Having as much natural light as possible in a home’s design is high on the list for many homeowners but, what about the areas of a house where traditional windows cannot be used? What other options are available? Here are a few alternatives that you may want to think about:
A common alternative to a traditional window is skylights. Their ability to provide a huge amount of natural light into a dark space makes them a great option. One word of caution, though, if you choose skylights for your home make sure they are double-paned and ensure that the flashing is done properly, otherwise, they may cause some issues.
Another option you might want to consider are clerestory windows. This type of window is wide but short and generally positioned high up on a wall. Due to their shape and positioning, they provide a good amount of natural light; however, another benefit is that due to the roof overhang, clerestory windows will not cause excessive heat in the room through the summer months. During the winter months, though, the lower position of the sun does allow heat as well as light into the room.
Light tubes can also be used to bring natural light into a dark area. The tubes are covered with a highly reflective material and a light diffuser enables an even distribution of natural light into the room. The tubes are also fitted with a lens designed to enhance low-level light but minimize the high intensity of the sun at midday.
From these few options, we can see that natural light can easily be incorporated into areas where there is no space for traditional windows.