These days, a fast lifestyle is not only found in cities but also villages. As a result, electricity consumption is increasing day by day, along with the monthly electricity bills. Due to this reason, people are turning towards readily available solar energy to meet their needs.

Apart from the conventional rooftop solar installations, there are many ways to harness the power of the sun. The usage of solar appliances such as solar pumps, solar heaters, solar lights, etc has become common in the world.

Another such recent invention in solar space is a Solar Tube, which replaces the need for a skylight.

• What are solar tubes?
• The types of solar tubes
• How do solar tubes work?
• Benefits of solar tubes
• Drawbacks of solar tubes
• The idea about their Costing & Installation

The population of metro cities is increasing. But we have limited space for making homes. Therefore homes, especially in crowded cities, are built-in very small spaces. Due to this, sunlight which is a primary requirement for everyone is unable to reach every part of the house.

Solar tubes, also known as “Sun Tunnels, Light tubes, Daylight Pipes”, are the solution to this problem.

Solar tubes channel the sunlight through a weatherproof polycarbonate globe dome into the place. These tubes are usually 10-14 inches in diameter and allow the soft natural light of the sun to illuminate the rooms.

These tubes are relatively small and can easily be placed between roof rafters. Plus, they are cheaper than skylights and do not cause leakage.

Presently, two types of solar tube designs are available in the market: flexible and rigid solar tubes.

1. The Flexible designed tubes allow the installer to install the tunnel around objects. These tubes have reflective walls that carry the natural light.

2. The rigid tubes provide a straight connection from the roof to the ceiling. This way, the light received is higher than that in flexible tubes.

A solar tube is a cylindrical piece made of reflective material. They are engineered to direct as much sunlight as possible through the tunnel below into the room.

But how exactly does this happen?

Here is how a solar tube manages to direct sunlight into a room and illuminate it.

• The dome above is made of water-resistant material.
• The cylindrical tube(which goes inside the ceiling) is like a mirror, which captures sunlight and bounces it on the interior surfaces of the tube.
• The captured light travels over multiple surfaces & then it reaches the interior place, where this light emerges through an acrylic dome in the ceiling.
• The light is evenly spread all over the place, so no place will get too hot from direct sunlight. Moreover, the place is completely free from UV rays due to the bouncing nature of the light.

The light from a 10-inch solar tube is enough to light up a small room. The natural light from the tube is one of the best & sustainable ways to light up places in your house or factory. Using natural light not only reduces energy costs but also lowers one’s carbon footprint.

Increasing exposure to natural light daily can be very beneficial to health in a variety of ways:

• It’s a great source of vitamin D
• It helps with blood pressure problems.
• Enhance mental and physical wellness.
• Increase the concentration and energy levels

Apart from natural light, solar tubes offer some additional benefits:

• Because of these tubes, the consumer will not be using electricity in the daytime, which reduces environmental pollution.
• Solar tubes are cost-effective in comparison to other lighting options. Even the installation process does not require a high investment. Though, the lights give a luxurious feel to any room.
• Another advantage of these products is that they are easy installation products. They require no structural re-framing, tunneling, dry walling, painting, etc.
• Solar tubes, unlike skylights, do not cause leakage. The dome on top of the tube prevents debris from accumulating, thereby preventing it from coming inside.

Because of these varied reasons, clearly solar tubular skylights are the perfect way to use renewable, clean energy for our homes with no damage or energy fees.

Solar tubes are a great way to bring the sun’s natural light into your room. However, they have some drawbacks as well:

1. Not suitable for all roofs

Solar tubes can be installed on roofs with a slope between 15 and 60 degrees. If the slope is much steeper, such as that of an A-frame, solar tube installation becomes almost impossible. Moreover, these tubes work best with wood or asphalt roofs, and not with tin or metal roofs.

2. Not enough control

A skylight provides the option of shading, or even diffusing the sunlight. Also, they can be raised to let in natural air sometimes. However, in solar tubes, one cannot control how much sunlight is allowed through the tunnel. Plus, they do not offer any ventilation.

3. No addition to the architecture.

There is no denying that solar tubes give a premium feel to the room. However, they have a straightforward function of letting in the sunlight. Unlike skylights, they do not add to the architecture. Moreover, the skylight offers a beautiful view of the sky. It adds to the aesthetics of the room. Solar tubes do not have this feature.

4. Water condensation inside the dome

In humid areas, the domes over the solar tube develop condensation. This can reduce the lifespan of the light. Experts recommend getting R-15 batt insulation inside the tube, but that addition is often costly.

Because the solar tube has very simple installation work, it costs less than half the price of a skylight including the installation. A new solar tube can be installed in very little time as compared to skylights or any other lighting option.

Here’s how a solar tube is installed:

• The installation begins in the attic. Installers first take the measurements, identify rafter locations and mark where the holes go.
• Next, they cut a hole in the roof and get rid of any roof nails around the top half of the hole.
• They install the upper portion of the tunnel, the top collar, lens, and flashing.
• Inside, they cut a hole where the light will go.
• Then they add the lower portion and connect the two holes with the tunnel.
• Lastly, they finish by sealing seams and installing the diffuser and trim ring.

Many people have installed solar tube systems, as these are a cheap alternative to glass windows, skylights, and electric lights. They are perfect for residential as well as business offices.

If you are looking to install solar at your home, Ojas is the fastest and most reliable option. With just 4 hours of your time, 3 tools, and 2 people installation team, we will give you a solution that will generate free electricity for more than 25 years!

Ornate Solar is India’s leading solar company with 8 years of experience. By partnering with the best-in-class global solar brands, we bring the most reputed solar panels, inverters, and solar accessories to you and make your shift to solar cost-effective and easy.

We have also developed India’s first Integrated InRoof system- which turns solar panels into the roof and eliminates the need for sheet roofing.

We deliver across India.

For more information, please give us a call at 011 4353 6666.