Growing up in Arizona I often heard people praise the weather, but it wasn’t until I lived in Seattle and New York that I fully appreciated how much sunlight affects daily life. The warmth and brightness I once took for granted became something I craved during long winter months. Tucson averages 284 days of sunshine per year, and roughly 15 years ago my parents decided to make the most of that natural light by installing a Solatube Daylighting System in their home.
The house I grew up in is typical for Tucson: adobe walls and a flat roof. My father had the roof treated with a reflective coating to help keep the interior cool, and my parents looked for smart ways to brighten the home without adding excessive heat or large electrical bills. Our great room has a large window looking onto an enclosed patio, but it still lacked direct sunlight and felt dim. Instead of running new wiring for overhead fixtures, my parents chose Solatube and installed units in the great room and the main hallway, which previously received no natural light at all.
Unlike a traditional skylight, Solatube Daylighting Systems capture sunlight from dawn to dusk using a patented rooftop dome, channel it through highly reflective tubing, and distribute it indoors through a diffuser designed to spread even, glare-free light. The system also blocks most infrared and ultraviolet rays, reducing added heat and preventing rapid fading of furniture and fabrics.
Solatube at Home
From the moment they were installed, my parents were delighted with the improvement. The transformation was especially noticeable in our great room: a previously underused space became bright, inviting, and perfect for reading or relaxing. Over time it even became the preferred spot for holiday displays and family gatherings.
The formerly dark hallway is now filled with natural light and looks excellent against the new tile my parents recently installed. The narrow corridor offers abundant wall space for artwork, which used to be difficult to appreciate in dim light. Installing wired overhead lights would have created shadows and increased electricity usage, so the daylighting solution was both visually and economically preferable.
Solatube technology has advanced significantly since the late 1990s when my parents first installed their units. Last month we upgraded their system with newer domes, improved tubing, and a redesigned interior fixture. The quick upgrade made a noticeable difference: the newer components deliver brighter, more evenly diffused light throughout the day and continue to provide usable illumination even as the sun sets. The new decorative fixture blends seamlessly with the ceiling and looks more refined than the older unit.
Solatube Daylighting System – Installation
The upgrade took under an hour thanks to the efficient service provided by the Sunshine Experts in Tucson. A new installation typically requires about two hours to complete due to additional roof and ceiling steps. Typical residential installations range from approximately $400 to $600, depending on configuration and local labor; local Solatube dealers can provide exact pricing and availability in your area.
Solatube Daylighting System – Before & After Photos
Below are before-and-after photos from homes across the country showing how Solatube brings daylight into spaces that would otherwise be dim. The system works well as a supplemental light source and can even serve as the primary source of daylight for kitchens, dining areas, and bathrooms.
Kitchen before Solatube
Kitchen after Solatube
Dining area before Solatube
Dining area after Solatube
Bathroom before Solatube
Bathroom after Solatube
More Solatube Daylighting Photos
Additional images show how effectively Solatube delivers natural light to a variety of spaces, from bathrooms and closets to laundry rooms and stairwells. The consistent, natural illumination helps rooms feel larger and more welcoming while reducing the need for daytime artificial lighting.
If you think a Solatube could improve lighting in your home, the company provides a free Home Daylighting Guide that explains the benefits of daylighting, how systems can be configured for different rooms, and the variety of fixtures and accessories available to match your décor.
Disclosure: This article was sponsored by Solatube International, Inc. The opinions expressed here are those of the author.