How Solatube Can Help Lower Your Carbon Footprint
As the effects of climate change become increasingly evident, many homeowners are searching for practical ways to reduce their carbon footprint. While energy-efficient appliances and LED lights often come to mind, there’s another impactful solution that’s often overlooked: skylights.
While they’re typically admired for their aesthetic appeal and ability to brighten a room, skylights have the potential to make a significant difference when it comes to your home’s environmental impact.
Before we explore how skylights can play a role in reducing your carbon emissions, however, it’s important to first understand how much carbon your household is releasing into the environment each year. Knowing where you stand can help guide decisions about the most effective ways to lower your footprint.
How Much Carbon Do You Emit Each Year?
Globally, the average person emits about 4 tons of carbon every year. Here in the United States, however, that number climbs to approximately 16 tons per person annually, making America one of the highest per-capita carbon emitters in the world.
However, it’s important to remember that 16 tons is just the average. Many Americans emit a lot more carbon than that – especially if they engage in activities or habits like:
- Frequent air travel, especially long-haul flights
- Driving gas-powered vehicles, especially if driving alone
- Living in large homes that require significant heating and cooling year-round
- High energy consumption, such as using energy-intensive appliances
- Regular consumption of meat and dairy
To avoid the worst consequences of climate change, experts stress the importance of keeping the global temperature rise below 2°C. Scientists say that in order to meet this goal, we need to reduce the average global carbon footprint to under 2 tons per person per year by 2050.
Achieving this reduction in emissions will take time and effort, but you can contribute right away by taking steps to make your home more energy-efficient – like installing Solatube skylights.
How Solatube Skylights Can Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Solatube residential skylights can help you lower your carbon footprint in two main ways:
- Reducing Your Reliance on Traditional Heating Sources
One of the most significant ways Solatube skylights can help lower your carbon footprint is by reducing the amount of energy you use to heat your house.
During colder months, American homes usually rely on heating systems powered by fossil fuels like oil, gas, or electricity – all of which increase your carbon emissions. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Our skylights allow natural sunlight to flood your space – warming it up without needing to crank up the thermostat.
Unlike some competing products, our residential skylights come with integrated thermal barriers that are designed to minimize heat transfer. This means once your space gets nice and toasty, our skylights will make sure they stay that way. - Reducing Your Electricity Use with Natural Lighting
The second major way Solatube skylights reduce your carbon footprint is by cutting down on your home’s electricity usage.
Artificial lighting can be a major source of energy consumption in households. Every time you flip on a light switch, especially during the day, you are adding to your home’s carbon footprint. However, when you install a Solatube skylight, you allow natural light to fill your space, reducing your need to rely on electric lighting during daylight hours.
Of course, increasing the amount of natural light in your home isn’t just good for the planet. It’s also an excellent way to improve your mood, increase your productivity, and boost your overall well-being.
How to Make the Most of Your New Solatube Skylights
Installing Solatube skylights is a fantastic way to reduce your carbon footprint and improve your home’s energy efficiency, but to fully capitalize on their potential, it’s important to make sure you’re using them in the most effective way possible. Here are a few tips to help you maximize the benefits of your new skylights:
- Position Them Strategically: Place skylights in the rooms where you spend the most time to reduce your need for artificial lighting. For optimal heating, install them on south-facing parts of the roof in cooler climates to maximize sunlight.
- Upgrade to SoftLight™ Glass: Pick SoftLight™ Glass to benefit from Energy Star-level heat reduction and beautifully diffused daylight – further lowering your need for artificial heating and cooling.
- Hire a Trusted Installer: Poor skylight installation can lead to issues like leaks, drafts, and reduced energy efficiency. Hire a Solatube Premier Dealer to carry out your installation if you want to avoid these problems.
If you are ready to begin lowering your carbon footprint by installing new skylights, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a Solatube dealer near you. Whether you want one skylight or ten, we will be happy to help you understand your options.