Natural light has been linked to a wide array of health benefits, including elevated mood, increased creativity, lowered blood pressure, and reduced anxiety. It’s simply better for you than artificial light indoors.
Depending on your home’s layout, skylights can bring in much-needed natural light. If your home is surrounded on all sides, skylights may also help let in more light than even front-facing windows.
This article describes several skylight benefits. We pay particularly close attention to the window brand VELUX, which has created a product line that not only brightens and lightens a home but also can bring in a breath of fresh air.
An Airy Kitchen
Certain skylights can contribute to a healthier indoor air environment in the kitchen. For instance, VELUX No Leak Solar Powered “Fresh Air” Skylights generate airflow, which is ideal for venting cooking odors and smoke and for releasing excess moisture in the air.
Because they’re solar-powered, these skylights require no wiring, which makes for easy installation, and no-cost operation. Three patented layers of weather protection ensure no rain will leak through into your home—a promise that’s backed by a 10-year product and installation warranty. An integrated rain sensor will automatically close the skylight at the first sign of inclement weather.
Better Bathrooms
Skylights can address two common bathroom issues: lack of natural light and poor ventilation. If unaddressed, these issues can contribute to an unpleasant and unhealthy bathroom environment.
Skylights introduce natural light, eliminating the need for artificial lighting during the day. Natural light provides the clarity and brightness needed for morning grooming rituals and can make skylights worth the cost.
More importantly, skylights’ ventilation capabilities combat the high humidity levels typical in bathrooms. This reduces the risk of mold and mildew growth, protecting your health and your home’s structure. The ability to quickly clear steam also means mirrors defog faster.
Smart Sensors
Skylights with smart sensors can proactively open to improve the air quality inside and close in anticipation of adverse weather. VELUX ACTIVE with NETAMO offers a sensor-based system that connects your skylights and blinds to an online weather station and has indoor climate sensors that measure temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels. This system adapts to seasonal changes, optimizing performance year-round.
On hot summer days, the system will proactively close blinds to prevent excessive heat gain, reducing the load on your air conditioning system. On cold winter nights, the system will close blinds to provide an extra layer of insulation, helping to retain heat and lower heating costs. This automatic adjustment helps maintain a comfortable indoor temperature while conserving energy and lowering electricity bills.
Better Sleep, Brighter Mornings
Fixed skylights in the bedroom offer a unique opportunity to sleep under the stars, creating a natural atmosphere that can enhance your sleep quality. Exposure to natural light can help regulate circadian rhythms, making it easier to fall asleep and wake up naturally.
In the morning, the gradual increase in natural light as the sun rises can serve as a natural alarm clock. This natural wake-up method is gentler on the body compared to artificial alarms. When paired with integrated blinds, you can completely block or gently dim morning sunshine. Different options include:
- Room-darkening blinds: Ideal for bedrooms, these can block out even the brightest sunlight, creating a pitch-dark environment for optimal sleep.
- Light-filtering blinds: Perfect for living areas, these blinds soften and diffuse incoming light for a glare-free ambiance.
- Venetian-style blinds: Offer precise light control and a sleek aesthetic, these are suitable for any room where you want to balance light and style.
Sun Tunnels
Not every space in your home may be suitable for a traditional skylight, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring natural light into these areas. VELUX Sun Tunnel® skylights are highly reflective aluminum tunnels that connect a roof-mounted lens to a diffuser in the ceiling below.
They can be used in any room, but are especially ideal for hallways, closets, powder rooms, laundry rooms, and pantries, where you crave natural light but can’t accommodate a standard window or skylight.
Unlike traditional skylights–which often require significant structural changes–sun tunnels can typically be installed in just a couple of hours. This rapid installation is ideal for busy households looking to minimize disruption.
Additionally, sun tunnels can be equipped with a solar-powered night light, providing gentle illumination even during evening hours.