The Sundolier – The Chandelier Channelling Natural Sunlight

Imagine a solar lighting system that gathers and distributes concentrated sunlight to illuminate your home, the office, school, factory or whatever – without using electricity, electrical wiring or light bulbs!

This is now science NON-fiction with a very impressive product that cables natural sunlight through optical fiber to effectively illuminate an area of from 1000 up to 2500 square feet. The parabolic banana shaped reflector

Natural Light Chandelier

continuously directs itself towards the sun with an active tracking device that operates through two axes, so it is always gathering maximum solar energy (thus no doubt the reason behind the company’s site name of sunflowerdaylighting.com). I imagine the outdoor tracking system does require some form of external electricity, be that minimal compared to the energy harvested for distribution through the fibre optic cable system (though I suppose that could be powered through traditional solar panels as well).

Sundolier banana-bolic dish

A Cool System Using Indirect Sunlight
Another advantage of this system is that you are reducing or minimising other solar issues such as glare and heat generated through direct sunlight. The Sundolier (sun chandelier – I like that!) provides a reflective light by directing the fibre-optic outputs towards the ceilings and walls so illuminating the whole surrounding space rather than the somewhat haphazardly directed, traditional electrical lighting systems.

Indirect Sunlight – a Healthy Option for Body and Mind
Then there is the double health value of benefiting from natural light as opposed to artificial light yet to being free from the hazards of solar and particularly UV radiation from staying in direct sunlight. Many people complain about the effects of fluorescent lighting causing headaches, eye discomfort and so on. Nowadays it is even considered a partial cause of stress. This natural indirect lighting system is free from the 60 cps flickering that is inherent in normal A/C lighting. Furthermore there are no worries of direct sun rays causing harm to the skin.

Did You Know of These Advantages of Natural Daylight?
The manufacturers of the Sundolier product make these various claims regarding the benefits of natural as opposed to artificial lighting that they say have been scientifically verified:

• one learns faster (21% increase)

• office and industrial workers show increased productivity and wellness with reduced absenteeism. Since the staff are happy, they stay longer and recruitment costs are lower.

• shoppers buy more since they feel more at ease and color conscious products are seen in their natural glory (so the Customer Returns Department should be less busy as well).

I wonder if it also works as an aphrodisiac!

Of course there is a major advantage of reduced energy bills when the sun is shining, but I am wondering how the system performs in cloudy and overcast weather?… Anyway… A very interesting product and I look forward to hearing more of its progress and reception.

Naturally Lit Open Plan Office