We are used to seeing these way above our heads; too high for any drapes or curtains to keep the sun out. You’ll find them on the tops of buildings with vaulted ceilings or flat rooftops. They even show up in movies as entrances, though in the real world they aren’t generally used for that. You can often see other, taller buildings through them, and even the changing of the weather. Of course, we are talking about dome roof lights and not only are they used in place of traditional lighting, but they provide numerous other benefits we’ll outline below.
The Benefits:
The most obvious of benefits is replacing traditional incandescent or fluorescent lighting that would be high above the floor where maintenance can be an issue. Don’t forget about those expensive electric bills. Natural light is almost always preferable, and the buildings you find these on aren’t generally open late into the night where lighting becomes a major issue. This helps buildings to be more energy efficient and ‘green’; something we are striving for constantly as a society. During the day, light streams into the building, providing warmth and light, while giving patrons a view into the outside world around them. Even on the cloudiest of days, sun streams through while other lighting in the interior can provide that extra boost. Though it might be underrated, there are certainly times when even the moon can provide some light, those it is usually reserved for movies and spookier things.
Another advantage of the doom roof lights is energy savings. While it seems counter-intuitive that a hole in the ceiling would save energy, think about all of the wasted energy from having a light fixture that needs to run constantly. With advances in the window business, there are windows that keep warm air in and cool air out pretty well (or the other way around if you need it). The natural sunlight can even help heat up a large room in place of a heater and if the window can be opened, can ease the burden on an A/C system.
The most obvious advantage doesn’t necessarily have to do with money or maintenance, but rather, the aesthetics or a building. Light fixtures, heaters, and A/C units can be unsightly and ruin the atmosphere that is carefully crafted. A beautiful dome roof light can brighten a room and brighten someone’s mood, day in and day out. The cost is minimal and well-placed openings can change the entire dynamic of a room in either your house or in a place of business.
Overall Impressions:
It seems dome roof lights are most often used in public buildings as part of the décor and appeal, while simultaneously serving to heat/cool a building and reduce costs, and all of this from a window. Who would have thought that dome roof lights would provide money saving benefits for only a one-time fee while helping to make those who look through them, just a little bit happier. It seems as though we should find a place to put windows in every building. We might be a little happier, warmer/cooler, and on our way to some beautiful new buildings.