what is solar daylighting?

Solar daylighting refers to fixtures that bring sunlight into a building through highly reflective tubes or fiber optic cables that run from the roof or the side or a structure into the areas that require light. Solar daylighting is the perfect way to cut costs and illuminate any area where you normally turn your lights on (or wish you had a light to turn on) during the day.

There are two types of solar daylighting devices.

Tubular Daylighting Devices (TDDs) have three parts:
Collector: Light is collected at the roof through a clear, multi-faceted dome that looks like a jewel. The domed shape allows the device to catch sunlight from many angles and in any season.
Tubes: Light is then channeled down a highly-reflective tube. These tubes are usually 10, 14, or 21 inches in diameter and run from the rooftop to the room being lighted. Ultra-violet (harmful) rays are removed by filters near the surface of the dome.
Diffuser: At the end of the tube, a light diffuser is set into the ceiling. This diffuser creates steady, even light throughout the lit space. This eliminates the glare and “hotspots” traditional skylights and even windows can create.

Fiber-Optic Daylighting Devices also have three parts:
Collector: Light is collected at the roof or on any south-facing side of a building through a rectangular panel of small lenses. This panel can catch sunlight from many angles and in any season.
Fiber optic cables: Light is then channeled through fiber optic cables. These cables can carry sunlight up to two stories deep, so you can have sunlight in basements, hallways, closets, even interior sections of large buildings. Ultra-violet (harmful) rays are removed by filters near the surface of the lenses.
Fixture: At the end of the cable, a light fixture is set into the ceiling. This fixture creates steady, even light throughout the lit space. This eliminates the glare and “hotspots” traditional skylights and even windows can create.