The Surprising Health Benefits of Skylights

July 6, 2024

Installing a skylight in your home is more than just an architectural choice; it’s an investment in your health too. With the right skylight, you can tap into the many benefits of increased natural light and ventilation for improvement in your overall health and well-being. This blog will delve into these benefits, exploring how skylights can be a simple yet powerful feature for a healthier space.

Increased Natural Light

Increased natural light has many benefits for our immune system, mental health, and overall health and wellbeing. According to the Australian Government, a skylight can admit more than three times as much natural light as a vertical window of the same size. This amplifies the health benefits of natural night with the installation of a skylight. Let’s explore these benefits:

• A Source of Vitamin D: Vitamin D has many important roles in the body, including reducing inflammation, boosting immunity, and supporting healthy bone growth. Most people in Australia can get their dose of Vitamin D by going about their daily outdoor activities. However, time outdoors may be limited in colder months or if you spend lots of time inside, such as working from home. A skylight allows natural light to enter your space throughout all seasons and enables you to get adequate Vitamin D even when you are inside. 
• Improved Mental Health: Exposure to natural light can work wonders for your mental health. Sunlight naturally increases the amount of serotonin that your brain produces, a chemical commonly referred to as ‘the happy hormone’. Serotonin is associated with boosting mood and helping you feel calm and focused. People who lack serotonin are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and other health conditions. Additionally, natural light has been proven to lower stress. Many studies have shown that working in environments with ample natural light can boost productivity and motivation, which can be particularly beneficial in a home study area.
• A Healthier Circadian Rhythm: Natural light absorbed by the eye controls the production of the hormone melatonin, which aids in sleep as well as other important bodily functions. Prolonged exposure to artificial lighting or limited sunlight exposure can interfere with your body’s natural circadian rhythm and disrupt your sleep cycle. By emitting natural light when the sun is out, skylights enable a consistent production of melatonin in sync with nature. This promotes a healthy circadian rhythm by enabling you to stay awake and alert during the day, and ready to sleep when the sun goes down. If you feel like sleeping in for a bit longer or want to completely block out all light for a good night’s sleep, there are many accessories that you can add to your skylight. This includes our range of solar blinds that allow you to control how much light enters your space at any time.
• Decreased Eye Strain: Low lighting can cause eye strain and headaches. Over a long period of time, this can lead to health issues such as near-sightedness and chronic migraines. Skylights significantly brighten your space, eliminate shadows, and improve eyesight, allowing you to concentrate on any task at hand. 

Improved Ventilation

As well as the many benefits of increased natural light, skylights also provide excellent ventilation in your home for a healthier indoor environment and better air quality. In the long term, this works to drastically improve your respiratory health. Let’s explore the many health benefits of good ventilation in your home:

• • Better Quality Sleep: Studies have shown that increasing ventilation results in fewer disturbances and increased deep sleep. With the installation of a skylight in your bedroom, you can enjoy fresh, circulated air for better quality sleep without compromising your privacy. A well-ventilated bedroom also works to reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide and boost oxygen levels. This improves air quality for better health and comfort while you rest.
  • Reduce the Formation of Mould: The most common cause of mould formation is humidity due to a lack of ventilation and hot temperatures. In a moist space like a bathroom, mould can form easily which can trigger respiratory infections as well as worsen asthma and allergies. An operable skylight can release steam and condensation that can lead to the harmful formation of mould over time. It also allows natural light to enter your space, which helps to dry out damp environments even further.

• Regulate Temperature: Skylights can help you beat the Summer heat by expelling warm air from your home. They can also release steam and odours from your kitchen for a well-ventilated and comfortable cooking space. During the Winter months, sickness is more common as people spend more time indoors with the windows and doors closed to keep warm. This means that viruses are more likely to spread. As opposed to opening a window and bracing through a cold breeze, a skylight is a great way to ventilate your home without compromising your comfort. This can help to circulate fresh air and expel any air-borne illnesses for a healthier home. 

Installing a skylight into your home will allow you to bask in the many proven health benefits of increased natural light and ventilation. From improved sleep to better air quality, there is no doubt that skylights are much more than an architectural choice – they promote good health, too! If you are curious about installing a skylight in your home, contact us at Natural Lighting Products. We have been providing quality and innovative daylighting solutions for over 30 years and can deliver your project to your expectations on time.