Daylight harvesting Q & A
Q. Is this just another skylight?
A. No. Skylights are little more than a window in the roof with no capability
to illuminate rooms with drop ceilings. Additionally, they admit high-glare
light and radiant heat at high sun angles. TLC Integration utilizes Natural
Lighting Co. systems which increase sunlight admitted to the building throughout
the day and project the light downward as much as 12 feet via the reflective
light shaft and evenly illuminate the space below. The length of time the
daylight can be effective will vary depending on the use of the Active
or Passive Systems .
Q. Won't the daylighting units bring in a lot of heat?
A. No. Heat gain from the units is less than
the heat produced by electric lighting sources and other skylights because
- Natural
light contains half as much heat per lumen as artificially produced
light;
- Unlike skylights, the mirror panels on the active units provide partial
shade from intense mid-day summer sun, reducing radiant heat;
- The
sealed light duct with multiple lenses insulates against conducted
heat much like a thermopane window;
- The diffusion process breaks up radiant
heat and eliminates hot spots. Use of the So-Dark Motorized
Shade Screen in
either the Passive
or Active System can be used to manage the amount of
light and thus heat.
Q. Can a leak proof installation be assured?
A. Yes. Natural Lighting Co. units will not leak when installed in accordance
with our field-tested installation procedure using space age elastomeric sealants.
Q. Will intruders find Daylight harvesting units a point of easy building
access?
A. No. In high crime areas, or where the value of the building contents so
dictate, we can install our Integral Curb/Security Grille. Polycarbonate secondary
lenses are also available to insure that the openings are burglar resistant.
Q. Is there a way to directly offset the purchase cost of TLC products?
A. Yes, Energy cost avoidance, depreciation, artificial lighting maintenance
savings and incentives from local utility companies will contribute to offset
the total cost of a system.
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