Modern Skylight Benefits Outweigh Old Fears

FORT MILL, SC, January 03, 2013 (Press-News.org) The green building and remodeling movement puts great emphasis on natural lighting, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency.

Moving air through our homes and distributing light can be, and usually is, accomplished by a combination of mechanical and passive means, with a fan and an open window being simple examples. But, in today's technical world, what's simple?

According to Joe Patrick, who heads national product management for VELUX America, the chimney effect achieved by creating an opening in a roof is simple. "Warm air rises. If there's an opening in the roof it will escape," Patrick says. That can be a good thing if that air is carrying volatile organic compounds (VOCs), stale air, odors, and other air-borne pollutants out.

By installing a venting skylight," Patrick says, "you create a plus where there was a negative. You've provided a source of free, healthful natural light and ventilation. And you've made your home a more attractive, brighter place with an open feeling. In other words, you've put an emphasis on natural lighting, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency."

Green Attributes
Skylights, both the traditional type as well as tubular skylights that are growing in popularity, fit nicely with today's emphasis on green construction, in both new building and remodeling. But you've got to plan and shop carefully, position the units properly, and have a proper installation to assure the most productive and pleasant experience with skylights.

Among The Benefits
Some of the major pros of skylights are that units from leading manufacturers are as well or better made than brand name windows. They are ENERGY STAR qualified with dual pane, argon gas-injected, low-e glass that is an excellent insulator and they also block UV rays from the sun that can fade furniture.

Traditional skylights are available in fixed or venting models. "There is also the option of a complete selection of traditional accessories, including blinds and shades to control heat loss and gain while adjusting the light as desired," Patrick says.

Tubular models, such as VELUX Sun Tunnel skylights, offer passive light collected by a roof-top dome and transmitted into the home through a highly reflective rigid or flexible tube to a ceiling diffuser that looks very much like a light fixture. These units are usually less expensive and easier to install, with an experienced DIYer able to handle the job in a morning if a professional installation isn't available or desired. Optional light kits make these units functional at any time during the day or night and some "super efficient" models meet the federal government's energy efficiency criteria, qualifying them for federal tax credits of up to 30 percent of the purchase and installation cost.

Leaks should no longer be feared
Among installation factors to be aware of, Patrick says, is location and orientation of the units. This should be determined by how the suns rises and sets relative to your roof. He suggests consideration of a shading accessory to address heat gain and possible glare from the afternoon sun if your skylights face south or southwest.

"After picking the location, proper installation is the most important factor in having the best experience with skylights," Patrick says.

He adds that modern skylights make fear of leaks a thing of the past. "Quality units offer matched, pre-engineered flashing kits for shingles, tile or metal roofing materials," he says. "They are designed and engineered to prevent leaks over the full life of a roof and, properly installed, simply don't leak." In fact, Patrick's company has introduced a new ENERGY STAR@ qualified product line, marketing it as the No Leak Skylight.

"These units offer many new energy saving features plus three layers of water protection and are fully warranted," he says. "They also carry an industry-first ten-year installation warranty in addition to product coverage."

Patrick says that the growing availability of trained and certified skylight installation specialists also adds to the dependability of modern skylights.

And he points out that today's skylights contribute to energy efficiency with light and heat control as much as with ventilation by offering easily installed accessories to adjust and control light, as do vertical windows. "Venetian blinds are available to adjust light, as are roller blinds to diffuse light and blackout blinds to block light," he says. Solar blinds are also available that qualify for a 30 percent federal tax credit.

For skylight selection or installation information visit www.veluxusa.com. For government information on window and skylight energy efficiency visit www.energystar.gov, and for independent agency information visit www.nfrc.org or www.efficientwindows.org.

VELUX America Informational Series No. 7/10/F - Modern Skylight Benefits Outweigh Old Fears - Apx. 775 Words

Media contact: Keith Hobbs - Business Services Associates, Inc. - 9413 Greenfield Drive - Raleigh, NC 27615 - Phone - 919.844.0064 - E-mail - khobbs@nc.rr.com

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