The Solatube Blog

Kingspan Light + Air and Solatube Host Student Mentoring Event

On September 25, 2024, 18 architectural professionals and 60 design students for seminars on daylighting innovations and AI in architecture.

Embracing Inclusive Design

Discover how Solatube International is embracing Inclusive design in our daylighting solutions assisting in creating welcoming spaces.

Natural Light with Solatube Tubular Skylights

Maximize natural light with Solatube tubular skylights for better mood, sleep, and energy efficiency—reduce reliance on electric lighting.

Maximizing Efficiency with Solatube Tubular Daylight Devices for Commercial Buildings

Discover why and how to utilize Solatube Tubular Daylight Devices (TDDs) for Commercial Buildings.

The Future of Energy-Efficient Homes: Residential Passive Housing Design with Solatube

Discover the benefits of residential passive house design and how Solatube products enhance energy efficiency and comfort. Learn about tubular skylights, whole house fans, attic fans and garage fans for a brighter, more sustainable home.

Solatube Tubular Daylighting Devices (TDDs): Daylighting at Work

Discover how Solatube Tubular Daylighting Devices (TDDs) are transforming spaces in the latest edition of its Commercial Design Collection

Why Choose Solatube Tubular Skylights for Your Home?

Discover how to unlock the health benefits of natural light for your home with Solatube Tubular Skylights.

NEW ClimaSense™ Series Solar-Powered Attic and Garage Fans

Beat the heat with the New Solatube ClimaSense™ Series Solar-Powered Attic and Garage Fans that runs all day and into the night.

Louisville Northeast Regional Library Solatube Daylighting design

As the final jewel in a trio of new regional libraries for the City of Louisville, the Northeast Regional Library in Lyndon, Kentucky, faced unique challenges. The design team needed to create a cost-effective, energy-efficient building with ample natural daylight. To achieve this, the architects turned to Solatube Tubular Daylighting Devices (TDDs).

Lower Your Electric Bill This Summer

Summer is around the corner, and so are those high electricity bills. Discover how you can still lower your electric bill this summer.

The Future of Restaurant Design: Embracing Modular Construction

As the industry continues to evolve, the future of sustainable restaurant design will rely on the integration of modular construction and daylighting.

Solatube International Celebrates Earth Day 2024: Learn how the Solatube Team is Acting Locally and Thinking Globally

This Earth Day, take a pause and focus on our planet and how Solatube is getting involved in protecting it, here at home and globally.

Tubular Daylighting Solutions Enhance Recreational Experiences in Sports Facilities

Discover how Solatube Tubular Daylighting Devices (TDDs) provide versatile daylight solutions tailored to elevate sports and recreation centers.

Indoor Air Pollutants: How They Hurt You and How to Protect Your Family

It may be surprising, but indoor air quality is worse than outdoor air quality. Learn how Solatube can help to combat this issue.

Kingspan Sponsors MicroHome Competition

Kingspan is delighted to be partnering up with Buildner, the world’s leading organiser of architectural competitions, for the MICROHOME Kingspan architecture competition. The partnership symbolises a shared commitment to drive forward sustainable and innovative architectural design, without being restricted by size.

How to Detox Your Home and Make It More Energy Efficient

As spring arrives, it’s the perfect time to detox your home and boost its energy efficiency. From filtering your water to welcoming in more sunlight, simple changes can make a big difference in the health and comfortability of your home.

Five Benefits of Daylight Design in Adaptive Reuse Projects

Learn the importance of adaptive reuse and how daylighting has been used to design new community beacons from abandoned old buildings.

How to Add Sunlight to a Dark Room

If you’re a homeowner struggling with dark spaces in your home that desperately need natural light, you’re not the only one. Luckily, there’s a quick and easy solution – Solatube Tubular Skylights.

Navigating the Future: Solatube International’s New Sustainability Page Illuminates a Greener Path

Today, Solatube International is proud to announce the launch of our new Sustainability Page on the solatube.com website. Our new Solatube Sustainability Page is a testament to our commitment to inspiring architects, design professionals and builders to envision spaces that not only captivate building occupants but also contribute to a greener world.

10 Benefits of Having Natural Lighting in the Home

In the pursuit of a brighter and more vibrant lifestyle, harnessing the power of natural daylight through a Solatube tubular skylight can transform your home and well-being. Tubular skylights offer a multitude of advantages that extend beyond simple illumination.

Shining Light on 2023: A Year of Outstanding Achievements and Awards

As we bid farewell to 2023, we proudly reflect on some of our achievements at Solatube this year. We’re honored to have received over ten awards and certifications for our innovative daylighting solutions. These awards recognize our contributions to architecture, construction and manufacturing, highlighting our commitment to sustainable practices.

