Skylights, sun tunnels bring natural light to any space
I wrote this column on the weekend that most residents of North America turned their clocks forward an hour. Every year it’s the same — until we adjust, it’s like losing an hour’s sleep, but we gain more daylight at the end of the day. The reverse happens in the fall.
This man-made approach to optimizing the amount of natural light we can enjoy as the Earth moves around the sun is meant to help our circadian rhythm stay on track. I travel back and forth across the Atlantic on a regular basis, so my body is almost used to switching from awake to sleep hours, but it’s still a struggle.
There are countless studies on the importance of daylight in our lives. We have all experienced the negative effects of a lack of daylight but may feel helpless to improve the situation in our everyday lives.
Velux, a leader in the manufacturing of roof windows and modular skylights, holds a daylight symposium, the purpose of which is to study the effects of daylight on our living conditions at home, at work, at school and at play. These experts have written a free handbook, “Daylight, Energy and Indoor Climate,” which is available online through the Velux website, www. velux.com.
There are solutions we can utilize to expand the amount of indoor daylight we receive.
Dark, windowless areas, such as staircases, hallways and bathrooms, are greatly improved by installing sun tunnels or skylight tubes. Check out
www.solatube.com to discover products designed to open up these spaces and offer an excellent solution when no structural changes can be made or when the space between the roof and ceiling is minimal.
Fresh air is an integral element for creating a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. Roof windows that open offer necessary air flow throughout the home. Options for roof windows include styles designed to fit regular slanted roofs, balconies and terraces, and sloping and vertical combinations. Velux’s “Daylight, Energy and Indoor Climate” handbook illustrates how air circulation can be optimized by adding roof windows. It’s interesting to note that 100 percent more daylight enters the room through a roof window than through a vertical window.
Along with all the benefits associated with the addition of more windows, some form of window covering is needed to diffuse or filter out harmful rays and to stabilize heat transfer.
Hunter Douglas specializes in blinds that both fit and decorate any window size and shape. The company’s original single- and double-honeycomb Duette shades come in multiple cell sizes, a horizontal or vertical orientation, and a range of light-control options, from sheer to opaque.
Velux offers blinds that custom-fit their windows, with styles ranging from double-pleated total-roomdarkening to single-pleated Venetian blinds that filter light. With an assortment of 25 colors, these blinds also add a decorative touch to your living space.
When shopping for windows in general — and roof windows in particular — be sure to check out the installation requirements and warranties. Improperly installed roof windows can leak water, as well as air, which will cost you.
Opening up your home to more light and air is the healthy way to build or renovate. You will be happily surprised at how even a small roof window, properly installed, will light up your life.
We have all experienced the negative effects of a lack of daylight but may feel helpless to improve the situation in our everyday lives.”