The Solatube Story

The need to maximize the use of natural light is today a cornerstone of architectural design. The reasons for this are many and include the way natural light adds to the visual appeal of indoor spaces, the health benefits of increased exposure to sunlight and the economic benefits of being able to reduce electricity bills by limiting, if not eliminating, the use of artificial light during the day. Traditionally sunlight entered a building through windows and skylights. Design constraints and environmental factors often restricted the number of windows and skylights that a structure could have and where they were placed, thereby limiting the availability of sunlight. Electrical lighting was used to make up for the shortfall. This situation remained unchanged for over a century. In 1986, things changed with the advent of the Solatube daylighting system.

30 Years And Counting

• 1986 – The first tubular daylighting device (TDD) is invented in Australia.

• 1987 – The prototype TDD is installed and is a huge success.

• 1991 – After more development, the first TDD is sold and the brand soon becomes the market leader.

• 1992 – The first U.S. office is opened in California. The first residential TDD is sold in North America. It has advanced functional options like integrated lighting and ventilation kits.

• 1995 – New tubing that offers the maximum sunlight transmission with the minimum loss is introduced.

• 2000 – A commercial division is launched to cater to the daylighting needs of commercial establishments. Newer technologies to increase operational efficiency are introduced. Solar powered attic fans are brought to the market.

• 2002 – New tubing that permits 90-degree bends to maneuver around obstacles with no reduction in performance is introduced. This is unique in the lighting industry. New highly reflecting tubing materials are developed and put into production.

• 2003 – Daylight dimmers that control the amount of daylight entering a room at the press of a button are patented and brought to the market.

• 2004 – The unique OptiView Diffuser is introduced.

• 2006 – New patented tubing technology that prevents heat carrying infrared rays from entering the system is developed. This ensures maximum light with minimal heat gain.

• 2007 – The LightTracker Reflector that maximizes sunlight collection is developed. Patented Raybender 3000 technology that maximizes light capture without allowing overpowering midday sunlight to enter is made available.

• 2009 – More technology improvements are introduced.

• 2011 – Decorative lighting fixtures for the TDDs are introduced.

• 2012 – The world’s first hybrid system that incorporates both daylight and LED lighting is given to the market.

• 2013 – A new high-output system of commercial spaces with high ceilings is developed. More new decorative fixtures are made available. A TDD amplifier that enables focused lighting is developed.

• 2014 – New roof mounted light capturing devices that increase the use of low angle light is developed.

• 2015 - New thermal insulation panels that surpass current codes are introduced. New dimmers that control lighting in large-volume spaces like sports arenas are developed.

• 2016 - TDDs with integrated night lights are given to the market.

• 2017 – New technologies that increase visual comfort are introduced. The Solatube whole house fan is launched.

• 2018 – The Solatube garage fan is launched.

• 2019 New unobtrusive roof mounted daylight collectors are developed.

• 2020 – New daylight dimmers and LED lighting options are added to TDDs.

• 2021 – Solatube International Celebrates 30 Years of Wonder.

With this record of industry leading innovation, it is no wonder that Solatube is the global leader in daylighting technology.

Maximizing natural light usage is an integral part of modern home and office design. The invention of the tubular daylighting device has made it possible to bring sunlight into those parts of a home where access to natural light was either nonexistent or limited and where electrical lighting had to be used during the day. The ease of installation means that TDDs can easily be installed in existing homes without the need for any structural modifications. Daylight is the future of interior illumination for both new and existing homes and commercial establishments. Homes and businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area have an easy to access source for their daylighting needs. Sunlight Concepts is the Premier Solatube Dealer for the area and we carry a complete range of Solatube TDDS and other products to meet home and commercial daylighting and ventilation needs. If you are interested in bringing sunlight into your home or workplace, contact us. We will give you a free consultation where you will have all your questions answered and be given all the information you need to make an informed decision on bringing sunlight indoors.