[bschne]

I'm in civil protection service in Switzerland and occasionally spend a few days at a time in one of these doing basically office work or running refresher courses etc., definitely agree on the losing track of time thing --- can't count the number of times I've come up at 4--5pm and been extremely surprised by how light or dark, sunny or rainy it was

[amelius]

Of course there's a technical solution:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43497394

[smolder]

Everyone seems to go for LEDs to simulate outdoor lighting for this kind of purpose, when there is another way that seems much more elegant to me: fiber-optic solar lighting.

https://www.shieldenchannel.com/blogs/solar-panels/fiber-opt...

[amelius]

Indeed more elegant, but also more pricey. The LED solution was $1000, which could still be affordable for a student living in a bunker. It's also easier to install, especially if you don't own the place and cannot run thick fiber bundles through the walls.

[smolder]

Yeah, it's something best planned with construction, and a bit pricey, but worth keeping in mind for anyone who intends to build a bunker. :)

Also not bad for high efficiency net zero type homes to supplement natural light without too many windows compromising the thermal envelope. I personally like the variability of natural light for how it keeps you connected to the outdoors. You know when a cloud is overhead or the sun is rising or setting. I've simulated sunset and sunrise with LEDs through color temp and timing but I've always wanted to experience the solar fiber type.

[spiderfarmer]

I’d prefer not relying on electricity

[andsoitis]

Presumably you also need a system to produce light indoors at night. You might as well have a single solution for both day- and night-time that uses renewable energy.

[gpderetta]

This is a nuclear bunker. Electricity might not be available or scarce.

[rsynnott]

You almost certainly need it for ventilation and probably water pumps anyway.

[noitpmeder]

Any bunker worth its salt will have on-prem generators and a lllaaarrrrgggeee fuel supply.