It’s called the Sundoller. In the same way that a submarine periscope bounces off reflections and light so you can see outside the ship, this huge contraption attaches to a roof and funnels sunlight and distributes it evenly around the room.
This is what you see outside:
This is what it looks like inside. Look ma, no bulbs!
These new studies extend the healing impact that daylight/sunshine and window views have on specific physical conditions. Some explanations stress the role of serotonin, the body’s circadian rhythm response to light. Others speculate that health benefits from sunlight may have something to do with Vitamin D., which is formed naturally in the body as a result of the UV rays in sunlight.
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The problem with green technology is that despite the benefits to saving our environment, it becomes quite uncomfortable for human beings to accomodate themselves by giving way to nature. Despite the health benefits to productivity with people and sunlight, there are drawbacks. Traditional sunlight pumping mechanisms have one big compromise – not only does it pump in light, it also pumps in heat, making it rather uncomfortable for occupants. The Sundoller pumps light in and distributes it evenly across several “light pipes” removing annoying things like glare.
Here’s a sample video at the Douglas Country Library Sundoller.
