A VELUX tubular skylight directs abundant natural sunlight into homes. They can be used in any room of a home, but are most impactful when installed in smaller areas. This includes stairways, closets, hallways, bathrooms, foyers, and mudrooms. Anywhere that might be too big for a traditional skylight is perfect for a VELUX tubular skylight, also known as a Sun Tunnel.
With a reflectivity of 99%, a tubular skylight can produce up to as many lumens as two and a half 100-watt bulbs. This level of luminosity is especially helpful to seniors. Many who have installed them say the VELUX Sun Tunnel is a great investment. Here are a few ways this type of skylight can help seniors.
1. Reducing Trips and Falls
As we age, sufficient light becomes one of the most important safety factors. Eyes that are 60+ years old require three times the amount of light that 20-year-old eyes need. For seniors, this makes dim spaces disorienting, causing eye strain and increasing anxiety. There is also an increased risk of falls due to poor depth perception and the inability to see obstacles. Adding natural light to a home via a tubular skylight can change this. According to a study conducted in a long-term care facility, falls were reduced by 43% after dynamic lighting was installed, which included natural light.
2. Energy Efficiency
The average senior uses the lights in their home 5-11 hours a day. The average U.S. electric rate is $0.17 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). At that rate, it costs $225 a year to power three 100-watt bulbs. As a result of the lumens produced from a Sun Tunnel, many seniors can decrease the amount of time they use artificial lighting by up to four hours a day. This equates to an immediate decrease in overall energy costs.
3. Improved Sleep
Many seniors are prone to repeated waking throughout the night. One study found this to be especially true for long-term care facilities that were light-deprived. The introduction of natural light can help seniors stay asleep. An Iranian study followed elderly people aged 60-101. They were exposed to thirty minutes of direct daylight in the early morning and thirty minutes in the evening. It was found that they produced 45% more melatonin than the control group. As a result, it effectively aided in correcting sleeping through the night.
4. Enhanced Cognitive Function
Exposure to higher levels of daylight has helped some seniors with memory and mental acuity. A study in China followed 1,192 participants aged 60 years and older. They found that those exposed to high amounts of daylight had a higher average mental state score compared to participants in the medium to low sunlight exposure groups. It was concluded that long-term sun exposure throughout life could reduce the risk of mental impairment.
The average install time for a VELUX tubular skylight depends on the level of experience. For someone installing a Sun Tunnel for the first time, it can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours or longer. Experienced remodelers, contractors, and skylight installers can install this device into a home in as little as ninety minutes. Once the steps of this installation become familiar, there is the potential to install three or four natural light tubular skylights into a single home in one day.
The installation process for a VELUX Sun Tunnel is relatively simple compared to a skylight or roof window. Complete VELUX Sun Tunnel installation instructions are available online. Here is a simple overview of the steps:
Mark the ceiling joists and mark the center of the joists.
In the attic, identify the place in the roof directly over the mark in the ceiling.
Mark the place in the roof with a nail or screw.
On the roof, use the boot to mark a hole and cut it in the roof deck.
Loosen the shingles and remove all nails around the boot.
Apply sealant to the boot, and slide the boot under shingles and roof underlayment.
Screw or nail down the boot and shingles.
Attach the gasket to the upper elbow and upper tunnel section. Place it into the boot and attach it with screws.
Install the Sun Tunnel dome or flat glass cover using screws.
In the attic, measure the distance needed for the lower reflective tube. Then build a lower tunnel and attach it to the diffuser ring.
Install the diffuser ring and connect the upper and lower Sun Tunnel sections.
Install the light diffuser.
In a single day, a tubular skylight is something that can change the life of a senior for the better. There is also minimal dust and debris associated with this project. So, the disruption to the day-to-day life will be almost nonexistent. In most cases, the homeowner can be home during installation.
For homeowners who would like to know a little bit more about placement options for the VELUX Sun Tunnel, we are ready. VELUX has Design and Product Advisors who are happy to answer questions about any of our skylight products.
For contractors, remodelers, and roofers looking to purchase a Sun Tunnel, we can help. VELUX offers assistance with finding a dealer. Once on the webpage, type in the local zip code to find the closest retailer or supply house.
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