Lighting in Schools Can Dramatically Affect Children’s Health and Learning Ability

Peoria, AZ, January 07, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Science of Light (SOL), a new Arizona based health science research organization, began accepting pledges for its green schools indoor environmental project - Enlightened Schools: “Smart Lights = Smart Kids.” SOL’s innovative ‘passive fitness’ project enhances children’s scholastic performance; reduces illness and absenteeism, saves schools money and is paid for with saved energy dollars.

Research studies show that lighting in schools can dramatically affect children’s health and their ability to learn. People spend over 90% of their time indoors with children spending up to 40 hours per week in school buildings. Much of this time is spent under fluorescent lighting that emits hazardous radiation and radio frequency waves that contribute to a toxic “light polluted” indoor environment for students, teachers and staff.

The Enlightened Schools project was launched on FundaGeek, the crowdfunding site for technical innovation. Reaching their $112,000 goal will let SOL take this high performance school project from patent pending to production of LED (light emitting diode) technology that closely replicates natural sunlight referred to as full-spectrum light. Full-spectrum light research in schools has been shown to reduce hyper activity and learning disorders while improving health and performance in the classroom.

SOL’s innovative green program will improve student performance as well as increase energy efficiency in schools by eliminating the shortage of exposure to full-spectrum light caused by low quality fluorescent light. Studies by the father of full-spectrum light, the late Dr. John Ott, have shown that “Mal-illumination,” or the lack of exposure to natural daylight can be likened to malnutrition.

“Light is to Mal-illumination as Food is to Malnutrition.” Human DNA is programmed to assimilate full-spectrum daily light exposure, and the lack thereof contributes to many health and productivity issues, some of which can be quite serious. This is an especially important environmental health message for parents, teachers, school boards and educational facility planners because ‘Information Age’ children spend so much time indoors under limited spectrum, artificial light. When children, as well as adults, do go outdoors they shield themselves from the sun by the means of sunscreen, sunglasses and tinted windows to the degree that their bodies lack some of the vital nutritional elements natural light provides like vitamin D.

Few would disagree that today's children are tomorrow's leaders. However, children today are suffering in record numbers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), obesity, diabetes, depression... as well as scholastic performance issues. Interestingly, all of these different problems share a direct or indirect association with Mal-illumination. 

By mass-producing the patent pending, LED full-spectrum lights that are both energy and health friendly, Science of Light is determined to shine new light on disease prevention and is poised to enlighten tomorrow's leaders… today.

To contribute to the project or to help spread the word about Enlightened Schools or to learn how you can help, visit http://www.fundageek.com/project/detail/250/Enlightened-Schools-Smart-Lights--Smart-Kids

Science of Light is a pending 501c3 non-profit organization focused on research, development and implementing the use of light for enhancing wellness, productivity and energy efficiency in the indoor environment.