SOLATUBE STORIES: Mid-Century Modern Transformation

Located in Carlsbad, California, Emmy award-winning producer Mark Allen began researching lighting solutions for his office, Scratch Media, with the goal of bringing an affordable, energy-efficient daylighting solution to the space. Based on the quality, reputation, reviews and product catalog, Solatube was his final decision. Allen had eighteen tubular skylights installed at the Scratch Media office in order to properly daylight the space and create a healthy and inspiring office environment.

Solatube Stories

DIY and home decor influencer, Sarah McGill, shares her journey of installing two Solatube tubular skylights in her family’s bonus room.

Inspiring the Next Generation of STEM Leaders at Solatube International’s Headquarters

Solatube International recently had the privilege of hosting the 2023 Scouts BSA “STEM” Merit Badge Day at our headquarters in Vista, California. It was a day filled with inspiration and learning as we welcomed the SDIC Palomar Zone scouts, their parents and program staff to our bustling hub of STEM activity.

Solatube Salvages Six Sunless Spaces

Thanks to advancements in daylighting technology, Solatube was able to create a skylight that can introduce natural light to virtually any space in your home. See how Solatube tubular skylights were able to turn six sunless spaces into bright, inviting havens that not only save energy but also enhance the well-being and aesthetics of your living environment.

Solatube International and Kingspan Light + Air Illuminate Greenbuild 2023

The 2023 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo was a testament to the industry’s commitment to building transformation and sustainability. Solatube International and Kingspan Light + Air were proud participants in this transformative event, and we look forward to a brighter, more sustainable future as we continue to bring natural daylight into homes and commercial facilities worldwide. Thank you for your support and for sharing in our vision of a greener tomorrow.

Solatube International Celebrates First Planet Passionate Day

In celebration of Solatube International’s first-ever Planet Passionate Day, a dedicated team of over 80 employees from our headquarters and manufacturing facility undertook a transformative mission, resulting in the collection of nearly 500 pounds of trash from our local community.

Introducing Natural Light Throughout a Dark Home

Provide energy-efficient natural lighting with Solatube tubular skylights to dark spaces throughout the home.

Interior Designer Lisa Kanegae’s Love Affair with Solatube Tubular Skylights

Featured on HGTV, Elle Decor and Open House TV, Lisa Kanegae knows a thing or two about design. Eight years ago, Lisa she found herself concerned when she and her husband found themselves falling in love with a beautiful house that had little natural light. As someone who thrives with natural light, Lisa was hesitant about purchasing the house until she stumbled upon a game-changing solution: Solatube tubular skylights.

Brighter, Smarter Spaces: The Versatility of Modular Applications and Tubular Daylighting

In this blog, we will explore the advantages of commercial modular buildings over conventional construction methods, and shed light on the versatility and synergistic benefits of combining modular building and tubular daylighting to create dynamic environments that enhance productivity, well-being and energy efficiency.

How to Cool Your Garage Fast and Create a Comfortable Space Without Air Conditioning

The Solatube Powered Garage Fan with Comfort Control remote is an eco-friendly solution that offers homeowners a convenient way to combat heat and eliminate odors, creating a comfortable and functional space.

National Daylight Appreciation Day Celebrates the Joy of Daylight on the Longest Day of the Year, June 21

June 21 marks National Daylight Appreciation Day, a special occasion that honors the summer solstice and invites everyone to recognize and celebrate the countless benefits of sunlight. As we bask in the longest day of daylight in the northern hemisphere, it’s the perfect time to appreciate the positive impact of natural daylight in our lives.

Stay Cool this Summer with the Engineered Performance Series (EPS) Whole House Fan by Solatube International

As the scorching summer temperatures continue to rise, finding effective ways to beat the heat becomes a top priority for homeowners. We are proud to introduce our highly anticipated Engineered Performance Series (EPS) Whole House Fans. This cutting-edge addition to Solatube’s product lineup showcases their unwavering dedication to providing state-of-the-art home service technology, ensuring unparalleled customer experiences.

Community First: Scouts Gather at Solatube International for Annual “Be Safe” Merit Badge Day

Solatube International made the local San Diego news for hosting the Scouts BSA “Be Safe” merit badge day.  More than 70 Scouts (boys and girls) earned their Safety, Fire Safety and Emergency Preparedness merit badges.

Daylight Brings Health and Safety to Animal Shelters, Zoos and Beyond

Just like humans, animals need ample natural light for a happy and healthy life.

Bringing Professionals Together for a Better Tomorrow

Kingspan Insulated Panels and Solatube International’s parent company, Kingspan Light + Air, hosted a networking event at the Brizo Rooftop Terrace at the Residence Inn Marina del Rey, introducing Seabin and Kingspan’s Planet Passionate campaign to Los Angeles’ green building professionals. The event aimed to create a platform for like-minded individuals to connect and learn more about innovative solutions for environmental sustainability.

