Read Time 3 mins | Written by: VELUX Skylights
Skylights are pretty straightforward, right? They're windows on your roof. They don't open, they just let in light sometimes, and can often make a room hotter. Are they even worth it?
At VELUX, we think they are! And not because what we just said is only somewhat true.
Okay, maybe at some point in time skylights were just roof windows that caused more hassle than they're worth. But the skylights available today through VELUX are not your parents' skylights. We work hard to make skylights that are not only innovative and stylish, but ones that make your home healthier too.
Solar Power
At VELUX, we're all about sustainable living. We're also really big on the sun, which is why solar-powered skylights just make sense.
Not only does VELUX offer skylights that open, but our most popular skylights are ones that are opened by the power of the sun. VELUX Solar-Powered "Fresh Air" Skylights and E-Class Solar-Powered Venting Skylights are both equipped with a solar panel that captures sunlight - even on cloudy days - to power the batteries that operate your skylight. No wires or electricity needed!
Even if you don't opt for a solar-powered model, you can still choose one of our many solar-powered blinds to go with your skylight. These blinds, operated by your remote, also come with a solar panel that collects daylight to charge their batteries.
We also offer the Solar Night Light for our Rigid Sun Tunnel® Skylights. This attachment sits on the inside of the tunnel and its solar panel collects sunlight throughout the day, charging the batteries that power its LED lights. Then, when the sun goes down, the lights come on automatically, providing a soft glow to light your way in the dark.
Rain Sensors
So, now that you know skylights open, you might be worried about what happens when it rains. Well, don't worry, because we're one step ahead of you: VELUX's solar-powered and electric venting skylights come equipped with rain sensors that will automatically close your skylight at the first sign of rain.
VELUX Electric "Fresh Air" Skylights are equipped with an integrated moisture-sensing rain sensor. This type of sensor detects the first drops of water to fall and automatically closes your skylight.
Alternatively, VELUX Solar Powered "Fresh Air" Skylights and E-Class Solar Powered Venting Skylights come equipped with a Piezoelectric rain sensor, which means it reacts to sound. This sensor uses the piezoelectric effect to measure changes in temperature, pressure, and sound by converting them into an electrical charge. In other words, the sound of rain hitting this sensor triggers a slight change in shape, which generates a voltage that alerts the skylight to close. Our solar-powered skylights come with this sensor because the electric one requires too much continuous current to be powered by the batteries in our solar-charged system.
VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO
VELUX ACTIVE is your key to healthy living with skylights. Its smart sensors continuously monitor the temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels in your home. And based on these levels, it'll automatically open or close your skylights and blinds to create a healthier indoor climate.
It works by using these sensors and the internet to connect to your local weather stations and compare the air inside with the air outside. So, for example, if it senses your bathroom's gotten a little too humid after that shower and the air outside is cooler, it'll open your skylight to balance things out. Its smart heat protection will also sense when it's getting too hot outside and close your blinds to prevent the room from overheating.
Although we keep saying automatically, you're in complete control of your VELUX ACTIVE. The automation is for convenience, but if you ever want to override it, you can do so right from your phone.
Oh, yeah, VELUX ACTIVE connects to your smartphone, so you can open or close your skylight and blinds from anywhere! It's from this app that you can also monitor the comfort levels of your home and adjust them as needed. VELUX ACTIVE also works with the Apple HomeKit, so you can use voice control to operate your skylight and blinds.
So, did you learn something new about skylights today?
