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NEEDED: A FRESH APPROACH TO INDOOR LIFE


We have managed to isolate ourselves from the uncertainties and discomfort of the natural world, but in far too many ways it has proved to be a hollow victory.


Canadians were asked how much time they think we spend indoors and they believe we only spend 68% of our time.  If that were only true, we actually spend 90% of our time indoors and our homes are so well insulated that not enough fresh air and daylight can get in. Today, millions of people worldwide currently live in buildings so damp and mouldy that they are a potential threat to physical and mental wellbeing. The resulting poor indoor air can provoke a whole range of illnesses from headaches and sore eyes to allergies, asthma – and worse. People are 40% more likely to have asthma when living in a damp and mouldy home. 

Lack of direct sunlight also causes health issues such as vitamin D deficiency, which can contribute to feelings of tiredness, fatigue and low mood. Experts also estimate that up to 30% of the world’s population suffer from different levels of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder, or winter depression). The exact cause of SAD isn't fully understood but it's often linked to reduced exposure to sunlight.
Without action, these problems are only going to get worse. That’s why it’s so important for all of us to re-think the way we live indoors. From individuals to architects, from companies to governments, we all have a responsibility to do everything we can to make sure our buildings have a healthy environment. We have to start building differently, and we have to start living differently.

Some solutions are simple, some more demanding, and some require fundamental changes in society. But it can be done – we have to act now, together.

THE JOURNEY TO A HEALTHIER INDOOR ENVIRONMENT

For more than 75 years, VELUX has been dedicated to improving people’s quality of life by helping to ensure homes, workplaces and schools can get enough light and fresh air. The health benefits are now confirmed by science, but there is still a long way to go before we understand that daylight and fresh air are not just “nice to have” – they’re also “need to have.”
Fortunately, we are not alone on this journey. We are working together with other global market leaders in the building and construction industry to make better homes. Our solutions can’t solve all the indoor generation’s problems, but we can help to show the best way forward.


INDOOR AIR CAN BE FIVE TIMES MORE POLLUTED THAN OUTSIDE AIR

No matter where you live, opening a window and letting in fresh air is almost always preferable to breathing in stale indoor air.

LACK OF DAYLIGHT MAKES 15% OF US SAD

The power of daylight cannot be reproduced artificially. We need sunlight in order to feel energetic and healthy.