Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a problem experienced by many in the northern states. This condition is characterized by moodiness, lethargy, and unexplained depressive symptoms. Sufferers often complain they experience the "Winter Blues", but recent studies indicate that this condition is more than just a simple longing for the days of summer. Rather, it can be quite debilitating.
Our bodies, much like those of our fellow creatures, rely on environmental cues in our daily lives. When these cues are absent, as in the winter months when Seasonal Affective Disorder is most prevalent, our bodies respond in sometimes inconvenient ways. We become slow to wake, for instance, making us late for work, and thus off to a bad start of a day.
A Philadelphia couple, whom I have recently signed, brought this condition to my immediate attention. They have an indoor pool they need to remodel with exposed wood beams, a glass dome ceiling, and three glass walls all attached to the main house. The limitations are the wood beams, high humidity of the room, the need to disapate the couple's Seasonal Affective Disorder, and the husband's citrus tree growing hobby.
Upon further research, the citrus trees call for a High Intensity Discharge light with a full-spectrum range as close to natural sunlight as possible. This type of light is also the current accepted therapy for Season Affective Disorder suffers. Most companies, such as American Environmental Products, produce table lamps or alarm clocks that simulate the sunrise. For our purposes, this fixture is too small scale to make a difference for the entire household. Metal Hallide and High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights can be used in some situations, however, in this client's case these won't work for two reasons. 1) Metal Hallide lights burn at extremely high temperatures. This is not a safe option for a residential interior design use, especially with exposed wood beams and no fire barriers. 2) The indoor pool area we are designing has a high humidity index. Metal Hallide lights, not enclosed, would explode in wet conditions. While enclosed Metal Hallide lights are still an option for an exterior use, such as a parking lot or interior warehouse use with a fire barrier and non-combustable structural members. However, residentially, metal Hallide lights do not make sense.
A Canadian distributor of a seemingly perfect fixture for a residential use seems to have the best option on the market. His product, currently in delayed production, is called the Sunthrower. The specifications are available online, and advert an enclosed fixture with full spectrum range. The fixture burns very cold, and after several hours of operation, can be touched directly with no effect. Energy conservancy is very high, and the fixture body is only six by eight. I have spoken with the inventor of the product, and like most new ideas, has had a rough introduction to the market. Only an order of 200 fixtures will save it from the round file, done in by investor speculation. I have my hands on five of the forty left from the first manufacturing run, lets hope this little beauty will have it's day in the sun.