Is it time to replace your roof? Replace your old skylights as well to save you time, money, and leaky skylight headaches!
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
How to Bring Fresh Air into Your Home
Bring fresh, cooling air into your home even on hot days, with VELUX "Fresh Air" Skylights!
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
More Coffee or More Sunlight?
Have you ever experienced trouble falling asleep at night? Or staying awake at school or work during the post-lunch hours? These feelings of sleeplessness and sleepiness are often caused by the type of lighting we are exposed to throughout the day. For a lot of us, this lighting is electric rather than natural sunlight, and with time, it can have a huge affect on our bodies.
All light, whether it is electric or natural, has what is called a Kelvin color temperature. Most standard electrical lighting is at 3,500 Kelvin, and remains at this level throughout the day. However, sunlight can reach levels up to 10,000 Kelvin, and changes throughout the day.
Certain levels, usually 4,500 to 6,500 Kelvin, allow our bodies to feel more awake and energized. In the evening, the natural color temperature decreases, allowing our bodies to slow down and progress naturally towards sleep. In other words, the changing color temperature throughout the day and night (the moonlight has color temperature, too) assists in regulating our body’s circadian rhythms.
Spending so much time inside, under unnatural lighting, upsets these natural rhythms. Studies have shown that computer, television, and cell phone screens all give off light that has higher levels of blue light (a higher color temperature), a quality that tells our brains and bodies that it is time to be awake and active—which contradicts going to sleep right after using them.
In some hospitals and care facilities they are using lighting in the evenings that has more red light (a lower color temperature) because it creates the opposite effect of blue light. It is calming, relaxing, and good for sleeping.
By creating ways for abundant natural light to enter a living or work space, we can create indoor spaces that will balance your circadian rhythms and create a healthy, comfortable environment that will give you energy and help you sleep!
All light, whether it is electric or natural, has what is called a Kelvin color temperature. Most standard electrical lighting is at 3,500 Kelvin, and remains at this level throughout the day. However, sunlight can reach levels up to 10,000 Kelvin, and changes throughout the day.
Certain levels, usually 4,500 to 6,500 Kelvin, allow our bodies to feel more awake and energized. In the evening, the natural color temperature decreases, allowing our bodies to slow down and progress naturally towards sleep. In other words, the changing color temperature throughout the day and night (the moonlight has color temperature, too) assists in regulating our body’s circadian rhythms.
Spending so much time inside, under unnatural lighting, upsets these natural rhythms. Studies have shown that computer, television, and cell phone screens all give off light that has higher levels of blue light (a higher color temperature), a quality that tells our brains and bodies that it is time to be awake and active—which contradicts going to sleep right after using them.
In some hospitals and care facilities they are using lighting in the evenings that has more red light (a lower color temperature) because it creates the opposite effect of blue light. It is calming, relaxing, and good for sleeping.
By creating ways for abundant natural light to enter a living or work space, we can create indoor spaces that will balance your circadian rhythms and create a healthy, comfortable environment that will give you energy and help you sleep!
Skylights are the perfect way to let abundant natural light into your home that will make you feel good!
Call us today for a free estimate! (707) 527-5330.
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If you are interested in reading more about Kelvin light temperature, check out the source for this article here: “Human Centric Lighting” by Stan Walerczyk: http://humancentriclighting.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Stan-Article-SSL1.pdf
and the Human Centric Lighting Website: http://humancentriclighting.com
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Are There Beavers on Your Roof?
It might seem like it if you are noticing pools of water
collecting from leaf and debris dams on your roof!
With all the rain and wind in recent storms, leaves and
other debris will tend to build up, creating leaf dams.
The result? Pools of water that cause damage and leaks.
collecting from leaf and debris dams on your roof!
With all the rain and wind in recent storms, leaves and
other debris will tend to build up, creating leaf dams.
The result? Pools of water that cause damage and leaks.
The easiest way to keep your roof happy is to regularly clear away built up leaves and debris. A happy roof means a happy you.
Need a hand clearing that debris?
Give us a call today! (707) 527-5330
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Brighten Your Home with Bright New Accessories!
The new year has brought stylish and practical new accessories for your home. These new accessories for VELUX SUN TUNNEL skylights allow you to have the quality of light you want, when you want it.
Decorative Diffuser
This ceiling level decorative diffuser for VELUX SUN TUNNEL skylights adds style to any decor. It is available in Brushed Nickel, Polished Brass, Oil Rubbed Bronze, or White.
Daylight Controller
This product allows users to control the amount of daylight that enters a room. It is perfect for spaces such as bedrooms or entertainment rooms that might need darkening for sleeping or watching a show.
Diffuser Discs
There are now three options of Diffuser Discs. The standard Frosted Diffuser, the Prismatic Diffuser, and the New Fresnel Diffuser. The Fresnel diffuser has concentric honeycomb parabolic prisms to maximize light diffusion.
Energy Kit and Quad Diffuser
The Energy Kit (pictured) and the Quad Diffuser increase the energy efficiency of
VELUX SUN TUNNELS and ensures they are ENERGY STAR® qualified. The Energy Kit is made up of a thermal plate and diffusing disc. The thermal plate converts a dual diffuser system to a quad diffuser system, while the diffusing disc reduces solar heat gain and increases light diffusion. The Quad Diffuser simply makes a two pane diffuser into a four pane diffuser.
Call us today for a free estimate!
(707) 527-5330
Thursday, December 19, 2013
The Sun, the Source and Force of All Life
With the holiday season and the long, dark nights of winter upon us, we find ourselves turning to cultural traditions while we await the return of the sun’s light. The sun has long been thought of as the source and force of all life. We need it to survive and thrive.
Nearly all cultures have celebrated the sun in one form or another. In fact, according to Caroline Casey, in her book Making the Gods Work for You, the Buddha statues, with outstretched and open hand, along with the rock carvings in the Sahara of an open hand, both represent the rising sun, with the fingers as the sun’s rays of light.
One of the most well-known celebrations is the Winter Solstice, which marks the longest night of the year. This is the start of winter, and after this night the sun begins its return to longer days as the season moves toward spring.
Casey tells us that in the days before the solstice, the point of sunrise moves south on the eastern horizon. The word solstice breaks down into sol, which means “sun”, and stice, which means “stands still,” telling us that on the Winter Solstice the sun appears to stand still at its rising point, before it moves north again along the eastern horizon.
In Casey’s chapter on the sun, she also tells us that many cultures have linked the winter solstice to the birthdays of important figures, such as King Arthur, Jesus, and others that are associated with the symbolic return of light to the world.
These cultural traditions and beliefs show us that the Winter Solstice celebration is much like a prayer for the sunlight to return, and to bring hope with it for new possibilities. These celebrations timed with the season help us to throw off our old restraints so that we may begin anew, revitalized by the sunlight.
This winter we celebrate the season and our hopeful expectation of the sun’s return with lights decorating our homes and trees, with the lighting of the menorah, and the cherished time we spend with friends and family. Sunlight is truly fundamental to our lives!
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For the holidays our office will be closed from Monday, December 23, 2013 through Thursday, January 1, 2014. The office will be open for the new year starting on Friday, January 2, 2014.
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