Light shelves are an interesting architectural element that can bring natural light roughly 1.5 to 2 times deeper into a space than a typical window. The horizontal shelf has a reflective upper surface that is placed above eye-level to bounce daylight onto the ceiling and deeper into the space. The value of natural light is unmeasurable for its effects on human health and happiness. Needless to say, we can’t all have a window seat with a view, but the exposure to daylight does wonders for the office environment.

Brightshelf.

Brightshelf is an all aluminum, lightweight light shelf with a slightly curved profile (called an Ogee curve) that projects light even further into a space than a standard flat light shelf. Brightshelf’s highly reflective surface enhances its ability to bounce light into a space, while also being made from recycled materials that are themselves, 100% recyclable. The BrightShelf light shelf daylighting system helps save energy by reducing the need for electric lighting and also minimizing the demand on cooling systems due to solar heat gain. The quality of the light is also much better than direct natural light, which can produce an uncomfortable glare.

The Brightshelf also has an easy cleaning mechanism which allows the shelf to hinge-down for access to the top surface. The curved profile may make the shelf more effective, but it also adds a design element which makes the product aesthetically pleasing. H&H Enterprises has been manufacturing aluminum shading devices for over 10 years. The development of the Brightshelf was a response to the inadequacy of the existing products on the market. Brightshelf was just introduced at Greenbuild 2010, and listed as BuildingGreen’s Product of the Week.