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Help Make Natural Daylight the Primary Interior Light Source in Homes and Buildings.

#RightToDaylight
Daylight is Not a Privilege. It’s a Natural Right.

Daylight Has Supported Humanity Since the Dawn of Our Existence.

Daylight is what grows the plants that sustain our food sources and create the oxygen we breathe. Daylight is the light source that has shaped human evolution from the very beginning.

More than just a visual aid, we feel daylight deep in our being. It sets our circadian rhythms and connects us to sky conditions so that we intuitively know the time of day and year. It guides our daily lives, telling us when to wake and, in its absence, when to sleep.

Daylight is the Perfect Light Source for Seeing the World Around Us.

Under daylight, colors appear true and details are more vivid. Daylight has a positive effect on our cognition and our emotions. To “never see the light of day again” is a punishment that represents the absolute depths of despair.

Daylight not only gives life, but hope. It’s a metaphor that translates across language, cultural, and societal barriers; it speaks to something deeply ingrained in us as human beings.

273Billion kWh

US Energy for Lighting

Electric Lights Use Energy

Lighting uses 273 billion kilowatt-hours of energy across the US.

That’s 7% of total US energy consumption.

Daylight Uses Zero Energy.

On November 7th, 2018, Eneref Institute wrote an open letter to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“Eneref Institute holds the position that favorable conditions at work entails building facilities that are designed for occupant wellbeing.”

Read the full text of LETTER.

Eneref Report, “The Seven Market Obstacles to Daylighting” republished in LD+A magazine, February, 2014. REPRINT

Leaders Making an Impact

Eneref Reports Build Confidence With Testimonials by Industry Leaders and Early Adaptors.

Eneref’s solutions need to align with our mission of to encourage socially responsible, earth-friendly actions.

Recreating the original windows was a laborious process but they look beautiful now.

Anne Cleveland - Executive Director, Charleston Library Society > View Eneref Report

It’s really a very strong and super-reinforced metal and glass skylight up there.

Jeff Thomas - Owner of Thomas Custom Properties > View Eneref Report

The warranties squelched any worries that we had and their demeanor, decorum and confidence were decisive for us.

Joshua Roland - Architect > View Eneref Report

They want long-term, maintenance free buildings, and they are willing to pay a premium for lasting materials.

Bob Murrin - Principal Architect with AC Martin Partners > View Eneref Report

We tried to be as flexible as possible in the planning of the space so that the design studio could be configured differently in the future,

Adam Yarinsky - FAIA LEED AP, a principal with AR > View Eneref Report

We were strongly cognizant of the fact that it needs to work well when there’s no daylight,

Mitul Parekh - Worked at Kugler Tillotson Associates > View Eneref Report

All skylights we situate in industrial warehouses or distribution centers are polycarbonate.

Paul Simony - Vice President of Sales for SkyCo > View Eneref Report

We took the time to consider preservation versus reconstruction versus new construction and whether architectural authenticity resides in the material itself or in the design and specifications.

Kent Kleinman - University Architect’s office > View Eneref Report

What Actions Can We Take to Make a Difference?

What to Do

What to Say

Make an effort to notice skylights and windows at the grocery store, at work, at the doctor’s office, even in your own home. If you don’t see enough sunlight, tell someone. Building managers, facility operators, architects, construction companies… they need to know that we care about natural daylight.

They need to hear it from all of us: everyone has a #RightToDaylight.

  1. NATURAL DAYLIGHT BURNS NO FOSSIL FUELS

    Natural interior daylight (NID) saves energy. Daylight uses no electricity and burns no fossil fuel. Despite the market obstacles, buildings that use natural daylight save on energy costs, especially when daylight sensors and controls reduce the electric lighting. It may be one reason that homes with better windows and skylights increase in value faster.

  2. NATURAL DAYLIGHT IS HEALTHY

    People need windows and skylights because exposure to daylight is healthy. Studies demonstrate that the biological benefits of daylight significantly increase human performance outcomes, especially in classrooms, and is the reason that top universities insist on using natural daylight. Workers in offices with daylight have fewer sick days. Natural daylight is commonly used in health care facilities as well.

  3. NATURAL DAYLIGHT IS THE BEST LIGHT SOURCE

    Colors appear more vivid under daylight. Daylight brightens homes and helps people to discern colors. Visual acuity for examining small details is significantly improved. In fact, colors are so much better under natural daylight that auto sales increase in dealerships that use skylights. From office workers to firefighters, people appreciate the benefit of daylight where they work.