Solar Skylight Reviews: Are They Worth It?

If you’re thinking about installing a solar skylight alternative to traditional skylights, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before making your decision. While solar skylights are marketed as a cost-effective solution, there are several drawbacks that might make you reconsider choosing them over a traditional skylight.

In this article, we’ll provide a detailed review of solar skylights, highlighting why skylight alternatives fall short when compared to the real thing. Let’s break down the major drawbacks of solar skylight alternatives and why traditional skylights remain the superior option for homeowners.

What is a Solar Skylight Alternative?

A solar skylight alternative is typically a solar-powered LED light that mimics the effect of a skylight by using a solar panel to power an LED. These products are marketed as an affordable option for homeowners who want to bring natural light into their homes. However, despite their claims, they share more in common with a light bulb than with a true skylight.

Solar skylight alternatives usually consist of a solar panel, wiring, and LED light (often marketed as a “light diffuser”). While they provide light, they do not replicate the benefits of natural daylight offered by traditional skylights. In reality, solar skylight alternatives create a whole new set of issues that can impact the home environment.

4 Major Drawbacks of Solar Skylight Alternatives

1. Heat Transfer Issue

While solar skylight alternative companies might assure you that no heat is transmitted from the sun, this is not what you should be worried about. Although typically cool to the touch, LEDs produce heat within the device itself. This is caused by inefficient semiconductor processes, which is what generates the light. LED packages typically have a wall-plug efficiency (optical power out divided by electrical power in) of approximately 5-40%, which means that around 60-95% of input power is lost as heat.

Compared to a 100-watt GLS incandescent bulb, which produces around 5% visible light, 83% infrared radiation and 12% heat, a standard LED produces around 15% visible light and 85% heat.

Households commonly have to remove the roof insulation from behind the LED devices of a solar skylight alternative product for safety precautions. LEDs also commonly require an “LED heat sink” to keep the units cool.

In contrast, traditional skylights allow the sun’s light to enter without introducing unwanted heat. Solar skylight alternatives, however, may require heat sinks or cause issues with your home’s insulation, especially if improperly installed. LEDs also tend to run hot, which can lead to inefficiencies and potential safety concerns over time.

2. Daylight Colour LEDs – Not the Same as Natural Light

One of the major claims of solar skylight alternatives is that their LEDs provide daylight-like light. However, daylight colour is just a marketing term to describe the Kelvin colour temperature, which ranges from 4000K (white) to 5000K (blue-white).

True natural daylight is dynamic, containing a full spectrum of colours that change throughout the day. Solar skylight alternatives, however, use daylight-coloured LEDs that have a low colour rendition index (CRI)—typically under 85%. This can lead to flickering, eye strain, and discomfort for homeowners, especially when the lighting is constant and unnatural.

3. Mimicking Daylight – Not Even Close

Natural outdoor light is complex, with varying wavelengths that change throughout the day to regulate our circadian rhythms and contribute to our overall health. Natural light contains an entire scope of colours, beginning with bright blue-rich light early in the day that signals our bodies to be awake and alert and then changing throughout the day, often ending with softer red-rich light that signals our bodies to relax and prepare us for sleep.

In addition to this, the volume or intensity of the daylight is only a very small part of the role it plays in benefitting you and your family’s health. Natural light helps us reset our circadian rhythm which affects our sleep cycles and can have huge benefits on our mental health while LEDs disrupt sleep patterns and are commonly linked to an increased likelihood of mental health issues, such as depression (for this reason, we are often told not to use our phones before we go to sleep a night)

Solar skylight alternatives, while designed to mimic daylight, only replicate a fraction of these benefits.

4. Water Leaks and Installation Issues

While solar skylight alternatives avoid the major roof penetration of traditional skylights, they come with their own set of installation issues. Leaks are more common with these products, especially on metal roofs, due to:

• Incorrect sealants being used and not applied in the correct position.
• Valleys not incorrectly weathered up.
• Cables and small pipes passing through a valley and not at the top of sheet rib.
• Not installing the correct flashing system.
• Not applying an anti-capillary cut to the outer edge of the overlap sheet.
• Over tighten the roof fixing screws on the overlap of roof sheets to prevent capillary water leak action.
• Using roofing screws with missing seals.

Improper installation can also lead to capillary water leaks, especially if screws are overtightened. In contrast, traditional skylights are often installed with comprehensive sealing and flashing systems, reducing the risk of leaks and damage over time.

Why Should You Choose Traditional Skylights Over Solar Skylight Alternatives?

When comparing solar skylight alternatives to traditional skylights, the decision comes down to the quality of light, long-term benefits, and overall performance. Solar skylight alternatives may seem like a cheaper option, but their artificial light doesn’t provide the health and environmental benefits that come with natural daylight.
Traditional skylights, on the other hand, bring in real, full-spectrum sunlight that benefits both your home’s atmosphere and your well-being. Natural light helps with mood regulation, improves energy efficiency, and contributes to a more sustainable living environment. Skylight installation from trained skylight experts will ensure that your new installation is soundly installed and free from issues.
In the long run, traditional skylights provide better value due to their durability, energy savings, and ability to enhance indoor spaces.

Final Thoughts on Solar Powered Skylights

While solar skylights may seem like an affordable option, they simply can’t compete with the benefits of a traditional skylight. They fail to provide the true advantages of natural light, and their lower quality often leads to performance issues over time.

If you’re considering an energy-efficient and health-boosting solution for your home, skylights are the better investment. They provide lasting value, reduce reliance on artificial lighting, and offer significant health benefits that solar skylight alternatives cannot replicate.

For a high-quality skylight that will improve your home’s lighting and energy efficiency, contact Solatube Australia. Our skylights are designed to increase natural lights for your house, improve indoor air quality, and lower energy costs for homeowners like you.

Call us on 131619 if you need more information and advice on what is the best natural daylighting solution for your house.