Solar Tubes help illuminate rooms by harnessing the power of the sun. The mechanism is very simple. These solar tubes allow sunlight to penetrate the roof and thus help to dissipate darkness from the room. If you want to reduce your electricity bills without investing in another fancy gadget, these Solar Tubes can come to your rescue. Most of these solar tubes are using patented optical technologies to improve their overall performance. To give people some perspective, a 10-inch solar tube can produce as much brightness as that of a 300 watts electric bulb. That is insane right? Probably this is the reason why there has been a mad rush for solar tubes. Some models of the solar tube can illuminate large areas like a massive 300 square feet area when the Sun is burning bright.
Solar Tubes Lights Reviewed
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| Solar Tubes | Wattage | Material | Weight | Finish Types |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Light Energy Systems 10-Inch Tubular Skylight | 300 watts | Aluminum | 15 pounds | Matte |
| Natural Light Tubular 10″ Skylight For Flat Roof | 300 watts | Aluminum | 15 pounds | Glossy |
| 14 in. Sun Tunnel Tubular Skylight Acrylic Dome | 400 watts | Aluminum | 37 pounds | Finished |
| VELUX 10″ Double Strength Acrylic Rigid Low-Profile Sun Tunnel Tubular Skylight | 300 watts | Aluminum | 16.37 pounds | Anodized Aluminum |
| VELUX TMF 014 1000 Sun Tunnel14 inch Tubular Skylight | 300 watts | Polycarbonate | 16 pounds | Metal Flashing |
| Natural Light 13 Inch Tubular Skylight Kit | 500 watts | Aluminum | 16 pounds | Finished |
| Natural Light Tubular Skylight 18-Inch Model | 1000 watts | Aluminum | 15 Pounds | Fiber-glass Finish |
1. Natural Light Energy Systems 10-Inch Tubular Skylight
Natural Light Energy Systems 10-Inch Tubular Skylight helps in bringing natural sunlight into your home. This tubular skylight is highly suitable for asphalt shingle type pitched roofs. The skylight has the capability of illuminating almost 150 square feet of area. The output of the light is 300 watts. Natural Light Energy Systems 10-Inch Tubular Skylight contains 4 feet of tubing and a Prismatic Diffuser.
Natural Light Energy Systems 10-Inch Tubular Skylight comes with a unique condensation release system which helps in preventing build-up of moisture. Natural Light Energy Systems 10-Inch Tubular Skylight is easy to install. It is maintenance-free and watertight as well. There is in-built UV protection in the device. The product is NFRC Certified for Energy Efficiency and is ENERGY STAR qualified.
2. Natural Light Tubular 10″ Skylight For Flat Roof
Natural Light Tubular 10″ Skylight For Flat Roof is suitable for only flat roof applications. The lighting system is not designed and manufactured for metal roof applications. The light is very easy to install and once done, you will get abundant natural light inside your home throughout the year. Natural Light Tubular 10″ Skylight For Flat Roof can illuminate an area of almost 150 square feet and comes with an output of 300 watts.
So, it will be suited for the majority of homes. Finest quality materials are used in the making of the product making it capable of withstanding hurricanes and other extreme natural forces. The kit contains 4 feet of tubing and a domed prismatic diffuser. Natural Light Tubular 10″ Skylight For Flat Roof is NFRC certified for energy efficiency.
3. 14 in. Sun Tunnel Tubular Skylight Acrylic Dome
14 in. Sun Tunnel Tubular Skylight Acrylic Dome comes with an acrylic dome. Made of aluminum, the light kit contains roof flashing, exterior dome, interior diffuser, and 8 feet of tubing. The most attractive features of 14 in. Sun Tunnel Tubular Skylight Acrylic Dome are low profile flashing and flexible tubing options. The lighting is suitable for pitched fiberglass, asphalt shingle, or shake roof types. Another interesting thing is that it takes less than 2 hours for installing the light in the majority of applications. Completely solar-powered, 14 in. Sun Tunnel Tubular Skylight Acrylic Dome can illuminate the room in your house almost throughout the year. Savings on utility bills can be seen with such electrical setups in homes.
4. VELUX 10″ Double Strength Acrylic Rigid Low-Profile Sun Tunnel Tubular Skylight
VELUX 10″ Double Strength Acrylic Rigid Low-Profile Sun Tunnel Tubular Skylight, which comes with low profile flashing. The design of the product is such that it offers an integrated appearance with the roofline. These lights are designed in a manner that they can be installed on shake/shingle roofs which come with 15-60 degree pitch. VELUX 10″ Double Strength Acrylic Rigid Low-Profile Sun Tunnel Tubular Skylight comes with a 99.99% silver reflective layer and total reflectance of +98%. The product is easy to install and just takes about 2 hours for the completion of the installation. Talking of efficiency, the product is an energy star labeled. There is also a 20-years tunnel warranty of the lighting system which is reassuring. Made of aluminum, the light is weather-resistant and VELUX 10″ Double Strength Acrylic Rigid Low-Profile Sun Tunnel Tubular Skylight will last for a long time.
