Need more light into areas of your home but don’t want the cost and hassle of an electrical connection nor the increased heat transfer of a window?
According to yourhome.gov.au, tubular skylights reduce absolute heat loss and heat gain because of their small cross-sectional area.
Plus, because the tubes direct sunlight down a highly reflective light well and through a diffuser, the light is thrown over a broad area and reduces glare.
According to Solatube, lighting in Australian homes accounts for up to 15 per cent of the average household electricity budget and about six per cent of its energy use, so it makes sense to make the most of natural light.
“Australian householders pay the highest electricity prices in the world – and by harnessing natural light, it can make a huge difference,” Solatube’s Brett Dickson said.
“One of the things that people don’t pay enough attention to about electric lights is that they don’t stop paying for them after they make their initial purchase. The more you use your lights, the higher your utility bills.
“While switching to LED downlights will save you hundreds each year, they still use expensive electricity – especially as most households have scores of downlights to operate.”
Mr Dickson said that not only are householders, commercial operators and government bodies looking to offset artificial lighting costs, they’re also opting for natural light because of the many “human” benefits – from helping with better sleep, to improving mood, boosting Vitamin D storage and enhancing productivity.
“By effectively capturing and bringing daylight into your interiors from the early morning until late afternoon, Solatube’s solutions can improve your health while reducing your need to rely on other traditional sources of lighting,” Mr Dickson said.
“It’s easy to create a happy, safe environment through daylight.”
Mr Dickson said tubular skylights work regardless of the weather due to the way the light is captured and reflected down the tube. He said Solatubes retain 99.7 per cent of entering light, before being directed to the area below.
So before you go to the expense of an extra light bulb, try to maximise natural light.
