Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards Finalist Viva-Lite has silently built a strong and loyal customer base with so-called “Full Spectrum Lights” – products aimed at solving typical effects caused by lack of natural light, often also referred to as “Winter Blues”.

Toby Ruckert and his partner Margit Brusda moved to Waiheke from Germany in 2003 and with them they brought ‘Viva-Lite’ – their light bulb producing company that specialises in full-spectrum lighting to assist businesses whose employees suffer from headaches, eyestrain and stress.

“People can get very low emotionally in the middle of winter due to the lack of natural light,” says Toby. “People feel entirely different working under these lights as they reduce tiredness and mood swings especially if it relates to the winter blues. But the lights also improve energy levels.”

The idea of Full Spectrum Lighting isn’t new. During the 20th century the US Navy was actively researching methods to combat diseases commonly appearing on submarines where no natural daylight exposure for the crew is available for many weeks – or even months. Ultimately NASA provided a solution by creating the first natural daylight simulating tubes with added UV output to help the crew stay healthy even without actual daylight access. (more…)