Do human dwellings need windows - or would skylights suffice?

[txlibdem]

Can humans live comfortably in a home that has no windows, provided that a row of skylights run the length of of the dwelling?

Possible concerns: psychological impacts; nothing to look at but 4 walls; "cabin fever?"

What do you think?

And could wall murals or tapestries be a substitute?

[Tunkamerica]

1. screensavers

i have curtains on all my windows and hardly ever open them. Of course I work nights so they're there to keep out the sun so i can sleep.

[Confusious]

2. Why? nt

[Tesha]

13. Well, for one thing, being able to live well while "windowless" enables underground houses..

And *THAT* would enable housing that is both much-more energy efficient
but also much safer in areas prone to hurricanes or tornadoes (and possibly
even earthquakes, depending on the exact design of the house).

Tesha

[txlibdem]

22. That's one of the options I thought about, also "passive house" designs

Some of these are truly beautiful inside and out.

http://www.dana-home.com/underground-home-design-and-tips/
http://www.trendir.com/house-design/underground-home-designs-swiss-mountain-house.html
http://www.permies.com/permaculture-forums/4472_0/green-building/photos-of-alternative-buildings-amp-structures-
http://www.homeqn.com/entry/12-of-the-coolest-underground-houses/

just a few examples...

[Cronus Protagonist]

3. I've lived with skylights only for 7 years so far...

I feel fine but my skin is translucent.

[SheilaT]

4. Humans certainly can live for long periods

of time without windows -- think of sailors on board a submarine. But it's not optimal, and I for one like having windows with even a minimal view. For one thing, it helps to be able to have some idea of what the weather is like outside, which wouldn't be as easy to see with just skylights.

[tgearfanatic234]

10. very interesting

[Kennah]

5. Skylights only would facilitate the throwing of stones

[eppur_se_muova]

6. Yes. We need to relax our eyes by viewing distant objects.

Lets the focusing muscles of the eye relax, and minimizes fatigue.

When people have a minute of free time between tasks, it's not unusual for them to spend it staring out the window. Ask them what they're looking for, or what they're watching, and they'll usually say "nothing" -- which is usually true. They're often viewing a scene they see every day. It's just automatic: tired eyes --> stare into distance

[KT2000]

7. Need those windows

Windows allow the home dweller to somewhat feel a part of the greater world. If we were limited to skylights in a life that is increasingly using computers as substitute for human interaction, I fear the consequences of that.
Some prisoners are allowed only a skylight.

[Tx4obama]

8. I would not want to live in a home without windows

If there is a fire or a burglar busts thru the door
it is important to have a window to crawl out of.

In the spring and fall it is nice to have windows to open for the fresh air/breeze.

Having a window to look out of while standing at the kitchen sink washing dishes makes it more enjoyable.

Having windows that face the backyard allows you to see what's going on especially for those folks with children.

[eShirl]

9. A skylight is a window.

[fasttense]

11. My experiences with skylights is that they usually leak.

Every home or office I have been in that had skylights leaked when it rained. Sometimes it was just a little and sometimes it was a lot. Sometimes they leaked only after a couple of years, sometimes they leaked from the beginning. But they always leaked.

I have had windows that did not leak. In fact I have had very few windows that did leak.

Besides, there are some very modest homes that have beautiful views. This is especially common around here in the Appalachia mountains. My neighbor lives in a trailer that overlooks a million dollar view of mountains and river valleys. To give up windows would be to give up beauty.

[Kolesar]

15. My cat likes to watch the hummingbird feeder

We put it by the window for that purpose (the feeder).

[geckosfeet]

16. Agreed. There are sound architectural/engineering reasons to support the use of windows.

There are also many quality of life reasons to favor windows only over skylights only.

[MineralMan]

18. My father said, when I was planning to install a skylight,

"Son, if you cut a hole in your roof, it's going to leak." He was right. However, the minor leaks were compensated for by the new light in that living room. A leak would start, I'd fix it, and it would be a couple of years before another leak happened.

[txlibdem]

24. That was a big problem with the old models of skylights but aren't the new ones leak-proof?

PS, proper flashing and a good installer (or DIY if you want to make sure it's done right) are a must for any roof openings.

[barbtries]

12. my apartment

has basically only two windows, one in each bedroom, and a patio door on the balcony. it's not enough and if i had considered it sooner i would not have moved in here.

[Hutchewon]

14. We have 3 skylights in our home.

We love them. They all open by remote control. They also have blackout shades to control the light they let in. They are made by Velux. They have rain sensors in case it rains. They also can be programmed. You can control all of the skylights with any of the single remotes, so you can open or close all of them at the same time. Or open the shades.

We use them to save energy when the outside temperature is amenable to that. We use them in conjunction with a 36 inch attic fan to help pull the cool air.

We used to have 2 cheap skylights that developed leaks over time and became opaque rather than clear. We replaced tnhem with the 2 of the velux skylights.

The only downside that we have found is that you tend to want "to turn off the lights" in a room with a skylight when they are not on.

We also have a suntube, which is a small round skylight to illuminate a dark windowless corner in the kitchen.

[FSogol]

17. Are you suggesting a return to tenement houses with air shafts?

Screw that, I'd rather open the window.

[elocs]

19. What a cheerless existence it would be to live in a house without windows.

For me it would be existing, not living, and for me such a place would only be a house and never a home.

I can lie in bed or maybe sit in my chair and only see the tops of some trees in the distance and enjoy their movement in the breeze and find comfort in that simple serenity.

Skylights would be nice, but I need windows as well, not for my survival but for my soul.

[txlibdem]

20. For the psyche, for the soul

If I understand you correctly, it has nothing to do with the amount of sunlight you get in a room; there is a connection to nature that you would lose.

A woodland scene wall mural wouldn't be a substitute?
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_5_7?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=wall+murals+nature&sprefix=wall+mu

[elocs]

21. No, a static mural or picture is no substitute for life.

Just as if I were living remotely alone, pictures of people would be no substitute for living beings but only a reminder of what I am missing.

[txlibdem]

23. How about a 60 - 65 inch LED tv with video clips of nature that you could change at will

You could display a mountain stream one day and a desert vista the next, whatever suits your mood.

[elocs]

25. Windows are so much more simple and satisfying. I can open them and enjoy the breeze.

My cat loves to lay in the sun through the window or watch the birds on the bush not 3 feet from him.

I wonder, think Hitchcock could have come up with a classic movie called "Rear Skylight" where our hero sits in his wheelchair and watches through the skylight for falling space debris?

[bananas]

26. Someone mentioned the focusing muscles upthread

a tv is at a fixed focus and doesn't work with the focusing muscles,
so it's not the same.
The cupola on the iss has made a huge difference for the astronauts.