Illuminate Your Home with Natural Light this Earth Day

Soak in the benefits of free, natural solar power from nature’s original light source. This Earth Day, Solatube International is looking to bring more natural daylight into homes everywhere to not only save money and energy but improve the quality of life for homeowners as well.

What is the Better Alternative to Skylights?

Over the years, homeowners have craved naturally-lit spaces, even before studies proved the health benefits that daylight has on us. Since early skylights suffered performance issues, many homeowners have veered away from them. Thankfully, recent advances in daylighting technology have opened up a range of possibilities for the future of daylighting.

“Gotta Love Free Light”

retrofit Magazine Editor Christina Koch shares her experience installing three Solatube tubular skylights in her home.

Which Lighting is Best for Your Home?

Today’s residential lighting considerations go beyond decorative fixtures. When designing your home, it is important to think carefully and deliberately about your lighting plan. Natural lighting can not only make your home more eco-friendly and energy efficient, but it can also have great benefits for your physical and mental health.

Solatube Daylighting: The Bright Solution for Better Living

Are you tired of dark, dingy rooms in your home? Do you want a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly way to improve your indoor lighting? Look no further than Solatube Daylighting.

Daylighting to Bring a Community Together

The team at Daylight Specialists installed three Solatube SolaMaster 750s in each of the six classrooms. In hopes of maximizing the functionality of each classroom, even on those dark cloudy days, they also installed integrated LED light kits. This allowed the space to be lit regardless of the amount of daylight available while providing a cleaner look on the ceiling.

Introducing the Architectural Solutions Team

Since acquiring SolatubeInternational and MajorIndustries,Inc., Kingspan Light + Air is now proud to offer a full range of standard and custom daylighting solutions, setting a higher standard for the quality and versatility of daylighting technology and integrated design solutions.

120-Year-Old Loft Revamp

“I had this beautiful remodeled and open space, but you couldn’t see half of it because of how dark it was. “When I woke up in the morning, I wanted to be greeted by this flood of natural light in every part of the loft…” Nelson quickly set up a free design consultation.

2022 Awards Recap

As we kick off the new year, we would like to look back at some of the achievements our team at Solatube International accomplished in 2022. We strive to bring the most advanced and cutting-edge daylighting products to the market, and we are honored for the various recognition those products have received this year.

Daylighting the All Weather Insulated Panels (AWIP) Facility

As a part of the Kingspan Light + Air family, Solatube is proud to participate in Kingspan’s global Planet Passionate initiative – a sustainability program to help reduce the world’s carbon emissions by 45% by 2030.

Solatube Wins Prestigious A4LE Solution Provider Award

We are proud to announce that our SolaMaster 750 DS-O ICC 500 Storm Shelter-compliant daylighting system was selected as the winner of the 2022 A4LE Solution Provider Award. The Solution Provider Award, sponsored by the Association for Learning Environments, is designed to spotlight innovation in materials, technology, products, and services that are critical elements in defining healthy, high-performance schools.

We are excited to share that Kingspan Global and Seabin have partnered up to launch the first ocean clean up initiative for Los Angeles, California.

On October 13, our team at Solatube International will be joining Kingspan Light + Air for the Patagonia X Seabin Santa Monica community event at the Patagonia Santa Monica Store, located at 1345 3rd St, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA.

Solatube is proud to join Kingspan’s global Planet Passionate initiative.

Being a part of the Kingspan Light + Air family, Solatube is proud to join Kingspan’s global Planet Passionate initiative – a sustainability program to help reduce the world’s carbon emissions by 45% by 2030.

Daylighting for Science with Bill Nye

Bill Nye, world-famous “science guy,” uses Solatube Daylighting to naturally illuminate his Solar Noon Clock.

Be Cool! Save On Summer AC Costs

Save energy, spend less on utilities and remove old, hot and stale trapped air. Our Solatube ventilation systems unite advanced motor technologies with progressive designs, to deliver big power and exceptional performance in the home.

Home Upgrades to Help Save You Energy

With costs rising every day, it’s more crucial than ever to save money where you can. Eliminating unnecessary purchases, subscriptions, or cutting back on eating out are all great ways to start. However, if you want to save money for the long term, investing in sustainable home upgrades is the way to go.

Human-Centered Design

A new movement from natural sustainability to human sustainability is seen as the third evolution of green design.

5 Energy-Efficient Investments for Your Home

5 energy-efficient products for your home. Investing in energy-saving features for your home today will pay off for decades to come.

