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Brock

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Posts:444

11/02/2008 11:34 AM
I am not convinced that any window or skylight will ever offset the power required to light a space. That is if a sky light allows you to not use a 60w regular lamp or a 13w compact fluorescent, I would be willing to bet you will lose more energy over the entire winter through the same skylight than you would by leaving a 60w lamp on 24x7 for the same time. And you can shut the light off when you’re not in the space where you can't stop the heat loss overnight or anytime with a window or skylight. I would like to see data to the contrary, but if I had my choice I would have a house with no windows and lots of compact fluorescents. But I understand I am in the minority with this, people prefer windows. There might be something to solar heat gain via south facing windows, but even then is the solar gain or the overall heat loss more in 24 hours, especially in winter when it’s windy and 0F and only sunny for 4 hours a day?

Green Bay, WI. - 4 ton horizontal, 16k gallon indoor pool, 1.8kw solar PV setup, 3400 sq ft

Pumguy

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Posts:7

11/02/2008 11:07 PM
The use of tubular skylights is called passive lighting and yes it is much better than artificial lighting. A tubular skylight has much less square footage of glazing than a tradional skylight or window. This is what my 60w light bulb comparision is based off. This will not be the case for a tradional skylight or window with several square feet of glazing area. People in Northern climates can benefit from tradional skylights to introduce solar heat gain during the wintertime months to help heat the home. In Southern climates, skylights and windows will generate unwanted heat in the summer months but does the heat gained offset someone having a room bathed in sunlight? You could also use a venting skylight to have the extra benefit of venting the skylight at night to let hot trapped air at the ceiling level during the day escape. The venting skylight also helps eliminate VOC's in the home. I would suggest from personal expierence if you do install a skylight you need to get the venting style to really take advantage of what a skylight can provide. Natural Light and Fresh Air! Some people think skylights are not green but I will always advocate the correct use of a skylight. In its purest form, skylights eliminate the need for electrical lighting and thus reduces our carbon footprint. Stategically placed skylights will provide more benefits than drawbacks.

soapman

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Posts:1

11/03/2008 7:14 AM
Monica, My first time, its early forgive me if I'm not helping. Have you considered a nano-ceramic window film? It cuts down on solar heat coming into the home and helps to keep heat from escaping. (Do you ever run an air-conditioner in Ontario?) Great for skylights. Of course there are different shadings and heat reduction values to choose from. The film is placed on the inside. Soapman

want to build User is Offline

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Posts:89

12/18/2008 12:22 AM
"With that said you are introducing no more heat with a skylight than you would with a window." ----- Except a window can be shaded by an overhang in the summer and still get solar gain in the winter since the sun takes a lower path through the sky. The sun shines on your roof in all seasons. Also, you tend to insulate a roof more than a wall. When you breach the roof you lose more insulation than when you breach a wall.

want to build User is Offline

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Posts:89

12/18/2008 12:28 AM
"There might be something to solar heat gain via south facing windows, but even then is the solar gain or the overall heat loss more in 24 hours, especially in winter when it’s windy and 0F and only sunny for 4 hours a day?" -------- Check out this book for info on calculating solar heat gain: http://preview.tinyurl.com/3kzf52 update: I happened across this link when I googled "problems with passive solar". I'm starting to think the book I recommended might be a bit dated. http://preview.tinyurl.com/9q6wz5

mjd23

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Posts:1

05/16/2009 9:33 AM
Hey, I'm an avid fan of green homes, I was kinda wondering if adding Tubular Skylight would be in anyway add to my kinda green home. Also, please enlighten me about this product I saw online, is this good? It's called a Tubular Skylight.

lambabbey

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Posts:126

05/16/2009 4:19 PM
I'm up in Maine where homes definitely benefit from traditional skylights. I'll be breaking ground next Spring (2010) for a new ICF home, and have decided to put in three skylights--one above the shower, and two above the stairwell--to allow in extra natural light and to increase solar heat gain in the Winter. I dug around a lot online for skylights with a decent R-value, but there weren't a lot of options. The best I was finding had an R-2.2. Ultimately, I found a place in CO called A.I.A Industries who make energy efficient double-glazed skylights using Low-E AlpenGlass with a double heat mirror. They'll have a U-factor of 0.18 (R-5.5) and a SHGC of 0.47. I'm thrilled to be using these. Be forewarned though; they're not cheap. John

John A Gasbarre Lamb Abbey Orchards Union, ME 04862 orchard@lambabbey.com

ICFconstruction User is Offline

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Posts:638

07/13/2009 3:35 PM
I taped the tubes, roof ring and dome, and the ceiling ring together,silicone sealed the diffuser to the ceiling ring and insulated the tube from the attic insulation to the roof sheathing.

Brad Kvanbek - ICFconstruction.net

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