Reduce Air Conditioning Costs With Daylighting Systems

Getting through summer especially in a place like California, without air conditioning can be almost impossible. Summer is a time of year that everyone looks forward to but the sharp increase in electricity bills because of the use of air conditioners takes some of the shine off the summer fun. Being able to reduce the bills, without making the home uncomfortable, is something every homeowner would like to achieve, but for many, it seems like an impossible dream. There is a way to achieve this.

Light and Heat Gain

The first issue to be considered is indoor lighting during the day. Many homes have spaces that do not get enough natural light, even with shades and curtains open. This means that electric lights must be used during the day which adds to the power bill. So, reducing the use of artificial light during the day becomes objective one. Traditionally, the only way to increase the amount of sunlight entering a room is to put in additional windows and/or skylights. The problem with this is that it may not be structurally possible; the cost is very high, it is a messy and time-consuming job and skylights may start leaking. All in all, it is not aesthetically pleasing and is not a economic solution to the problem. On top of this, the more sunlight that comes in from windows and skylights, the more the heat gain in the room, which means the air conditioning load, goes up. This, in turn, means larger utility bills.

That brings up the second issue – reducing the heat load to reduce the amount of air conditioning required.  Since bringing in more sunlight to reduce electricity use for lighting pushes up the need for air conditioning, it seems like a catch 22 situation where the homeowner cannot come out on top. Fortunately, this is not the case.

More Light and Less Heat

There is a way of increasing natural light availability indoors without adding to the heat load. This is done by installing daylighting systems. These are high tech systems that capture sunlight (even low angle morning and evening light) from the roof and carry it with almost no loss through special reflective pipes to the interiors of the home where the light is diffused using special light fittings. Unlike Windows or skylights, daylighting devices can be installed in any house, require no structural modifications to be done, are cost-effective, can be installed quickly (a matter of a few hours) and cleanly, and will not leak or allow water entry.

As for the heat gain, it is negligible to the extent of having no impact on the air conditioning load. It is light that enters the home, not heat. It is for these reasons that daylighting systems from the leading manufacturer have been awarded the Energy Star label.

There is an added benefit – just as a daylight system limits heat gain in summer, it reduces heat loss in cold weather. Heat loss, even through double or triple glazed windows adds to the heating load. In the same way that heat gain is controlled, daylighting systems restrict heat loss to the absolute minimum.

Installing a daylighting system is simple. All a homeowner needs to do is contact the dealer of the leading manufacturer. The experts will guide him through the options available and answer all questions that may be posed. In fact, once the decision to purchase is made, same-day installation is available.