Tubular Skylight Effectiveness

About Tubular Skylights

• Tubular skylights consist of a spherical dome that collects light and reflects it down a long tube that extends from the roof of the home to a room below. The upper sections of the tube are lined with highly reflective materials that enhance the amount of light brought into the room below. A diffuser spreads the light more widely into the room rather than just directly on the floor below the extender tube. Tubular skylights are effective in lowering the energy costs in homes by reducing the need for heat-producing electrical light. Tubular skylights are also a sealed system that prevents energy loss from heated areas of the home.

Installing Tubular Skylights

• Tubular skylights generally are installed on existing homes but can be installed as part of new roof construction by the contractor. The units generally fit between standard rafters of homes. Tubular skylights can be installed even when there is poor or no access to the attic and can be installed on any roof pitch. They can also be installed in cathedral ceilings.

Effectiveness

• To illuminate 150 square feet of area, an 8-inch unit yields around the same light as a 100-watt bulb. A larger unit, such as a 12-inch skylight, will light a 300-foot area with as much light as a 250-watt bulb, according to the Daylite Company website. Generally, the tube extensions for 12-inch skylights should not be longer than 20 feet for best effectiveness in delivering sunlight to the room. Tubes longer than this will reduce the amount of light coming into the room. Similarly, smaller skylights, such as the 8-inch diameter, should extend only 12 feet for greatest light effectiveness.

Advantages of Tubular Skylights

• The effectiveness of tubular skylights is their greatest advantage. They emit more diffused light than traditional skylights and do not produce “hot spots” of glaring light in the room below, according to the Natural Light Tubular Skylights website. Tubular skylights do not leak as easily as traditional skylights and are sealed for greater energy efficiency. The materials in their construction absorb harmful UV rays. Tubular skylights are also more affordable than traditional skylights and can be installed in more types of roof lines than traditional skylights.