Friday, September 11, 2009

Let's know what Skylight can do in energy saving.


What is Skylighting?
Skylights is another method often used for day lighting by placing horizontal windows, tube or domes at the roof of buildings. Typically an opening required for skylights to illuminate an area is very less its just 5% of total area. Skylights illuminate more space as compares to vertical windows and distribute the light more evenly in the space.

Why use Skylighting
Skylights and roof windows admit 30% to 50% more light than vertical windows in dormers. A skylight can add daylight and warmth to a room in winter and fresh air in summer. An energy-efficient, properly designed skylight admits enough light for the room and save energy cost by reducing heating and cooling loads. Heat loss in winter and gain in summer due to skylights are negligible as area used for sky lighting is very small.

Some comparison data:
One square meter of horizontal roofing using a polycarbonate panel (transmittance 0.5) provides during the 70% brightest hour per year more light that 7 T8 (36 W Fluorescent tubes in luminaries) in Northern Europe and 15 in Southern Europe.
One square meter of horizontal roofing using a polycarbonate panel (transmittance 0.5) provides during the 70% brightest hour per year more light that 6 T8 (36 W Fluorescent tubes in luminaries) in Northern Europe and 13 in Southern Europe.

Who Uses Skylighting?
Hotels resorts, offices, residential apartments, schools, gymnasium, art galleries, museum, libraries, religious facilities, airport, production buildings e.g. warehouses or garages.

Where and When to Use Skylighting?
Window skylights are suitable for lighting the space where big area roof is available for installation of window. Tubular skylights are useful where space available for opening are too small for a traditional skylight or places windows can not be placed such as bathrooms, dressing rooms, corridors, staircases, attic or basements. The light tunnel may also be used at night, after installing a light kit.

Pluses: Enhanced user’s comfort and electricity savings, less likely to cause UV damage to carpets or furniture. Lesser suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) when there is plentiful daylight, . Tubular skylights reduce absolute heat loss and heat gain because of their small cross-sectional area.

Minuses: Poorly constructed or installed skylights may have leak problems and single-paned ones may weep with condensation. Heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.
References
Velux Canada Inc
Hometips.com
Solatube International
Skylight

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