all of which benefit biological processes. UV light, for example, triggers a reaction in the skin that converts cholesterol into vitamin D, an essential vitamin for human function. The intensity of natural light fluctuates throughout the day, depending on time, weather, and geographic location.
Artificial Light
Artificial light has a smaller spectrum of light. Most indoor lighting, such as LED, fluorescent, and incandescent bulbs, emits little to no ultraviolet B and, as a result, doesn’t contribute to vitamin D production. While artificial light can be adjusted for brightness and colour temperature, artificial lighting doesn’t have the same biological benefits as sunlight. Selecting the wrong type of LED can negatively affect your well-being. For example, poorly chosen colours of light can disrupt your circadian rhythms or lead to eye strain.
Impact on Human Health and Well-being
Because our bodies and modern lifestyles need light to function, light has a great deal of impact on human health and well-being. However, natural light and artificial light were not created equal.
Here are the effects they have on human health and well-being:
Natural Light
- Healthy sleep cycles: Regulates circadian rhythms and promotes healthy sleep-wake cycles.
- Vitamin D production: Stimulates vitamin D production, which is essential for bone health.
- Improved mood: Known to enhance mood and cognitive function which helps reduce stress and fatigue.
Artificial Light
- Disruption to circadian rhythm: Prolonged exposure to artificial light sources, such as blue light, can disrupt circadian rhythms and affect sleep quality.
- Eye strain and fatigue: Artificial light can cause eye strain and fatigue with prolonged use.
- Essential at nighttime or low light conditions: Artificial light provides essential illumination in low light conditions, ensuring safety and functionality.
Applications and Considerations in Architecture and Design
Utilising Natural Light
Although the best solution to receiving natural light is to be outdoors, there are many ways to harness natural light in the home. Installing skylights, large windows or open spaces within the home helps to maximise daylight exposure. Solatube’s tubular skylights are a premier solution, delivering maximum daylight while maintaining thermal efficiency. Other methods include installing large windows, open floor plans, and reflective surfaces to optimise daylighting.
Choosing a skylight with features such as a solar night light system further extends the natural light captured even after sunset.
Implementing Artificial Light
Strategically placing artificial light in your home can also improve its effects and efficiency. For example, the colour temperature of light can affect your circadian rhythm so having bright fluorescent lights during the day and warm low-light lamps in the evening can improve their effects. Reducing blue light in the home at night can also greatly reduce the negative impacts.
Natural light and artificial light are intricate parts of human life, supporting health and productivity. However, opting for natural light sources over artificial light is beneficial as it regulates your circadian rhythm, increases energy and boosts mood.
Installing Solatube’s tubular skylights is an effective way to bring natural light into the home, creating brighter, more sustained living spaces. Additionally, adjusting artificial light settings to complement the time of day can help minimise its negative effects on the body.
To explore how Solatube’s skylight solutions can transform your home, connect with one of our certified dealers today!