By Eva Finkelsein
Natural sunlight can be brought inside residential and commercial spaces through windows, doors, skylights and light tubes to enhance the lives of the occupants as well as reduce the environmental impacts of electrical lighting.
Passive daylighting is both healthy and inspiring to people, plants and animals. It is becoming a crucial component in sustainable design and development for a multitude of reasons. The United States Green Building Council has designated LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) as the national standard for sustainable building, and tubular daylighting devices can fulfill the following categories for LEED certification: Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation in Design.
LEED and Energy Star certifications not only increase the efficiency of a building, but increase a building’s value as well! However, certifications are certainly not necessary to enjoy an energy efficient, non-toxic, well-lit space!
The latest technologies allow the sun to shed its light minus the UV rays. Some passive tubular units can also control the heat exchange that could affect the indoor climate. If the heating or cooling systems must struggle to try to keep the indoor temperature steady, then the utility bills could actually increase. Again, buyer beware, because not all daylighting systems have the capacity to keep your fabrics from fading and keep your indoor air temperature optimal.
Solatube International, for example, is currently manufacturing light tubes that have the ability to efficiently separate indoor and outdoor air as well as prohibit UV light rays from traveling inside. The Solatube solid tubing is lined with the most reflective metal on the market, which allows the light that is captured by the clear dome on the roof to travel from 0 to 90 degree angles through the tubing, delivering the purest color rendition possible.
Fortunately, the government is rewarding daylighting with tax credits that make an environmentally responsible choice a profitable one as well. Schools, warehouses, dark offices and rooms without windows are excellent places to consider adding natural, passive lighting. We all need healthy places to live and work, and daylight is a need that we should not ignore.
