Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

A Different Approach to Virus Mitigation

Natural Light Found to Help Kill Bacteria Indoors

  • 06/11/21

A recent study conducted by the University of Oregon evaluated sunlight's impact on dust and germs in an indoor space. According to the research, published in the journal Microbiome, rooms exposed to daylight have fewer germs and half the viable bacteria compared with dark rooms.

Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg, Ph.D., the co-author of the study and co-director of the Biology and the Built Environment Center at the University of Oregon concluded that "Until now, daylighting has been about visual comfort or broad health. But now we can say daylighting influences air quality."

A Different Approach to Virus Mitigation

Great news, but what do you do about spaces with limited sunlight exposure? Well, there is another option that's simple and cost-effective: Tubular daylighting, a top lighting system that evenly distributes sunlight without glare and minimal solar heat gain. Tubular daylighting allows for beautifully-natural light without any complicated structural modifications. In addition, the delivery of quality daylight to the school environment has shown to improve concentration, reduce behavioral issues and foster greater student achievement. 

Solatube offers daylighting solutions for all types of education spaces including classrooms, gyms, auditoriums, labs, hallways, cafeterias and more.

Featured

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.

  • DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

    The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023.

  • Little Grand Market

    Designing for Belonging: Why Student Wellness Starts with Space

    From walkable site planning to flexible interiors, intentional design choices play a critical role in how students experience comfort, connection, and community.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.