Impact of Daylight on Mental Health Counseling Experience

The positive impact of daylight on the human body is undeniable. Each day, new research, case studies, design guides and design standards magnify the importance of daylight as a source of interior lighting that drives human health, productivity and happiness.

Beat the Summer Heat: Solar-Powered Attic Fans

The summer months are rapidly approaching, and in certain parts of the United States, this can mean some extremely hot temperatures!

How to Choose a Skylight

With the many options available for skylights, picking the perfect model for your home can be daunting. Don’t fret! Our daylighting experts are able to guide you towards a skylight suitable for your location, rood and lifestyle. Read our guide below to learn what to consider when picking a skylight and accessories.

Woodland Park Zoo

Learn about how the Solatube SkyVault Series transformed the lives of the Komodo dragons at the Woodland Park Zoo.

Celebrate Earth Day, Every Day

Together, homeowners can live every day as if it is Earth Day through the investment of “green” daylighting and ventilation solutions in the home.

5 benefits of natural light

There are many other benefits of natural light that aren’t covered in this blog post, but these are just a few of the most popular ones. So if you’re thinking about adding more natural light to your home, then we encourage you to do so. You won’t be disappointed with the results.

How natural light can increase sales

Harnessing natural light is changing the way we shop due in part to the psychological benefits of incorporating natural light into the built environment. According to scientific evidence, a 40% increase in retail sales can be achieved with precisely positioned daylighting systems.

Skylights at Forefront of Home Renovation

2020 and 2021 set records for home renovations across the United States; homeowners emerging from a post-lockdown era are citing mental health strain and a need for change as causes for the boom in improvements. At the forefront of this renovation revolution, Solatube International Inc., the world’s-leading manufacturer and marketer of tubular daylighting devices (TDDs), spearheads the innovative home enterprise with its energy-efficient and cost-friendly daylighting solutions.

What Makes “Sticky Spaces”

“Sticky Spaces” is a new concept that didn’t exist a decade ago. It involves creating new spaces (or redesigning old spaces) which can become a place where the usually separate elements of ‘living’ and ‘learning’ become inextricably intertwined.

Cave-Like Hallway?

How do you fix a dark hallway? Solatube tubular skylights to brighten and open the space, the right coat of paint and more!

Adaptable, Reconfigurable Daylighting Design

How to group Tubular Daylighting Devices (TDDs) together to minimize rooftop apertures while creating beautiful, fully daylit interior spaces.

Best wishes to you and your family this holiday season!

~from the entire team at Solatube International, Inc.

Solatube Launches Flame-Resistant Skylight

Solatube International Launches Flame-Resistant Skylight. If you live in or work near a wildfire-prone area, our new Solatube tubular skylight rooftop fire glazing accessory—available for both residential and commercial applications—is a daylighting solution that can help give you peace of mind.

Hosting This Holiday Season?

Is your home about to transform into a guest inn for family members and friends during the holiday season? Or are you hosting guests for a big holiday dinner? Either way, we know that whether you’ve done it once or a dozen times, prepping for the holidays can be stressful — there’s no doubt about that. Follow these expert tips to get your home guest-ready and make your home shine.

Solatube Wins Awards

We want to take the time to thank our Solatube family and every customer that has helped us get to this point. From Australia to the United States to Europe and beyond, our employees, partners, and customers all around the world are at the core of Solatube International’s success. You all have helped in this achievement, and we look forward to revealing future innovations and bringing daylight to facilities across the world. Keep reading if you want to learn more about the awards we won!

Add Value To Your Home

Adding a few “green” touches to your home can add tremendous value to your property without breaking the bank. The installation of solar lighting is a great example of a small investment that can have a major impact not only on energy savings but also on how your house will present to buyers when you decide to sell one day. Find out how an upgrade to your residential lighting system using Solatube products can increase the wow factor of your biggest investment!

21st Century Skylight for Homeowners

The desire to conserve electricity and protect our natural environment has spawned countless innovations in eco-friendly home lighting. But the future isn’t low-energy LED bulbs or fluorescent lights — it’s the Solatube skylight. Our solar lighting uses cutting-edge technology to harness, redirect, and amplify the power of natural light to brighten up the darkest places in your home in any season.

Skylight Myths Debunked

Today, we break down the top six myths about skylights including “Skylights probably leak at some point” and “There’s no way to turn off the light”. Read all the answers to these popular questions and concerns.

Daylighting Storm Shelters with Solatube

Solatube’s SolaMaster 750 DS-O has endured the stringent testing of ICC 500 and is the only top lighting solution to achieve ICC 500 / P 361 storm shelter compliance without the need for additional penetration protection.

Solatube at Night

Solatube introduces an innovative way to bring natural light into your home where you need it, but that’s not all Solatube can do. These are some of the Solatube accessories you can use to keep your space comfortable and bright at any time of day or night.

