Using Solar Reflective Surfaces For Indoor lighting
Indoor lighting consumes as much as thirty percent of electricity usage in the average home. While windows and skylights can make efficient direct use of sunlight for lighting, other low tech methods will work also. The secret is to direct light from the outside to the area of concern.
Directing light can be done with the use of reflective surfaces. The most common example is mirrors. A high percentage of the light striking a mirror is reflected. The problem with mirrors as lighting reflectors is that the sunlight reflected is concentrated and can make hot spots on walls, furniture, etc as well as causing vision problems from direct sunlight in the eyes.
To avoid the problem of too much light, lessor reflectors, such a flexible white panels, can be used. A simple piece of cardboard spray painted white can reflect a surprising amount of light into a house. Other materials, such as shiny plastic panels may be used.
The two things to keep in mind are that the sun is constantly moving in the sky and that the panels need to be bent and positioned in such a way that they will reflect light properly for a long period of the day. The principles of optics are well known and can be used to direct the light.
The panels should be located in direct sunlight for as much of the day as possible. They should be curved in such a manner that they will direct the changing sunlight path to the proper spot.
When properly done, light from the outside can light up a home quite brightly. The panels can be either outside or indoors. As long as they can catch the sunlight and properly direct it, they will be effective.
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