5. VELUX TMF 014 1000 Sun Tunnel14 inch Tubular Skylight
VELUX TMF 014 1000 Sun Tunnel14 inch Tubular Skylight shows marked improvements from its previous models and the rave reviews stand testimony to this fact. High impact polycarbonate dramatically increases its lifespan and it can light up large areas quite effectively. Thanks to its robust constructions, you don’t have to worry about any leakage. The installation process is fairly simple and should not take more than 1 or 2 hours.
6. Natural Light 13 Inch Tubular Skylight Kit
Natural Light 13 Inch Tubular Skylight Kit is designed specifically for Asphalt Roofs. Rated by Energy Star, this Natural Light 13 Inch Tubular Skylight Kit can withstand Hurricane and other similar natural calamities. You will get 25 Year Manufacturer’s Product Warranty on this solar tube. It can easily light up 300 square feet areas and that means, you will be able to cut down massively on your electricity bills. Its Acrylic Dome can absorb impacts.
7. Natural Light Tubular Skylight 18-Inch Model
Natural Light Tubular Skylight 18-Inch Model can be installed on both bedrooms and kitchens or any other places for that matter. It can easily illuminate large areas. When the conditions are right, it can illuminate a to 500 square feet area which is impressive by any yardstick. The instructions provided are easy to follow and it can be installed on both pitched or sloped fiber-glass asphalt shingle roofs. It comes standard with a heavy-duty acrylic dome, a 4 feet reflective light pipe, and powder-coated aluminum flashing.
Skylight Vs Solar Tubes
Now you might be wondering why bother about solar tubes when you can settle for a regular skylight right? Well, you are not entirely wrong. A skylight can provide three times more brightness than that of a solar tube but these skylights perform poorly when the sky is overcast. Solar tubes are designed to capture light even when there is not much sunlight available. Moreover, solar tubes don’t eat up too much space and they don’t require that much maintenance. Once they got installed, you can totally forget about them for years. Solar tubes also don’t require any paint job or reframing which is definitely one of its main advantages.
Benefits of Solar Tubes
The main benefit of solar tubes is that they help promote green energy. By getting them installed in your office or room, you will be directly contributing to the cause of making this world green and better. These solar tubes are rugged-built as well and that means they can easily withstand extreme climatic conditions like hurricane etc.
How Does Solar Tube Work
A tubular column is first created on the roof to make space for the solar tube. Solar tubes can be installed without causing any disruption. It is not going to cause any damage to the existing structure of your room rather it will complement the existing décor of your room. The best thing about this Solar tube is that it does not need any painting or reframing for that matter. All you have to do is to add a tubular column in the roof so that the solar tube can penetrate it and reach the ceiling.
The light will be captured by the rooftop dome and then it will be propagated through the tube to illuminate inside. Tubular Daylighting Devices are in place in these solar tubes that help to maximize daylight significantly by taking an innovative approach. These Tubular Daylighting Devices can even capture low-angle sun rays in the early morning and even in the last afternoon. At noon when the sun is burning bright, Tubular Daylighting Devices only capture high-angle sun rays and thus helping you maintain a perfect ambiance inside.
Raybender Technology, a fancy name given to the daylight-capturing dome lens, does not allow low-angle sunlight to enter at mid-day and thus helping you maintain consistent brightness inside your room or office.
Solar Tubes Buying Guide
Illumination level
Not all solar tubes are alike. If you have a large area to cover, you should settle for an 18’’ solar tube but if you just want to illuminate your bathroom or your kitchen, a 10’’ solar tube is more than enough.
Location
Most people tend to install solar tubes in places like – kitchens and hallways. But you can get them installed in places like hallways, stairways, etc where they are needed the most. The large the area is, the more powerful solar tubes you will need to illuminate it. It is that simple. Adding a solar tune in your bedroom might sound like an amazing idea but it is not. Sometimes you just want to take a nap and, in those situations, you simply can’t switch the light off. Get them installed in those areas that are less frequented by you or family members.
Dome
The Dome should be placed in an area where it can have direct access to sunlight throughout the day. Don’t place it under some shade because in that case, it would face difficulties absorbing the sun rays.
Tubing Length
The length of the tube can directly impact the outcome. The longer the tuber is, the brighter it will be. So, keep that mind while shopping for a powerful solar tube.