Getting Ready With Solatube

Solatube’s practical and powerful natural lighting systems work great in any setting, from massive office buildings and basketball courts to the smallest, most intimate spaces in your home. By installing daylighting in your bedroom, bathroom, and closet, you can make natural light part of your daily wake-up routine.

Tubular Skylights 101

Read our blog to learn how tubular skylights are lighting up homes around the world with their smart and sophisticated style.

Solatube: 30 Years In The Making

Three young entrepreneurs evolved into cutting-edge daylighting products that continue to deliver energy-efficient solutions that inspire and shine pure, natural light in residential and commercial spaces across the world.

Solatube Home Part of the Legacy

Solatube Home is the residential installation division of Solatube International and is proud to be part of the legacy, delivering beautiful natural light to homeowners throughout Southern California.

Celebrating 3 Decades of Wonder: The First Light Catcher

When you think of a light catcher, you probably envision a colorful ornament hung in a window to reflect the sun’s rays. But for us, this phrase means something slightly different – a revolutionary alternative to traditional skylights.

Solatube Invention: Saving Energy and Uplifting Mental Health

While electricity and energy usage continues to be a costly burden for the U.S. population, Solatube International Inc., is providing a cost-friendly and energy-efficient solution with its tubular skylights, helping homeowners save money and create healthy home environments.

Do Skylights Lead to Lower Bills?

When it comes to operating costs, even the most advanced light bulb cannot compete with an age-old natural resource–sunlight. And budget-minded homeowners are now realizing that in order to keep their energy costs to an absolute minimum, there’s no better strategy than to forgo electric lights during the day.

Introducing Commercial DaylightShaping™ with OptiView

At Solatube, we remain committed to delivering the most advanced, energy-efficient daylighting technology on the market. So, we couldn’t help ourselves when we discovered a new technology that would allow us to bring unprecedented control and unparalleled performance to Solatube Daylighting Systems. Introducing our newest technology innovation for our commercial product line, the OptiView® Shaping Diffusers.

Are Your Facilities Prepared for Hurricane Season This Year?

The 2021 hurricane season is upon us, and once again, the US can expect an above-average season. The experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predict anywhere from 6-10 hurricanes with 3-5 of those at a CAT 3 level or higher.

How Effective Are Solar-Powered Attic Fans?

If you add the right size attic fan and the right number of attic fans to your home they can make a tremendous difference in lowering the temperature in your attic and in your home. Want to keep your house comfortable year-round while protecting the attic and roof from a battery of hazards? An attic fan may be just what you’re looking for.

From Tubes to Tennis Rackets

Being the worldwide leading manufacturer and marketer of Tubular Daylighting Devices (TDDs), our team at Solatube International Inc. is used to brightening people’s lives with our energy-efficient Tubular Skylights. But today, Solatube is lending support to communities near and far and serving up hope by donating our shipping facility to Second Serve.

Make Your Home Shine – 8 Must-See Solatube Skylight Transformations

See how tubular skylights can be the unifying solution to making aesthetic home improvements, décor style functionality while keeping up with new design trends.

Solatube Partners with ClimateStudio

Integrating Solatube with ClimateStudio’s analysis tool means that design professionals can now quickly and easily simulate the performance of Solatube Tubular Daylighting Devices (TDDs) to capture, transfer and deliver controlled daylight to artfully illuminate nearly any interior space.

Solatube Tubular Skylights Transform an Outdated Guest Suite into a Bright, Beautiful, Sanctuary

See how interior design Instagram blogger Kay Volmar transformed her outdated guest suite into a bright, cozy and welcoming space for friends and family.

Solatube Home Listed as a “Top 20 Hottest Franchises of 2021”

Read about the history of Solatube Home and what led to becoming a “Top 20 Franchise of 2021”.

COVID-19 Anxiety: Coping with Stress Fear and Worry

The coronavirus has impacted people across the world, physically, emotionally and mentally. With the stressors and obstacles the pandemic has brought upon us, mental health problems have increased heavily. If you haven’t been feeling your best self recently, there are a few things you can do that are easier to incorporate into your daily routine than you’d imagine!

Adaptable Design: Flexible Buildings for a Sustainable Future

The primary goal of designing for adaptability and flexibility is to lengthen a building’s lifespan to accommodate changing socio-economic and environmental conditions, enabling the building to evolve over time as the user needs change.

Happy Anniversary Solatube!

The first Solatube product was sold in 1991 and today more than 2 million people have improved their homes with Solatube tubular skylights…. From residential to commercial, each Solatube installation has helped to conserve resources and protect the environment for a better future.

