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.