Attacking SAD With Lights On

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a medical condition that affects many people around the world. In the most severe cases it leads to depression; in milder forms it is often known as the winter blues. As a SAD sufferer I've learned that sunlight is indeed one of the best medicines.

Let There Be Light
People in northern climes have long worked to mitigate against winters with their short, gray days. But, SAD can affect people anywhere in the world. In southern climes it is more prevalent in winter when days are shorter and the sun is at a lower angle. One of the more effective therapies developed to date has been the introduction of new lighting technologies that produce far greater number of lumens (brightness) than do our average incandescent or fluorescent bulbs.

Low light after the sun goes down really isn't the challenge. I've found that it is more critical to ensure adequate lighting during daylight hours. We attacked this issue in designing Upstate House in two ways. First, we placed additional windows on our southern/western exposure to better capture and disperse natural light -- especially in winter.

Increasing Natural Lighting Without Sacrificing Energy Efficiency
We additionally featured two large VELUX (www.velux.com) operable skylights in the dining area between the den and kitchen. These nearly 2' by 4' windows will shower the living area with additional sunlight in all seasons. And, the operable feature will allow a natural venting function when outside temperatures cooperate. They will serve to pull cooler air from the basement area and exhaust hotter air from the living level.

Enhanced Lighting in the Office is Critical
I have for several years augmented my desk area lighting with a "sun lamp" specifically designed for SAD patients. The six windows in the upstairs office will be further enhanced by two Solatubes (www.solatube.com). On the roof, the two projections look like large vent pipes with rounded-glass caps. In the ceiling they resemble two high-powered lights. A pipe and high intensity reflectors will capture natural sunlight and direct it into the office.

We believe the combination of ample windows, two VELUX skylights and two Solatubes should more than provide adequate natural lighting to provide therapeutic advantages. On really cloudy days we'll click on the sun lamp for added help.