Solatube Wins Coveted A4LE Solution Provider Award

We are proud to announce that we have been named the winner of the 2020 A4LE Solution Provider Award for our Solatube Tubular Daylighting Devices (TDDs) and Integrated LED Light Kit. The annual award, sponsored by the Association for Learning Environments, recognizes companies and products that have a profound effect on students, faculty and learning outcomes by creating safe, sustainable, healthy, high performance learning environments. What are TDDs exactly? Cost-effective, energy-…

Decorating with Daylight

Nothing can be more beautiful and energy-efficient than having natural light illuminating the home. For those who are looking for a way to take a space in the home from dark and dreary to bright and cheery, look no further. With Solatube tubular skylights homeowners can decorate the entire home with natural light in every room and create a happy, vibrant and healthy home environment in just two hours.

Doing Our Part during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Solatube is committed to lending support to all of our communities, near and far. As cases of the coronavirus continue to rise in Kiambu, Kenya, Governor James Nyoro knew he needed to do something to handle the growing numbers and ease the pressure off of the Kiambu level 5 hospital that has been overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients. In a record time of 10-weeks, a new COVID-19 Isolation Center was built. The new 104-bed facility, known as the Tigoni Medical Center, is fully equipped with an…

Solatube International wins Gold in the 12th Annual 2020 Golden Bridge Business and Innovation Awards®

We are proud to announce that the Golden Bridge Awards has named the Solatube Solar-Powered Daylight Dimmer a Gold winner in the 12th Annual 2020 Golden Bridge Business and Innovation Awards®. The coveted annual Golden Bridge Awards program recognizes and honors the world’s best in organizational performance, products and services, innovations, executives and management teams, women in business and the professions, case studies and successful deployments, public relations and marketing…

Biophilic Office Design: How to Bring Nature into your Building

As we all spend more time indoors, we feel the need to connect with nature more than ever before. And because of this, in the building industry, biophilic designs have rapidly increased. What is Biophilic Design? Biophilic office design refers to an increasing trend of bringing the outdoors indoors and increasing occupants connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct and indirect nature elements. This includes introducing natural daylight, plants, vegetative or green…

Give the Gift of Daylight with Solatube

This holiday season, show family how much they are cared for by gifting something they can use all year long. As the holidays approach, many people wonder what to get for their family and friends. Everyone wants to give gifts that make a strong and lasting impression. So what better way to show loved ones that they are treasured than by giving a gift that can be used all year long? The tubular skylight by Solatube International is an advanced, innovative daylighting system that’s sure to…

Four Trends in Smart Home Safety

For homeowners and renters alike, smart homes are a great solution that offers convenience, functionality and increased security. And with the holidays approaching, now is the perfect time to find out more about what smart home technology can do. Here are four of the hottest trends in smart home safety and security.

Why Great Lighting Design Matters

As everyone slowly returns to the office, rightly so, the number one thought on every building owner’s mind is how to keep occupants safe. But is that all they should be thinking about? While keeping offices clean and encouraging social distancing should remain a top priority, we also have to remember the coronavirus pandemic has impacted employee mood and drive. Now is the time for owners to creatively think of ways to make the office a more comfortable and productive space that promotes both…

Control the Power of the Sun

Love filling the home with natural light, but want the ability to adjust the brightness? Solatube® International Inc., the worldwide leading manufacturer and marketer of tubular skylights, is proud to introduce its Solar-Powered Daylight Dimmer System. The innovative and energy-efficient Solar-Powered Daylight Dimmer allows users to adjust the amount of natural light in their space from bright to dark, and everything in between. Designed for maximum comfort and ease of use, the Solar-Powered…

Solatube Home Voted Best Local Skylight Company

Solatube International is proud to announce that Solatube Home was voted best local skylight company Residents have voted and the results are in! We are excited to announce that Solatube Home has been voted the Best Skylight Company in The San Diego Union-Tribune Readers Poll. The poll is the longest-running contest of its kind in Southern California. Over one million voters cast their votes based on their opinions of the quality of products and services provided and, on with whom they…

Five Trends for a Healthier Home

Home Improvement Projects That Promote Better Health As people spend more time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the desire to achieve a healthy, clean and safe home environment rapidly increases. Here are the hottest trends to improve happiness, remove toxins and add a touch of nature to any space for a healthier home environment. Tubular Skylights Natural light is an important improvement that not only affects the livability of the home, but also physical and mental wellbeing, too…

Ray of Light in Dark Times: Solatube Back in Business After Donating PPE

A Sleek, Modern Tubular Skylight and Accessories for Residential Homes Solatube® International Inc., the worldwide leading manufacturer and marketer of tubular skylights, introduced its latest innovation, the residential Architect Series. Designed to provide aesthetic and architectural style, the new collection includes a Low Profile Collector and a full line of attractive Decorative Fixtures. “The Low Profile Collector delivers an attractive Architect Series upgrade to our standard…

