Sunlight improves our moods, but many of us do not get enough. Here is a product for a home improvement project which can really help with getting more sunshine into our lives and brightening up dark roooms like it is daytime.
The Solatube Daylighting System home improvement project captures light through a dome on the roof and channels it down through our internal reflective system.The objective is to offer homeowners a high-quality natural lighting product that is inexpensive and energy-efficient, and adds additional light to an interior space that was previously too dark.
This tubing is far more efficient than a traditional drywall skylight shaft, which can lose over half of the potential light. The tubing will fit between rafters and will install easily with no structural modification. At the ceiling level, a diffuser that resembles a recessed light fixture spreads the light evenly throughout the room.
As a home improvement project traditional skylights have their place, as do tubular skylights.
There are a few key benefits of the Solatube Daylighting System as a home improvement, including flexible location options, low cost of installation and better lighting performance.
The cost of the Solatube Daylighting System is more affordable than most traditional skylights. The cost of the traditional skylight is only a portion of the total materials cost. One must also add in the cost of framing members, paint, drywall, etc. Then, labor becomes a very large portion of the home improvement cost because a contractor must frame out the skylight shall, drywall it, tape it, then paint it.
All parts are covered by a 10-year warranty. Electrical components are covered by a 5-year warranty.
The dome is made from high quality acrylic resin that is specifically formulated for increased impact strength, chemical, weather resistance and high clarity. For High Velocity Wind Zone areas we have available the Shock Inner Dome for the Brighten Up® Series. For the SolaMaster® Series we offer a Polycarbonate dome.
The tubing is made from puncture proof aluminum sheet with a UV protective covering.
Solatube Daylighting Systems are offered as an option in new single-family homes and townhomes by Pulte Homes in Las Vegas. Units are typically installed in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and interior hallways, although the versatility of the product allows it to be installed almost anywhere the homeowner desires extra light. Homeowners are not only impressed by the energy efficiency aspect of daylighting, but also by the aesthetic appeal of walking into a bright room flooded with natural light.
Centex Homes consistently ranks among the largest multi-market, single-family home producers in the United States. It is the only company to rank among the top 10 U.S. homebuilders for each of the last 30 years. Centex builds and sells homes in more than 60 metropolitan markets and in 19 states. The company maintains a strong commitment to the environment and has implemented several programs to reach maximum environmental responsibility. Centex has embraced an energy-efficient product by using Solatube.
The community of North Park in San Diego, CA, is undergoing major home improvement projects in both its residential and commercial sectors. As development in the inner city becomes more prevalent, ‘green’ design options are increasingly in demand.
Carter Reese & Associates, the developer of Renaissance in North Park, wanted to incorporate a natural daylighting element in the project, but a traditional skylight would have conflicted with mechanical systems in the roof. Given homebuyer interest in ‘green’ design, Carter Reese decided to incorporate natural lighting fixtures by using Solatube® Daylighting Systems in the town homes.
