Solatube International: The Start of Intelligent Daylighting Solutions

After living with a Solatube Daylighting System for several years and noticing the positive effects on my family’s daily life, I welcomed the chance to visit Solatube International at their global headquarters. I wanted to learn more about the design and development behind these tubular daylighting systems. Dr. Neall Digert, Vice President of Product Enterprise, gave me a full tour of their facility—which is illuminated entirely by Solatube systems—explained the company’s history, and answered questions about product development, innovation, and design.

Solatube Product Demonstration

Our meeting began with a demonstration of the daylighting system that brightened the conference room. I hadn’t realized the overhead lights were not fluorescent but a series of tubular daylighting fixtures that filled the ceiling. The light produced a warm, comfortable glow that felt very different from harsh fluorescent lighting. By adjusting internal baffles, Neall could control both the intensity and distribution of light throughout the room.

The entire Solatube International campus is lit by tubular daylighting systems—from offices and break rooms to the warehouse and factory floor. The company truly practices what it preaches, using the building as both a working environment and a living showroom for its products. To an untrained eye, the natural lighting is seamless; you might not realize the space relies primarily on daylight captured and distributed by their systems.

Solatube and Education

Solatube Daylighting Systems are offered in both residential and commercial lines, and some of their most important clients are schools. Solatube takes a people-first approach to design, and classrooms are a prime example of spaces that benefit from optimal lighting. Proper daylighting supports the body’s circadian rhythm by matching light quality and intensity to the time of day. In classrooms, healthier lighting helps students stay engaged and focused, reducing the eye strain and discomfort associated with long-term exposure to fluorescent fixtures.

I remember working in offices lit by fluorescent lights for years; the strain and fatigue were noticeable. Colleagues and I would often switch off overhead lights and rely on desk lamps to create a more comfortable, productive workspace. With effective daylighting, those compromises wouldn’t be necessary.

Founded in Australia in 1986, Solatube International now manufactures its tubular daylighting systems at its headquarters in Vista, California, while research and development facilities are located nearby. The company distributes products worldwide, designing systems to perform well in diverse weather conditions and varying daylight levels.

A Closer Look

Solatube International pioneered the tubular daylighting device (TDD) and continues to refine the technology by adopting new materials, following design trends, and listening to customer and dealer feedback. Their systems are engineered not only to deliver high-quality visual light but also to block harmful ultraviolet wavelengths that can fade fabrics and finishes.

Solatube’s Spectralight Infinity tubing provides 99.7% specular reflectance. That high reflectivity transfers the purest, whitest daylight over longer distances—up to 30 feet—without significant loss of brightness. The same material also filters infrared wavelengths, preventing unwanted heat gain. These features distinguish Solatube systems from conventional skylights and lesser tubular daylighting products.

Other tubular daylighting products exist on the market, but many cannot match Solatube’s performance or materials. Some competing products rely on simple reflective foil that degrades quickly and loses effectiveness. One notable advancement from Solatube is the Smart LED System, which combines daylighting with efficient LEDs to provide consistent light day and night while reducing lighting energy use by up to 94%. Its patented SunSense Technology continuously monitors daylight levels and automatically adjusts the LED output—turning LEDs on when daylight is low and off when daylight is sufficient. The result is a smooth transition between natural and artificial light and reliable illumination around the clock when needed.

The Solatube facility demonstrates these Smart LED Systems throughout the campus. The system also integrates occupancy sensing so LED output responds to presence in a space.

Factory Floor

Solatube manufactures and packages products at its Vista headquarters with an integrated process that includes rolling and preparing aluminum, maintaining stamping dies and tooling, and shipping finished components to dealers and distributors worldwide. Their lean manufacturing approach reduces waste and maximizes efficiency.

Production is largely made-to-order, so inventory levels are kept low. Long-term employees work on the factory floor, underscoring the company’s attention to skilled staff and workplace continuity.

Photo Tour

Additional images from Solatube International’s headquarters are shown below.

[box type=”shadow”] Disclosure: This article is sponsored by Solatube International, Inc. All opinions expressed are those of Timothy Dahl of Charles & Hudson. Solatube International’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.[/box]