Dark Days for New York Hospitals – Solatube International donates face shields to hospitals and NYPD

With personal protective equipment (PPE) in short supply, Solatube International Inc., the worldwide leader of brightening people’s lives through their innovative Tubular Skylights, pivoted to producing and donating vital face shields for frontline workers who are putting their lives on the line to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sustainability Trends in the Hospitality Industry

Go Green – It’s good for the world and good for bringing in hotel guests. Sustainable tourism is not just a rising travel trend. Eco-consciousness is also quickly becoming a priority for hospitality leaders and hotel businesses around the world. This is due to the fact that tourism contributes to about 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions — a figure that Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership expects to grow by 130% by 2035. Fortunately, hoteliers have realized that…

Three Tips to Make a Small Bathroom Look and Feel Bigger

Make your bathroom appear twice as large with these three clever visual tricks Poor lighting will make a small bathroom feel even more cramped than it already is. Luckily, with glare-free, balanced natural light and creative visual placements, you can quickly and easily transform your dark and dreary bathroom.

Get Your Home Ready for Holidays

“Guest-ify your house.” Prepping for the holidays can be stressful — there’s no doubt about that. But with a little cheerful planning and a few updates, you can turn your home into a comfy and cozy space for guests. Follow these helpful tips to guide you down the right path for a stress-free holiday season:

Energy Sapped? It May Be SAD.

The good news is there’s help. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s related to the changes in seasons. If you’re like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy, making you feel moody and causing you to withdraw socially. So, why do we get SAD? While researchers have yet to discover the specific cause for SAD, we do know one main source that causes us to feel this way: Lack of sunlight. The…

Building Better Schools with Daylight to Improve Student Performance

Did you know that by the time a student graduates from high school, she or he has spent 15,600 hours inside a school building? It is perhaps no surprise then, that classroom design has a significant impact on effective learning, as well as children’s health and well-being. Of all of the classroom design options available to improve student performance and health in today’s classrooms, it is access to daylight that has been proven to have the most positive effects. Why daylight?

Discover Five Strategies Behind Daylighting

Want to see how you can design with daylight in spaces that were once considered impossible? Here are five strategies you can incorporate into your building design to maximize the benefits of daylighting with Tubular Daylighting Devices (TDDs). Check out these amazing projects where architects have used Solatube Daylighting Systems with brilliant results.

Aging in Place

Want to stay put? Here’s how Solatube can help. As we age, a home that we have lived comfortably in for many years can become difficult to navigate. There’s a lot to think about when improving your home to create a safe environment that you can grow old in.

When was the last time you were inspired?

Inspiration can come from the most unlikely places. We are all constantly surrounded by creative design. Whether it’s via the route you take to work each day, the designs you review as a creative team or the places you head to outside of the office, there is never a lack of creative inspiration. One of the best kept secrets in design is utilizing daylight in creative ways in our environments.

How You Can Beat the Summer Heat

Summer has plenty of pleasures to enjoy–but those sweltering dog days? Not so much. Get comfortable (without sending your electric bill soaring) with cool ventilation solutions for your home.

5 Home Improvement Ideas to Brighten Up Your Home

Looking for home improvement ideas? Most homeowners with an eye to sprucing things up often forget one important question: how bright is your home? A well-lit space makes all the difference when it comes to creating a cheerful and beautiful home. And brightness is not just about changing the kind of light bulbs you use — you need to look at the big picture. Here are a few ways to shed a little light on the subject.

The Positive Effects of Daylighting in Health & Wellness

Do you remember when you were a child, and you’d look out the window, yearning for recess to start so that you could play outdoors under the sun’s natural light? Well…as working adults, most of us experience the same feeling. Nobody likes being stuck in a dull, dark office setting. But can natural light actually help us be healthier? The answer is a resounding yes!

Are You Getting Enough Sunlight?

The evidence of the power of the sun is everywhere. It keeps our solar system together, provides warmth for all living things to grow and gives us beautiful light to see the wonders of the earth. Without it we would not exist.

Daylighting: More Than Just Good Looks.

Natural Light Found to Help Kill Bacteria Indoors. A recent health article on NPR’s site, entitled “Grandma Was Right: Sunshine Helps Kill Germs Indoors,” discusses a research study conducted by the University of Oregon to evaluate sunlight’s impact on dust and germs in an indoor space. According to the research, published in the journal Microbiome, “Rooms exposed to daylight have fewer germs. In fact, the study showed that the lit rooms had about half the viable bacteria (those that are able…

What’s the Top Workplace Perk? You Might Be Surprised.

