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Ventilation matters too. The EPA reports indoor air can be two-to-five times more polluted than outdoor air. This can affect everything from asthma and allergies to respiratory infections and cognitive decline. That’ s why the American Lung Association recommends venting out your home for at least 15 minutes each day.
The most effective way to achieve natural ventilation is by leveraging the stack effect, which occurs when warm air rises and escapes through high openings, drawing in cooler air below. Research shows that venting skylights, combined with lower openings, maximize the stack effect, refreshing indoor air up to 15 times more effectively than vertical windows alone. That makes them one of the most efficient passive ventilation tools available to builders today.
Two: As codes tighten and sustainability becomes a larger priority, both builders and consumers are looking to reduce energy use and improve performance.
Builders should look for skylight models that are ENERGY STAR certified and operated by renewable energy. Though they currently account for a relatively small share of the market, solar-powered skylights deliver outsized benefits for sustainability goals and ease of installation( no wiring or electricians required).
For optimal thermal performance, choose skylights with a pre‐installed room-darkening shade. Shades deliver complete light control and exceptional energy efficiency, reducing heat loss in winter and blocking unwanted solar gain in summer. Studies show, for example, that when the VELUX Skylight System’ s shade is in the down position, it provides up to 46 percent improvement in thermal values and up to 43 percent
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