Using the natural rays of the sunlight to light a home isn’t just cost-effective – it’s also good for the planet. Some figures show day lighting can cut lighting needs for building interiors by as much as 80 percent. And light energy isn’t all you’re saving – since traditional lights also emit heat, moving to a Solatube skylight can help you save on cooling bills as well. That’s because Solatube skylights are designed to minimise heat transfer without decreasing light.
In fact, Solatube helps homeowners make the most of natural sunlight by using advanced technology designed to reflect the maximum amount of available sunlight. Solatube’s Spectralight Infinity Tubing is made of the world’s most reflective material, delivering 99.7 percent specular reflectivity for the most sunlight transfer possible.
What is specular reflectivity?
A material’s reflective capability includes both scattered, or diffuse, light rays and focused rays called specular rays. Specular reflection is greater on smooth surfaces since light reflects in a more predictable pattern. On irregular surfaces, light rays can bounce around, causing a decrease in specular reflectivity and an increase in diffuse reflection. That means that while the total reflectance level of a surface may be high, the surface may still not be efficient at reflecting light directly.
Solatube’s tubular day lighting devices (TDDs) are lined with a surface material with exceptional specular reflectance. That means light is efficiently reflected throughout the entire length of tubing, enabling runs of up to 30 feet without noticeable reduction in light levels. And because it reflects light more directly, the light you see is purer and clearer, eliminating colour distortion that can occur when diffuse light only reflects a portion of available light.
Installation Advantages
Thanks to its amazingly reflective surface, Spectralight Infinity Tubing can deliver pure, bright light for up to 30 feet, meaning you can get the natural light of the sun on the first floor of a multi-story home. Each Solatube 160 DS TDD is designed to provide light for spaces up to 200 ft2, making it ideal for smaller spaces. Plus, because installation is so simple, it’s easy to add additional TDDs to light up larger spaces with bright, natural sunlight.
The TDD’s superior reflectivity also makes it possible to get great lighting levels even during the low-light conditions of winter. And for even more energy efficiency, the 160 DSe TDD earned an EnergyStar rating for its unique design, developed specifically to minimize heat loss in cold weather and heat gain in warm weather.
Solatube is designed to be compatible not only with standard ceilings, but also with suspended or “drop” ceilings and open ceilings too, and its slim design makes installation simple – you don’t need to cut through joists or undertake a major renovation project to start enjoying all the advantages of a Solatube TDD.
If saving money and enjoying the benefit of natural light sounds good, it’s easy to learn more: Just browse our website or use our online form to request a quote from a local dealer, and find out how easy and inexpensive it can be to enjoy bright, clear daylight in any room of your home.