When considering ways to bring more natural light into your home, skylight alternatives may seem like an appealing choice. But before you make a decision, it’s important to understand the difference between these alternatives and traditional skylights. In this article, we’ll explore why skylight alternatives are often cheaper but lower in quality and why skylights are a far better long-term investment.
What is a Skylight Alternative?
A ‘skylight alternative’ typically refers to any product that aims to mimic the effect of natural light, but instead uses artificial methods. Commonly marketed options include solar-powered LED skylights. These products generally consist of a solar panel, often marketed as a “solar collector,” along with electrical wiring and LED lights marketed as “light diffusers.”
While these systems claim to provide natural-like illumination, they ultimately rely on electricity and LED lighting, which doesn’t come close to the benefits of natural daylight. Solar-powered LED systems may work for some lighting purposes, but they lack the true advantages of traditional skylights, which provide consistent and powerful natural light throughout the day.
How Are Skylight Alternatives Different from Traditional Skylights?
Comparing a skylight alternative to a traditional natural lighting skylight is like comparing an LED light bulb to the actual sunlight you experience outdoors. While an LED bulb may emit a similar colour temperature to sunlight, it does not replicate the full-spectrum light or the health benefits of natural daylight.
Key Differences:
- Natural Light vs. Artificial Light: Skylights provide genuine natural light, enhancing your home with the warmth, brightness, and energy of the sun. On the other hand, skylight alternatives (such as solar LED systems) only mimic the appearance of daylight but don’t offer the same physical and psychological benefits.
- Health and Wellbeing: Natural light is known to improve mood, productivity, and overall health. Exposure to natural daylight can help regulate your circadian rhythms, increase Vitamin D levels, and even improve sleep quality. LED alternatives simply cannot provide these benefits.
- Energy Efficiency: While solar-powered LED lights are marketed as energy-efficient, they still consume energy to power the LEDs. Skylights, however, allow you to reduce reliance on electricity by using free sunlight, making them the more energy-efficient solution in the long term.
Are Skylight Alternatives Cheaper?
Yes, skylight alternatives tend to be cheaper upfront, but this often comes at the cost of quality and performance. The saying “you get what you pay for” holds true in this case.
- Price: Even the most popular solar skylight brands sell a cheap hardware branded product and a premium quality unit to trade suggesting that pricing for these products should start at a minimum of $400 but have been quoted up to $1500. Cheaper alternatives often use lower-quality parts that impact performance and longevity, leading to more frequent replacements and lower efficiency. In contrast, traditional skylights, while initially more expensive, offer superior performance, last longer, and require far less maintenance over time.
- Long-Term Costs: While skylight alternatives may seem like a budget-friendly option initially, their lifespan and maintenance costs often make them less economical in the long run. These products generally come with shorter warranties (around 2-5 years) and have ongoing replacement costs for parts like the solar panel or LEDs. Skylights, on the other hand, can last 25 years or more, offering better long-term value. With skylights, you can also save on the electricity bill, which will accumulate over the long run.
Why Skylights Are a Better Option in the Long Run
- True Natural Light: Skylights bring real daylight into your home, improving your living environment by brightening rooms and enhancing your mood. Natural light is also more energy-efficient, reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day.
- Durability and Longevity: While skylight alternatives may come with a warranty of 2-5 years, traditional skylights are built to last much longer, often with 25-year warranties or more. In the long term, skylights provide greater value for your money.
- Better Resale Value: Homes with skylights are often more attractive to potential buyers. Skylights are considered a premium feature, adding both aesthetic appeal and energy efficiency. In contrast, skylight alternatives don’t offer the same high-end appeal.
- Environmental Impact: Skylights are a sustainable choice that takes advantage of the sun’s free energy, whereas alternatives still rely on electrical components, including LED lights that require manufacturing and energy consumption.
- Installation & Maintenance Cost: The initial cost of skylights can be higher compared to skylight alternatives, but they are more durable, require less maintenance, and have a longer lifespan. Skylight alternatives, particularly solar-powered LED systems, often have hidden costs due to the need for frequent repairs and replacements of parts like solar panels and LED bulbs.
What Should Skylight Alternatives Really Be Compared To?
Skylight alternatives are often marketed as a direct comparison to natural skylights, but this is misleading. A skylight alternative should only be compared to a standard electric lighting option. These products simply can’t provide the same positive benefits of a natural lighting product like a true skylight.
A solar-powered LED system can offer light, but it won’t give you the consistent, free daylight that a skylight does. A skylight brings in fresh air and light, transforming the atmosphere of a room, which skylight alternatives cannot replicate.
And No, a Skylight Alternative Is Not Worth It
After recognising that these products are simply an LED light, you can quickly answer if they are worth it. The average value of a solar powered LED product is $600 excluding installation. The average warranty of the electrical components of these products is 2 years. Even if the product last 5 years which is unlikely, replacement parts and average yearly electrical savings compared to your standard electrical lighting will never see a payback.
In addition, they cannot deliver the same energy savings, natural light benefits, or long-term value as traditional skylights, which provide a continuous supply of free natural light, helping you reduce your reliance on electricity.
Final Thoughts
Before investing in a skylight alternative, consider whether you want a temporary fix or a long-term solution that will improve your home’s energy efficiency, aesthetic value, and health benefits. Skylights offer genuine, lasting value, making them the smarter investment for your home and your well-being.
Ready to increase natural light for your home? Contact Solatube Australia today to learn how our high-quality skylights can transform your living spaces. Our team is here to help you make the best decision for your home.
this is untrue.
fibre optic light works by transmitting light from a rooftop collector.
no electricity required.
and much better!!
Peter, unfortunately these skylights alternative products would like you to believe that the product is fibre optic but they are simply a solar panel, electric wiring connected to an LED light that adjusts the light volume based on the amount of sunlight on the panel. We have a court order stating that a major promoter of these product can not state they are a skylight, or state they provide the same benefits of natural light, but they continue to try and confuse the market.
While fibre optic is good in theory there are no solutions that provide a large enough amount of light at a reasonable cost to make them commercially viable in the majority of buildings.