Sunlight and Health
The number of theories about how to prevent or recover from COVID-19 are spreading almost as fast as the disease itself. No one can tell with certainty that one course of action will work and another will not. However, there is one natural and freely available resource that has been proven over the years by voluminous research, to be effective in preventing infections. The idea that COVID-19 can be treated by exposure to sunlight has no scientific basis as of now. However, sunlight is known to be a disinfectant.
Proven Effectiveness
National Public Radio has cited a study conducted by the University of Oregon. In this study, test rooms were covered with dust collected from homes in Portland. Some rooms allowed sunlight to enter, others only UV light, and the rest were kept dark. Dust can remain for up to 90 days, even after vacuuming so that was the time frame for which the test rooms were kept closed. After 90 days, the rooms that had sunlight coming in had fewer germs and microbes than those which had only UV light entering and those which were kept dark. What generations of mothers have always known is now a scientific fact – sunlight kills germs.
The Shelter-in-Place Conundrum
Social distancing and staying at home are the cornerstones of fighting the pandemic. The problem with this is staying healthy while confined to the house. Regular exercise is important. So is consuming a healthy and nutritious diet. But what about keeping the home healthy? Scrubbing with soap and water is good, but it cannot be done in every part of the house. Using chemical disinfectants is effective but extended exposure to them has its own problems. The best way to keep a home healthy is by ramping up the amount of cleaning being done and by maximizing the sunlight entering the home.
Not all parts of a house receive the same or an adequate amount of sunlight. You cannot spend your day moving from room to room so that you are where there is maximum natural light. The ideal solution to this problem is to increase the amount of sunlight in the home. In the past, this meant major structural changes to the house to install more windows or skylights. In many cases, this was not even possible. Today, there is a simple and cost-effective way to get it done.
Also Read: Make Your Home a Happier Place
Daylighting Systems
Daylighting systems capture sunlight from the roof and use high-tech tubing to carry it to even the most interior parts of a house. No structural modifications are required and the work can be completed in just a few hours. The sunlight is diffused through the home using elegant fittings. Daylighting systems are clean, elegant, environment friendly, and reduce electricity consumption. The benefits of installing daylighting systems in a home will remain long after COVID-19 is gone.
Contact a daylighting systems dealer to begin your daylighting experience.
Read the original blog on https://sunlightconcepts.blogspot.com/2020/05/sunlight-and-health.html
- May 29, 2020