Reasons for Choosing a Tubular Skylight for Indoor Lighting
Now that everyone’s searching for energy-saving alternatives for everything under the sun, any method for using solar energy potential is being investigated and reconsidered. Even products that may have been previously neglected or not taken seriously, have now taken on priority status.
Of all these potential uses, sunlight is the most obvious and easiest to utilize. Forget about converting the sun’s rays to energy: just use them as is, to replace expensive artificial lighting. Legislation has already been ratified in the US Congress to ban the incandescent bulb!
Aside from energy savings, there’s the health aspect as well. Many studies have revealed the power of natural sunlight to combat depression, alleviate lethargy and “winter blahs,” increase productivity, and enhance general health. The demand has forced bulb manufacturers to offer “full spectrum” bulbs for the benefits to health. In addition, many report the cheeriness and spacious effect of full spectrum light, its ability to enhance the natural colors of the room, and beneficial effects on plant growth. Employers report fewer cases of eye fatigue, headaches produced by “flicker,” and general lethargy.
There are two choices for bringing sunlight into the home or workplace: the traditional skylight and the tubular skylight. Structurally, the space itself will usually dictate which type to use: the traditional skylight requires direct access to the roof without a lowered ceiling, whereas the tubular variety will only work where there is a ceiling with an attic or crawl space in between. Both are suitable only for a one story structure or a top floor.
Almost everyone knows about the traditional skylight, but the tubular alternative is a little less understood. A circular hole is cut in the roof and a lens is installed there. This lens is connected to a reflective tube duct, which in turn is connected to another frosted lens installed in the room’s ceiling. This second lens distributes the sunlight throughout the room.
If your situation allows it, the tube version is worth considering for several reasons. First of all, the traditional skylight has some major disadvantages: heat leaks in during the summer and escapes in the winter, the opposite of what you want. colors in carpets and furniture can fade due to damaging UV rays. The skylights are generally bulky, thus expensive to ship and install, require major incisions in the roof, which can also lead to leaking and water damage if not done properly. Since it’s basically a clear window, he light is not dispersed evenly and can involve unpleasant glare when the sun is overhead.
In contrast, the tubular skylight is completely sealed and doesn’t allow heat to enter or escape. It blocks UV rays and the ceiling lens distributes the light properly. It is usually easy to install, and many choose to do it themselves; they also don’t require extensive modifications to the roof.
According to tests, tubular skylights provided as much light as a 700-watt bulb in winter and a 1200 watt bulb in summer, regardless of cloud cover. Of course, this means considerable savings in energy and bulb replacements costs, plus offering health and efficiency benefits for residents and employees.
Some brands offer additional features. For example, Active Ventilation Products, a leader in solar lighting and ventilation products, claims to save dramatically on shipping costs with its collapsible flex duct. Instead of acrylic, tough polycarbonate is used for the outer lens, and moisture leaking is prevented with a heavy gauge aluminum flashing. Outside and inside lenses are both made from UV rated materials. They have also developed a unique skylight vent, which both ventilates and allows light through at the same time.
To sum it up, when investigating the options for indoor lighting, it pays to look into tubular skylights – you may be pleasantly surprised.
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