However, not all skylights are created alike, especially in terms of their ability to work and their ability to use energy. Ineffective skylights may cause a 40% increase in energy use. Since your home's roof serves as a direct line of protection against the elements, it is effectively a hole in the roof.
However, there are several strategies that might help you take use of skylights' primary advantages while optimizing their effectiveness. This article offers some design guidelines and tips for making the most of your skylight.
1. Take location and orientation into account
Your skylights' location is very important for total solar heat gain. Place your skylight on a north-facing slope if you live in a warmer region and your cooling system accounts for a large portion of your power consumption. As a result, your house receives the least amount of passive solar heat.
In contrast, if you live in a cold climate, a south-facing skylight might help reduce some of your winter heating expenses. Be aware that this will increase the amount of solar heat throughout the summer. Therefore, you only need to set it to the south if you reside in a region with a relatively small number of hot days.
However, skylights that face west and east are more of a neutral option. However, they can't quite match the heating power of skylights facing south.
2. Increase the Effort
There are a few reasons why placing skylights at the base of your roof is not a good idea. The amount of insulation you may place near the eaves when building a house with an insulated attic may be reduced if you add a skylight there.
The stack effect may also be enhanced by adding a skylight higher up on your roof line. When heated air rises and is replaced by cold air from below, there is a phenomenon known as the stack effect.
After a hot day, opening a window will let fresh air into your house and help cool it down when the outside temperature drops below the internal temperature. However, if you open a vented skylight as well as a window below it, the hot air will rise and travel outside while drawing in fresh air. The stack effect will thus be more efficient at cooling your house the higher up your skylight is.
3. Take the Sizes into Account
Most individuals often utilize little skylights. It takes a lot of work for not very many natural light-related outcomes.
Despite popular belief, the cost of installing a skylight is primarily dependent on how it is installed. So, the cost of installation is essentially the same whether you have a little or large skylight. In order to get greater outcomes, you should pick a bigger size if you're going to do it. However, because of heat gain and loss, bigger skylights often use more energy, which may result in higher energy costs.
Therefore, the size of the space should be taken into account while choosing a skylight size. In particular if the space already has windows, experts advise getting a skylight that is just approximately 5% of the entire size of the room. It is safe to use up to 15% of the entire space if there are no windows.
4. Consider A Slope
Angled skylights often reflect summer heat. So, the steeper the skylight's angle, the better it prevents heat absorption. A flat or low-sloped skylight, on the other hand, is better at capturing light and heat in the summer when the sun is higher in the sky.
As a general guideline, to acquire the appropriate angle, you need to add 5–15 degrees to your geographic latitude. Alternately, you might collaborate with your contractor to determine the ideal skylight angle.
5. Purchase skylight shades
Skylight curtains, blinds, and screens may reduce summertime solar heat gain. They are thus a fantastic customizable choice if you reside in a region with a broad range of temperature. The majority of skylight shades are automated, making remote control operation simple.
Put away
A skylight is a fantastic architectural feature that, when designed and constructed correctly, may boost energy savings in addition to adding brightness and drama to a space. The aforementioned advice should thus benefit you, whether you're considering having a skylight built on your roof or just want to make the most of your energy-efficient skylights.
