Skylights, Sun Tunnels and Solar Powered Skylights

Natural light can have a big impact on your home, mood, and health, and has become more popular than ever. Natural light can make your home’s interior look bright and spacious and can help you reduce your energy costs by providing not only light but also warmth.

Windows and glass doors will provide natural light but depending on their position, you may not have natural light for the entirety of the day or at the time you need it.

How Can You Get More Natural Light in Your Home?

You can achieve natural light in your home in a variety of ways. Traditional skylights, sun tunnels and solar powered skylights are all good options when it comes to enhancing the natural light in your home, however like any decision, there are pros and cons to consider.

Skylights

A skylight is a window installed directly on your roof and can be installed in just about any room in the house. There are two types of skylights: vented (opens to the outside) and fixed (sealed tight).

Pros

Provides natural daylighting
Lets more light in than a sun tunnel
Can enhance the aesthetic of interior spaces
Clear view to outside
Openable skylights provide a good source of ventilation
Great for bathrooms, for that added heat source, ventilation, and luxe feel

Cons

Requires cutting through plaster and a hole in the roof to install
Risk of heat gain and sun glare in summer
Heat loss in winter
Lack of lighting control (unless you have a blind incorporated)
UV damage to furniture and flooring
You will bake if seated directly underneath

Sun Tunnels

Sun tunnels, or solar tubes, capture sunlight on the roof and channel it into a highly reflective tube and into an interior space. This is another great option for areas of the home where it’s not possible for natural light to get through, or there isn’t a direct line from the roof to the room. Sun tunnels can be installed on pitched or flat roofs, and the tube can bend to suit the location.

Pros

More cost effective than a skylight to install
Easier to install than a skylight
Provides natural daylighting without heat gain or sun glare
Can be a rigid or soft tube for flexibility
Smaller footprint, perfect for smaller rooms

Cons:

Lack of lighting control
Inherently less light than skylights
Obscured view to outside
Potential for leaks and condensation issues, if not properly installed
No passive ventilation option

Solar Skylights

Solar skylights use solar panels to capture sunlight which is converted into electricity to power LED lighting within the home. Solar skylights do not require any structural roof modifications in order to install them.

Pros: