Are you thinking of getting skylights installed in your home or business? If you’ve already done some research, it’s likely you’ve come across lots of different options, including a range of traditional skylights – fixed, ventilated, tubular and more – and what we call skylight alternatives.
The most common alternative currently available is probably solar-powered LED lighting. This option has gained popularity over time, but is it actually a good substitute for traditional skylights? Let’s find out.
For personalised advice on a range of natural daylight solutions, contact Skylights WA today.
What Are Skylight Alternatives?
Technically speaking, a skylight is a window or structure that connects a roof with an indoor ceiling, usually via some sort of shaft or tunnel. They typically have glass components and assist with a range of things, particularly lighting and ventilation.
An alternative for a skylight could be anything that brings light into a room, from standard overhead lighting systems with incandescent bulbs to candles and torches. However, if you look for skylight alternatives online, solar-powered LED lighting will most likely be the main result.
In simple terms, here is the main difference between the two.
- “Traditional” skylights – called traditional because they’ve been around for a while, and are designed with the traditional goal of bringing natural light into a room. Options in this category include non-opening, fixed skylights; ventilating skylights, also known as roof windows; electric skylights, so called because they open and close using motorised controls; and tubular skylights, with reflective tubes.
- Solar-powered LED lighting systems – a less traditional option, as they bring artificial LED light rather than natural light into a room. A solar panel situated outside the building, typically on the roof, delivers electricity via a cable to the LED lights inside.
Is Solar-Powered LED Lighting Any Good?
Solar-powered LED lighting systems are often positioned as a viable alternative to traditional skylights. Below are some of the key reasons why.
- While they do not emit natural daylight, they are designed to simulate the natural progression of sunlight and change colour temperature throughout the day. This means they can offer a similar ambiance to natural daylight (although, this is up for debate).
- They are powered by solar electricity, a renewable power source that’s friendlier to the environment than non-renewable power sources such as coal-fired electricity.
- LED lighting also has a range of benefits, including greater energy efficiency compared to traditional incandescent bulbs.
- They offer flexibility in a number of ways, with many brands offering adjustable settings, the option of night-time lighting, and different options in terms of placement in the home.
LED Lighting Can’t Accurately Mimic Daylight
These new LED lighting systems have some real benefits, however we believe they are unable to match the quality and effectiveness of traditional skylights.
We love traditional skylights precisely because they fill a space with beautiful daylight. This naturally occurring light source is dynamic, complex, beneficial to humans – and quite difficult to properly imitate.
Let’s focus on this point for a moment. Daylight sends signals to our bodies in a variety of ways, including via a full spectrum of changing colours. In the morning, we experience a bright blue light that tells us to wake up. Later into the day, the light changes to a softer red colour which is our sign to wind down.
You’ve probably heard the advice to stop looking at your phone before going to bed. Put simply, too much light at the wrong times of day is disruptive to our sleep. Natural light during daytime hours helps us reset our circadian rhythm, regulate our sleep cycles, and maintain good mental health.
How does solar-powered LED lighting factor in here? Well, LED lighting is marketed as having a similar colour profile as natural daylight. But in reality, LEDs typically only have a colour rendition of 85% or less. Sometimes this causes flickering or too much glare, which in turn can cause headaches and other health issues.
Heat transfer issues are also not uncommon. Typically, LED systems have a wall plug efficiency of about five to 40%, meaning that approximately 60% or even up to 95% of the input power is wasted on generating heat. For safety reasons, they may need to be installed away from roofing insulation and with an LED heat sink that helps absorb surplus heat.
Why Skylights WA Champions Natural Daylight Solutions
Ultimately, LED lighting systems are unable to deliver the full complexity and beauty of natural daylight and the health benefits it provides. They may also lead to a few headaches regarding light quality and the transfer of heat.
Here are just some of the reasons we champion skylights instead.
- Traditional skylights are designed to facilitate natural light and all its many benefits to our health, well-being, and productivity.
- With their focus on natural daylight, they offer greater energy efficiency. Many of our clients find their reliance on electricity during daylight hours is reduced and they are able to lower their carbon footprint.
- Aesthetically, they can add a wow factor to your home and increase its overall sale value.
- They also offer flexibility in a range of areas, for instance with adjustable settings and a range of accessories, including night-light options.
Ultimately, we believe solar-powered LED lighting systems are not a great substitute for traditional skylights. However, standalone LED systems as well as LED-powered accessories can be a useful addition or supplement to your overall lighting system, especially given their night-time functionality.
We Can Help You Brighten Up Your Home
If you would like to bring more light into your home or business but are still weighing up options, Skylights WA
can help you. With a wide range of skylights available and expert advice driven by years of experience, we can guide you towards a lighting system that suits your space and lifestyle.
Get in touch with Skylights WA today to learn more about natural lighting solutions and to book a free consultation.