In the workplace, there are a lot of things that are provided as perks. But the one that bubbles to the top might not be what you’d expect. A recent Business Insider article cited a Future Workplace study for the Harvard Business Review that identifies natural light in the workplace as a major benefit for employees. In fact, the survey of 1,614 North American employees “found that ‘access to natural light and views of the outdoors’ was the most popular perk of all, beating out other things like…

How You Can Make Your Garage Cool

Your garage can be a lot more than just a place to put your cars, store chemicals, smelly old sports equipment, and other stuff you never look at. It can actually be one of the coolest spaces in your house. You can use a garage for multiple things like a family movie room, classic car shop, fitness studio, or even a man cave, complete with a full bar, every kind of gaming, and maybe even your own sound stage. (Yes, we’ve been watching “I Love You, Man.”) Regardless of all the cool stuff you…

Solutions for the “Indoor Generation”

There has been a recent movement, seen through the #IndoorGeneration, that’s taking a look our current society and pointing out the issues surrounding our heavily indoor-based lifestyles. How heavy? Well, the average person believes they spend around only 67% of time indoors, when in actuality, they’re undershooting by a whopping (or disturbing) 23%. But the real issue is that as a result of the abundance of time we spend indoors, we are exposed to significantly negative effects

The Top 5 Reasons to Get a Whole House Fan

It’s hot. Like seriously hot. In your house. You know… that sweaty, uncomfortable, stick-to-everything kind of hot. Of course, there is relief. The old standby is air conditioning. But, the thing about standbys is that they are, in fact, old. And that usually comes with the downside of technology that’s stale. There is something that’s new, however.

What Working In a Dark Office is Doing to Your Brain… and What You Can Do About It

Do you ever feel like as the work week goes on, you’re just getting dumber? You lose focus, you’re more tired and less productive. You might pass it off as just being distracted by thoughts of the weekend that lies ahead. Well, the bad news is that the dimly lit space that you work in really is affecting your mental capacity. A new study conducted by Michigan State University neuroscientists, noted in a recent Fast Company article, has yielded changes in the structure of lab rats’ brains when…

Thinking About Putting In Skylights? Think Again.

Skylights are great, right? They fill your room with a ton of natural light and keep you from having to use electricity to light your room during the day. Well, there are some things about installing skylights that may make you think twice about it. Here are 5 of the biggest ones: 1. Big Holes, Big Hassle The premise behind skylights is pretty simple: in order to bring a lot of light into your home, you need to cut big holes in your roof and ceilings to do it. The problem is that this…

The Top 5 Things That Can Go Wrong In a Dark Bathroom

So it’s a little dark in here… What’s the big deal, right? Well, when it comes to your bathroom, things can go drastically wrong when it’s not well lit. Here are a few things that top the list: 1. “The Joker” When it’s time to put on makeup, you don’t want to be doing it without good light. No one wants to think they’re looking super hot after they’ve “put their face on” and then go out and realize later that they’re having a Tammy Faye moment. Whether it’s avoiding the wrong shades or…

New Technology Lets You Save Green by Going Green

Here at Solatube, we’ve been innovators in daylighting systems for 25 years. And while it may not be apparent at first glance, there’s a whole lot of technology that goes into bringing bright, natural sunlight into your homes. In fact, over the years we’ve pioneered new and better ways to capture, transfer and deliver sunlight through our advanced domes, ultra-reflective tubing and customizable diffusers, just to name a few. And we aren’t stopping there. We’ve just introduced our newest…

Daylighting in Style

“Home is where the heart is”, “Mi Casa es Su Casa”, “There’s no place like home”, “Home is where you hang your hat”, “You better be home in time for dinner” –Mom. There are so many great quotes about home; they could fill a thousand Pinterest boards. That’s right, a thousand. It’s a launch point for most of life’s adventures and a returning sanctuary for when life’s adventures become … well … too adventurous. Because “home” is such a powerful human concept, and because it means so much to…

6 Reasons to Get a Solar Star Attic Fan

Now that summer is here, the weather is warming up, and unfortunately, so is your home. Since most attics lack adequate ventilation, heat builds up between the ceiling and roof, making the entire house feel hotter. And if you have air conditioning, it has to work harder to keep you comfortable. But don’t worry. Solar Star Attic Fans are an easy solution. Here are six rock-solid reasons why they make sense (and cents): Operate for free: You read that right! The sun powers these fans. No…

Thanks to the unknown American inventors

National Inventors’ Day celebrates those who have improved our world with their inventions. Here are a few of the great unknowns we’re honoring.

How to control glare and fading

Glare inside your home can cause you big headaches…literally. Find out how a Solatube Daylighting System can eliminate this issue and provide other perks too.