Skylights - Energy Efficient Lighting and Ventilation | Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura County, CA

<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt">Skylights – Energy Efficient Lighting and Ventilation</h2>(ARA) – The green building and remodeling movement puts great emphasis on natural lighting, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency. Moving air through our homes and distributing light can be, and usually is, accomplished by a combination of mechanical and passive means, with a fan and an open window for example. But, in today’s technical world, what’s simple?<div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/2b.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/2b.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>According to Joe Patrick, senior product manager with VELUX America, following the age-old example of a teepee is a great way to ventilate our homes today–cutting a hole in the roof creates a chimney effect. "Warm air rises. If there’s a hole in the roof it will escape," Patrick says. That can be a good thing if that air is carrying volatile organic compounds (VOCs), stale air, odors, and other air-borne pollutants out. It can be a bad thing if it’s raining. But what if you put a venting skylight in that hole? "Then," Patrick says, "you’ve provided a source of free, healthful natural light and ventilation. And you’ve made your home a more attractive, brighter place with an open feeling. In other words, you’ve put an emphasis on natural lighting, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency." Green AttributesSkylights, both the traditional type as well as the newer tubular skylights that are growing in popularity, fit nicely with today’s emphasis on green construction, both new building and remodeling. But you’ve got to plan and shop carefully, position the units properly, and have a proper installation to assure a productive and pleasant experience with skylights. Among The BenefitsSome of the major pros of skylights are that units from leading manufacturers are as well or better made than brand name windows. They are ENERGY STAR qualified with dual pane, argon gas-injected, low-e glass that is an excellent insulator and they also block UV rays from the sun that can fade furniture. Traditional skylights are available in fixed or venting models with a wide selection of glass, including electrochromic glazing which allows homeowners to darken or lighten the glass by remote control without losing the view of the sky. "There is also the option of a complete selection of traditional accessories, including interior blinds and shades and exterior heat block awnings to control heat loss and gain while adjusting the light as desired," Patrick says. Tubular models, such as VELUX Sun Tunnel skylights, offer passive light collected by a roof-top dome and transmitted into the home through a highly reflective rigid or flexible tube to a ceiling diffuser that looks very much like a light fixture. These units are usually less expensive and easier to install. An experienced DIYer can often handle the job in a morning if a professional installation isn’t available or desired. Leaks Should no Longer be FearedAmong installation factors to be aware of, Patrick says, is location and orientation of the units. This should be determined by how the suns rises and sets relative to your roof. He suggests consideration of a shading accessory to address heat gain and possible glare from the afternoon sun if your skylights face south or southwest. "After picking the location, proper installation is the most important factor in having a positive experience with skylights," Patrick says. "Quality units are sold with matched flashing kits designed and manufactured for the type of roof they are going on — shingles, tiles, or metal. A quality skylight properly installed has no more tendency to leak than any other component that requires a hole in the roof of a home," he says. <div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/5a.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/5a.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div> For free information on the benefits of natural light and skylight selection, or for free house plans incorporating skylights, call (800) 283-2831 or visit <a href="http://www.veluxusa.com/">www.veluxusa.com</a>. For more information on window and skylight energy efficiency visit <a href="http://www.energystar.gov/">www.energystar.gov</a> and for independent agency information visit <a href="http://www.nfrc.org/">www.nfrc.org</a> or <a href="http://www.efficientwindows.org/">www.efficientwindows.org</a> . &nb
sp; Courtesy of ARAcontent

Skylights – Energy Efficient Lighting and Ventilation

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