One of the most curious things about modern architecture is that buildings with many windows still require artificial lighting during the day for students and workers to perform their jobs efficiently.

That may change with the introduction of Sundolier, a mechanical/electronic sunlight transport system that literally “pipes” sunlight inside. Made by Boulder, Colorado-based Sunflower Corporation, the Sundolier is advertised as “putting a solar robot on the roof”.

The design of the Sundolier is reminiscent of concentrating solar power, or CSP, which uses mirrors and a central collector to focus a beam of light to create energy. The mirrors in this case are reflectors that look like an empty banana peel. Unlike CSP, however, the Sundolier uses dual-axis tracking (like PV panels) and – instead of converting light to energy – pipes it down a two-foot diameter tube and onto a “sun chandelier inside the building. This last is basically a diffraction device that can illuminate up to 2,500 square feet of space from a single lens and one, 24-inch roof penetration (though some sources describe it as closer to three feet).

The lighting levels achieved by the revolutionary Sundolier are said to be 2,000 lumens (ANSI rated, in full sunlight) at about 3 feet above the floor in a 1,000 square-foot room, with minimal heat gain. Describing the system as robotics, however, is somewhat deceptive. The field is actually photonics, or passive light redirection, and is effective precisely because few photons are lost in the light pipes that redirect illumination. The only robotic aspect is the tracking.

Unlike windows and skylights, Sundolier does not create hotspots or add to the burden of building HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) systems. It also doesn’t create the glare and “flicker rate” of fluorescent lighting, which has been implicated in everything from headaches to seizures. Finally, it does not require the burning of fossil fuels to keep it going, eliminating all the emissions contributing to global warming, acid rain and mercury pollution in lakes and streams.

Daylight, or natural light, is the healthiest source of light, allowing students to learn up to 21 percent faster and workers to perform job functions with 23 percent more productivity. Daylight also improves the appearance of product, leading consumers to purchase up to 40 percent more in an environment lit by natural lighting.

Unlike fluorescent lighting, which can actually make Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) worse, natural light improves mood by stimulating endorphins, leading to fewer sick days, fewer intrapersonal conflicts, and an atmosphere more conducive to cooperation.

The Sundolier installed in buildings can also help building owners and operators achieve LEED (Leadership in Environment and Energy Design) certification by meeting the 75-percent daylight threshold, and moving building interiors closer to the 90-percent standard. LEED is the gold standard for building sustainability.

The Sundolier system has already been installed in four locations in Colorado, at the Boulder Valley School District’s Southern Hills Middle School; at Fox Middle School in the Cherry Creek School District in Aurora; at Longmont High School in Longmont; and at the Philip S. Miller Library in Castle Rock.

Sundolier can be installed inside any building whose ceiling height is close to eight feet (though it works better at greater heights), and both new and older flat-roofed buildings without compromising roof integrity.