Skylight Design Suggestions to Maximise The Energy Efficiency Of Your Home

Considering adding skylights to your existing home? If you're going to make cutouts in your residential roof to install skylights, you'll want to make sure your new windows will not do more harm than good.

Skylights can serve many purposes. They can let more natural light in, improve natural ventilation within a building, provide clearer views of the outside and aid in moisture control. That said, they can end up saving you or costing you money depending on how they are designed.

A poorly-designed skylight can cause significant energy inefficiencies in your home while a properly-designed one will save you energy and money. If you want to make your home more efficient with the addition of skylights, consider these skylight design tips.

Install larger skylights to maximize natural lighting

If you're looking to maximise the amount of sunlight streaming into your home, you should bear in mind that larger skylights can bring more natural light in than smaller ones. 

Increased natural lighting will not only make your home look brighter and feel more inviting but also reduce your reliance on artificial lighting systems that use electricity and cause energy bills to add up fast.

Keep conditioned air locked in with fixed skylights

If you want to increase the daylighting in your home while preventing heated or cooled air from escaping to the outside, opt for fixed skylights. These skylights are sealed tight so they can remain closed after installation. 

They do not provide natural ventilation but help to prevent the loss of conditioned air, thus minimising your home's heating and cooling bills.

Improve natural ventilation with vented skylights

Unlike fixed versions, vented skylights can be opened to allow fresh air in. They're an ideal choice if you're looking to beat the summer heat by increasing natural ventilation in your home. Installing operable models is a great way to save money on your residential air conditioning expenses.

Know what kind of glazing is right for your skylights

Various glazing options are available for skylights, but they're primarily variations of glass and plastic.  When choosing skylights for your home, you should know what sort of glazing to look for. 

If you're looking to increase natural sunlight in your home, choose a skylight glazing material that provides maximum light transmittance. If you're looking to illuminate your interiors while keeping the space cool in summer, choose skylights that have special glazing to help block unwanted heat from outside.

Although skylights can make your home more energy-efficient, they can lead to energy inefficiencies too. To ensure your skylights are energy efficient and not taking away from your home's energy-saving potential, let a professional handle your skylight design and installation. 

For more information on skylights, contact a company near you.


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