About Our Industry More Cost Effective?

Hybrid skylights can be more cost effective than adding windows for light (not including "passive solar heating design"). Here is a comparison.

Tubular Hybrid Skylights -- cost to install one unit is in the range of $300 to $600 depending on supplier.  They provide light equivalent to and often of superior quality to regular lighting fixtures. A tubular skylight unit can be placed into nearly any type of indoor space, and may be mounted on almost any type of roofing system and pitch (roof incline). They have built in privacy since the optical glass faces skyward, and the diffuser unit is comprised of highly translucent facets not clear glazing.

Traditional Skylights -- cost to install one unit is in the range of $ 850 to $2,000 (or up for fancy custom units). The traditional skylight needs to have an elaborate framing project to erect the "bay" into which it is fitted. These bays also need additional insulation materials, and may require beefing up other attic or roof/ceiling framing to accommodate added load (weight or skylight and framing lumber). Years of experience show skylights will require maintenance and that rainwater leakage is a very common consumer call-back complaint. In most cases installing a skylight means the room below need to have a ceiling or attic space directly connecting to outdoors.

New Windows -- cost to install one unit (based on a typical window retrofit to a home) is in the range of $600 to $1,200 and will vary significantly by the type of sash specified. Wood windows can be many times more pricy than Vinyl windows. The installation of a window requires an outdoor wall, and considerable re-framing to create a new "rough-opening" for the window. This construction can be very messy and disruptive to family life. Once installed, a window also needs shades, curtains or draperies at added costs, to control privacy and lighting to the room. Window installations also require the home owner to get a building permit and may cause problems with a historic home, or with home-owners associations eager to control the "look" of a given community.

The Solution -- Daylighting !
Bringing natural light indoors can be made easy. There are a number of options, including adding windows and installing skylights, these may be more expensive from both installation and "hassle-factor" standpoints, not to mention their increased energy waste compared to smaller more efficient tubular skylights. A tubular skylight captures direct and ambient light, providing excellent illumination even on cloudy days and in early morning and late afternoon when the sun is low in the sky.

Since people often spend over 80% of the day indoors adding natural light to indoor spaces is key to improving productivity and health, shown to be the case in numerous studies.

This independent briefing paper was prepared by:
Mr. Bion D. Howard, President
Building Environmental Science & Technology
[http://energybuilder.com]

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