Why do we need Skylight for our homes?
Are you wondering why we are talking about Skylight here in this blog? And, what do they actually mean?
Well, it is a light transmitting window or openings in the building which usually are found on the roof of the building. This is mainly required for day light purposes. Even during the Ancient Roman days and their architecture, you can find these openings on the roof.
Since the time of Industrial revolution, such glazed skylight has been in use. The various forms of skylighting include roof windows, tubular day lighting devices, fixed unit and sloped glazing and also other customized ones.
Fixed Unit Skylight:
There is this fixed unit Skylighting which mainly consists of the structural perimeter frame that supports one panel of the glazing infill. It is that light transmitting portion that is made up of plastic or glass. The operable unit uses the glazed sash that is attached to the frame and is supported by it. When it is within the reach of people inside, it is referred to as roof window.
Tubular device for daylight:
For active daylight, these tubular devices are used. It is fixed and roof mounted and condenses sunlight and distributed by the optic conduit which is light conveying and then it diffuses the light. These are smaller in diameter so are better used for smaller houses or halls and they will help in bouncing light in the darker corners of your houses.
Sloped glazing:
These are different from other daylighting options such that one assembly alone contains multiple panels in the framing system. These are usually designed for some specific projects and are installed in various sections on the site.
Whatever be your selection, try to maintain a balance between the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient values and the U-factor. While you preserve the daylight supply and use it more, you can minimize on the artificial lights use. There are also sensors available which are automatic light sensing. These control the electric lighting and switches on the lights whenever it is dark and will help in maximizing the energy savings.
Also, for people who need to be exposed to the sunlight, it is a very good option and they can do that even without going outside. So, depending upon the size of your house and also your requirements, you can check out the various options that have been described above. May you have a well ventilated house which is full of light and brightness.
