If you’ve lived in Iowa long enough, you know how the seasons can really affect your sense of light. One week it’s all sunshine and green fields, the next it’s gray skies that hang low over Main Street for days at a time. That relationship we Iowans have with sunlight is real—it impacts how we feel, how productive we are, even how much energy we use to light our homes, offices, schools, and barns. And lately, more and more folks around here have started to notice that the way we design buildings plays a huge role in how much of that natural light we actually get to enjoy indoors.
That’s where daylight solutions come into play. Whether it’s tubular daylighting devices (TDDs) like Solatube, skylights from VELUX or Sunoptics, or larger daylighting systems in schools and factories, the idea is the same: bring in as much natural light as possible in a way that’s energy-efficient and comfortable. And here in Iowa, awareness of these options has been on the rise.
Why Daylighting is Catching On in Iowa
Iowans are practical people. We like solutions that work and pay off in the long run. Daylighting checks both of those boxes:
- Energy efficiency: Daylighting may lower your energy bills by harnessing natural lighting – much better than countless rows of fluorescent lights.
- Well-being: Teachers, nurses, and office workers all know that staring at flickering light bulbs isn’t exactly uplifting. Natural light, on the other hand, boosts mood, productivity, and even sleep quality.
- Sustainability: Whether you’re on a farm trying to run lean or part of a company chasing LEED or WELL certification, using less electricity makes good sense.
What’s interesting is that the benefits aren’t new. People have always done their best to work with natural light—farmhouses with big south-facing windows, schools with tall ceilings and big windows on both sides of the classroom. But modern technology has made it easier to control and distribute daylight without glare, heat gain, or leaks. That’s why more businesses are starting to pay attention now.
Everyday Examples of Daylighting Adoption
So what does adoption actually look like in Iowa? Let’s dig into a few real-world scenarios:
Schools Taking the Lead
Schools are often the testing ground for new building technologies, and daylighting has been no exception. Across Iowa, school districts have been renovating older buildings with skylights and tubular daylighting systems that funnel natural light into classrooms, hallways, and cafeterias.
The payoff is two-fold: kids perform better when they have access to daylight (studies show test scores and concentration improve), and the district saves money on electricity. In one central Iowa district, a renovation project swapped out rows of fluorescent fixtures for Solatube systems in common areas, cutting daytime lighting costs by nearly half. Teachers reported the classrooms just “felt better,” which might sound small, but anyone who’s spent time in a windowless classroom knows what a difference that can make.
Healthcare Facilities Prioritizing Patients
Hospitals and clinics in Iowa have also started leaning into daylighting. If you’ve ever visited someone in a recovery room with no windows, you know how tough that environment can feel. Some healthcare centers in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids have invested in skylights and daylighting systems in patient waiting rooms and recovery areas.
It’s not just about looks—natural light helps regulate circadian rhythms, which speeds up healing and reduces stress. For staff, too, better lighting means less fatigue on long shifts. These facilities are also finding they can slash their overhead lighting use during daytime hours, which is nothing to sneeze at when your building runs 24/7.
Local Businesses & Retail Shops
Small businesses across Iowa are catching on too. Picture a boutique on a downtown square—adding a skylight not only makes the space feel bigger and more inviting, it also makes the products literally shine in the natural light. Retailers have found that customers linger longer in well-lit spaces, which is good for business.
On the flip side, manufacturers and warehouses are adopting daylighting systems in bigger ways. A food processing plant in eastern Iowa installed large-scale Sunoptics skylights across their facility. The difference was immediate: workers could see more clearly, the need for overhead lamps dropped dramatically, and morale improved. It’s one of those “why didn’t we do this sooner?” scenarios.
Barriers to Adoption (and How Awareness is Helping)
Of course, not everyone is on board yet. The biggest barrier is simply lack of awareness. A lot of folks in Iowa still think of skylights as those leaky things from the ’80s that caused more trouble than they were worth. But technology has changed—modern systems are durable, energy-efficient, and far easier to install.
Cost can be another concern, though when you stack up long-term energy savings and improved well-being, the payback is clear. The more people see examples of successful projects in schools, businesses, and government spaces the more likely they are to take the plunge themselves. Word-of-mouth in Iowa goes a long way—if your neighbor swears by their Solatube, you’re going to consider one too.
Iowa’s Sustainability Push
Another factor driving adoption is Iowa’s growing commitment to sustainability. Cities like Iowa City, Ames, and Cedar Rapids have all launched green building initiatives, encouraging developers to consider energy-efficient design. Daylighting is one of the easiest wins in that category.
LEED, WELL, and B3 certifications are more common now in public projects, from libraries to government buildings. Since daylighting contributes points toward these certifications, architects are making it a standard consideration in new builds and renovations. The result? More buildings across the state where you walk inside and actually want to stay awhile.
What the Future Looks Like
It’s fair to say that public awareness around daylighting in Iowa is still growing, but the trend is unmistakable. With every new school project, hospital wing, or farm renovation that incorporates daylighting, more people see the benefits firsthand.
In ten years, it’s not hard to imagine that skylights and tubular daylighting devices will be as common in Iowa homes and businesses as energy-efficient windows or high-efficiency furnaces. Businesses will continue to adopt these solutions not just because they look nice, but because they boost productivity, save money, and help them meet sustainability goals. And let’s be honest—after months of Iowa winters, any chance to soak up a little more sunshine indoors is going to be a welcome change.
If you’re considering ways to bring more daylight into your space—whether it’s through Solatube tubular daylighting devices, VELUX skylights, or other solutions—Daylight Specialists can help you explore options that fit your needs. Contact Daylight Specialists today and let us bring the sunshine in.