What Is a Light Shelf?

A light shelf is an architectural element which is designed to scatter natural light into a room, reducing the need for artificial lighting. Light shelves also provide shade near the windows, reducing glare and keeping rooms cool when temperatures rise. This design feature can be integrated into a building when it is constructed, or added later to increase energy efficiency. Along with things like skylights and light tubes, light shelves are considered “daylighting” devices, meaning that they are designed to cut down on the use of artificial lighting during the day. In order for a light shelf to be effective, the ceilings in the room typically need to be high, to provide a lot of room for the light. The shelf is placed above eye level in a window, and it can be located either indoors or outdoors. On the upper surface, the light shelf is coated in reflective material so that when light hits it, the light bounces off and hits the ceiling, pushing light deep into the room. When the room ...  more