Natural solar lighting

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One way to increase the energy efficiency of your home is to use natural solar lighting. This type of lighting takes direct advantage of the sun to provide illumination for your home. During the daytime, you will not need to use so many lights if rooms are lit by the sun's rays. By adding a tubular skylight, you can easily lessen the amount of electricity that you use.

Here are the basic steps for adding natural solar lighting to your own home:

1. Decide where you want the light. This decision should be based on where the light will be most beneficial as well as on where the most light is capable of being received. If the skylight is created in a room where lights are never used as it is, or if it is blocked by a tree all day, you won't be saving much energy.
2. Cut a hole in the ceiling.
3. Cut a hole in the roof and flashing.
4. Insert the tube and secure it.
5. At the roof level, add the necessary foam seal, exterior dome, and clamp. How you mount it depends on the pitch of your roof.
6. Inside, add the interior seals and diffuser.

This is an outline of the process, but a professional should assist you with the actual installation. In addition to natural solar lighting, consider utilizing passive solar heating and cooling for greater energy efficiency.