Solar Tubes Deliver Vitamin-D Rich Sunlight to Your Home

Most home sellers know the kitchen is the most important room of the house when it comes time to sell. It is the room in which individuals and families start their day. Having a tranquil, efficient environment can have a positive influence on mood and prepare people to start the day in a happier frame of mind.

This room is also where people gather, both friends and family. Some kitchens are eat-in and where families share meals, do homework, hold family meetings, and socialize with neighbors. It can be a room in which people bond.

Why brightness matters

According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), people often have intense responses to light. It can heighten both positive and negative emotions. The authors of the study say this is evidence of the positive effect light therapy has on mood and even in the treatment of depression in humans.

In natural sunlight, our bodies benefit from the absorption of vitamin D. Sometimes called the sunshine vitamin, people can boost their vitamin D both indoors and out. This means increasing natural light in rooms where you spend the most time—home, workplace, or during recreation—is essential.

Vitamin D prevents bone loss and improves our health by decreasing the risk of heart disease, helping to avoid weight gain, and deterring some types of cancer. Some doctors believe it may also reduce one’s susceptibility to COVID-19. One study showed that in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, those with sufficient levels of vitamin D had a decreased risk for adverse outcomes.

How to brighten a kitchen

A beautiful kitchen naturally attracts the family and visitors and is an investment in their health that also makes them happier. Since our kitchens are often the hub of the household, ensuring natural sunlight fills the room is beneficial to everyone.

Even though we may recognize the benefit of a brightly lit kitchen, it may not be possible or practical to install a window or skylight. There may be an attic or an orientation that would prevent additional light, even with the addition of a window. In those cases, a solar tube might be the ideal solution.

Solar tubes, or sun tubes, funnel sunlight into your kitchen and may save money on energy bills. More technically speaking, solar tubes are known as tubular daylighting devices (TDDs). From the kitchen side, a solar tube resembles a recessed light fixture.

Solar tubes do not produce as much natural lighting as a skylight or window but do provide marked improvements over electrical lighting. They have a transport device to collect light on the roof through the use of a reflective coating or fiber optics and conduct the light downward.

Unlike a skylight, a solar tube can be bent or turned as needed to navigate obstructions between the roof and the ceiling of the kitchen. A diffuser distributes light throughout the kitchen so that even when the sun is not bright, the solar tube transmits natural light without heat.

Installing sun tubes (for the DIYer, this is a half-day project) is also less expensive than adding a skylight or window, and, in addition to being good for your health, solar tubes are right for your wallet. They typically range in size from 10 to 20 inches in diameter and cost about $200 to $400, and you may qualify for energy tax credits.

Solar tubes aren’t just for kitchens. They can be used throughout the house and included as part of a larger renovation plan. Internal washrooms and laundry rooms are often underlit and as such, can benefit from the direct sunlight a solar tube provides.

All-around benefits

The kitchen is the most important room in many households. A beautiful kitchen will also pay dividends when it comes time to sell your house. Natural sunlight adds health benefits and increases the splendor of any layout.

When a skylight or window is possible due to obstructions or cost, solar tubes are a great alternative. Low-cost and easy to install for a handy DIYer, they are cost-effective and cost-efficient. Brighten your home–and your mood—with natural sunlight in your kitchen.