Daylight from a natural light tubular skylight can promote healthy aging. Multiple studies have found that homes and neighborhoods have a direct impact on retirees. When neighborhoods can’t be walked, or homes are too dark, they can have a negative impact on retirees as they get older. As a result of this, many retirees are taking steps to improve their quality of life.
Sufficient light has been attributed as the single most important criterion for retirees regarding safety. Not only can it reduce trips and falls in the home, but natural light reduces energy costs and improves overall health. The VELUX Sun Tunnel is a natural light tubular skylight designed to filter daylight directly into a home. The daylight is free, and the cost to install a Sun Tunnel skylight is significantly less than a curb-mounted or deck-mounted skylight.
One of the more popular solutions to reduce falls in the home is installing skylights and Sun Tunnel skylights into their homes. The Sun Tunnel has a unique, slim design that filters daylight into dark areas of a home that other daylighting strategies might not be able to reach. This can include hallways, bathrooms, closets, and mud rooms. According to one study, there was a 43% reduction in falls after dynamic lighting, which included natural lights, was installed in long-term care homes.
One 10” VELUX Sun Tunnel produces about 3,000 lumens on average. This is equivalent to two and a half 100-watt incandescent bulbs. The average American household uses a light for 4 hours a day on average. But, because retirees are at home more than younger Americans, they may leave a light on for 5 – 11 hours a day.
The average U.S. electricity rate is $0.17 per kilowatt-hour. At that rate, retirees could spend:
$100+ to power three 60-watt bulbs a year
$225+ to power three 100-watt bulbs a year
Daylight is FREE from sunup to sundown. There would also be no cost for replacement light bulbs. And as a bonus, natural light tubular skylights require little to no maintenance.
Daylight has been shown to improve sleep and energy while reducing anxiety. One study found that retirees wake and fall asleep regularly throughout the night when they live in a light-deprived nursing home. Proper daylight can reduce the number of nighttime wakings and the duties on caregivers. In fact, an Iranian study followed elderly people age 60-101 and found that thirty minutes of direct daylight in the early morning and thirty minutes in the evening produced 45% more melatonin and effectively aided in correcting sleeping through the night and staying alert through the day, reducing the need for naps.
Other retirees have noted an improvement in cognitive functions and memory when exposed to high levels of daylight. A study of 1,192 participants aged 60 years and older residing in China found that those exposed to high amounts of daylight had a higher average mental state score, including memory, language, calculation, and attention, compared to participants in the medium or low sun exposure groups. This study concluded that long-term high sun exposure throughout life could reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in later years of life. So, the sooner a Sun Tunnel is installed, the better.
These benefits of natural light tubular skylights are not limited to just retirees. Children, parents, and even pets can enjoy the many benefits of daylight. To learn more about how daylight can help create an ideal indoor living environment, have your homeowners contact one of our Design and Product Advisors. They are available for a virtual sit-down to discuss skylight design, skylight placement, and other skylight options.
For contractors, roofers, and builders looking for Sun Tunnel installation assistance, VELUX offers several options. Our Pro Partner Academy is an instructor-led in-class course that highlights installation and sales techniques. The VELUX Mobile van is available to come to the job site and provide installation training. This classroom and on-the-job training are only available at select locations. Comprehensive skylight installation videos are also available on our website and YouTube channel.
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