Michiganders adore skylights for their ability to bathe rooms in natural light despite the dreary winter weather. However, did you also know that skylights can help you save money on your heating and cooling bills? offer a range of energy savings, which is why it’s important to do your research before you pick skylight materials. For more information on whether is the right choice for your home, we recommend you consult with an experienced building products supplier in your area.
Position of Skylight
Where you decide to has a big impact on future energy savings. For maximum energy savings, install your skylight on a south-facing roof. Not only will the skylight be able to admit passive solar heat gain in the winter, but it will also prevent heat gain in the summer. Another popular direction for your skylight to face is north because it will offer a fairly consistent amount of sunlight year-round.
When determining where the skylight will go, be mindful of the landscaping around your house. Installing a skylight in the shade of a deciduous tree will help prevent heat from entering your house during the summer months. In the winter, the leaves will have fallen to offer more direct sunlight and heat gain.
If there are no trees near your house, you may consider a movable window cover. When you are able to take advantage of the sun’s rays to heat your home, you will end up spending less money on heating and cooling in the long run.
Tinted Glass
Tinted glass reduces the amount of heat energy coming through your . This is because the subtle tint absorbs solar heat. While this may not be desirable during the winter, it does help reduce heating and cooling costs during the hot summer months.
The last thing you want is for your skylight to bake the inside of your home like a microwave oven. Make sure you consult with an experienced skylight windows supplier to determine if tinted glass is appropriate for your climate. Tinted skylight windows are also perfect for reducing glare and protecting your furniture from sun damage.
Low-emissivity (low-E) Coatings
Ask your local skylight supply company if they offer skylights with . Low-E coatings are thin layers of metal that are invisible to the human eye and prevent non-solar heat from entering through your skylight.
The U-factor measures how much non-solar heat enters your home. For an , you’ll want to look for a low U-factor.
Slope of Skylight
Did you know that the slope of your skylight affects how much heat is let into your home? For example, skylights with low slopes let in more solar heat during the summer and less in the winter, which is the exact opposite of what will make your Michigan home comfortable.
A professional skylight window supply company will be able to determine the best slope for your geographical latitude. In general, you can expect to add 5 to 10 degrees to your geographical latitude to find the best slope for your skylight window.
Eikenhout is a that is dedicated to helping homeowners and contractors find high-quality building products for their next project. If you are interested in our inventory of residential and commercial building supplies, please feel free to call any of our nine Michigan locations.
