Teken Posted February 10, 2020 Posted February 10, 2020 I've seen similar hardware in the past but this company looks to have gotten all of the pieces together right. Save, the crazy $6200 - $6800 price tag for a single unit which limits the entry to the 1%. https://gizmodo.com/mitsubishi-s-fake-led-skylights-simulate-sunlight-to-ma-1841573763 In the bunker where some of us reside the best we can hope for is a faux LCD with fish, tree's, and sky scape. There are a handful of people who have SAD so they have those blue colored lights to give them a boost of vitamin D?!?
LFMc Posted February 11, 2020 Posted February 11, 2020 On 2/10/2020 at 10:36 AM, Teken said: I've seen similar hardware in the past but this company looks to have gotten all of the pieces together right. Save, the crazy $6200 - $6800 price tag for a single unit which limits the entry to the 1%. https://gizmodo.com/mitsubishi-s-fake-led-skylights-simulate-sunlight-to-ma-1841573763 In the bunker where some of us reside the best we can hope for is a faux LCD with fish, tree's, and sky scape. There are a handful of people who have SAD so they have those blue colored lights to give them a boost of vitamin D?!? It seems to me the original intent of skylights was to add more "free" light to the house like a window would. But the 5 skylights I have added a lot of heat during the summer and cold air in the winter thus off setting any "free light" savings with heating and AC losses. I have measured, with a laser thermometer, temps reaching 180 degrees F at top of the skylight tunnel with double pain skylights. ? So, when we got hit with a big storm last June, we got a new roof. I negotiated with the roofer to just cover over the existing skylights with just plywood and roofing thus lowering my costs for the replacement roof. On the inside, I am slowly framing them in with a lower translucent panels and installing LED lights behind them (ISY controlled of course) to give the visual look of the "free light" both day and night. The tunnel is still there if someone wants to go to the trouble to put back the curb skylights on the roof. But I am not going to use blue lights to avoid SAD, lol. I consulted a professional realtor about it beforehand and he said that skylights are slowly going away on new construction and add no appraised value to older houses, other than possible curb appeal. So next summer I should have some hard figures on savings, but I can tell that so far this winter the rooms are much less drafty and take less heating.
Teken Posted February 11, 2020 Author Posted February 11, 2020 7 minutes ago, LFMc said: It seems to me the original intent of skylights was to add more "free" light to the house like a window would. But the 5 skylights I have added a lot of heat during the summer and cold air in the winter thus off setting any "free light" savings with heating and AC losses. I have measured, with a laser thermometer, temps reaching 180 degrees F at top of the skylight tunnel with double pain skylights. ? So, when we got hit with a big storm last June, we got a new roof. I negotiated with the roofer to just cover over the existing skylights with just plywood and roofing thus lowering my costs for the replacement roof. On the inside, I am slowly framing them in with a lower translucent panels and installing LED lights behind them (ISY controlled of course) to give the visual look of the "free light" both day and night. The tunnel is still there if someone wants to go to the trouble to put back the curb skylights on the roof. But I am not going to use blue lights to avoid SAD, lol. I consulted a professional realtor about it beforehand and he said that skylights are slowly going away on new construction and add no appraised value to older houses, other than possible curb appeal. So next summer I should have some hard figures on savings, but I can tell that so far this winter the rooms are much less drafty and take less heating. The concept of a sky light on the surface makes lots of sense with respect to natural light, reduced energy bills, and depending upon size and location can be sexy / romantic. But, all of the homes I have seen that have them always had some minor to major issues with them. As anyone knows any penetration into the roof is a opportunity for a leak and the net result is huge replacement costs born on the owner / insurance. Up in the deep north three homes I visit on a regular basis all have the same issues: Interior Rain Can you imagine walking into the kitchen / living room and seeing it rain in that area ~ in the dead of winter?!?
LFMc Posted February 11, 2020 Posted February 11, 2020 1 minute ago, Teken said: Up in the deep north three homes I visit on a regular basis all have the same issues: Interior Rain If you are referring to condensation, no I have never had that problem. I have had leaks. My big issue was having to get on my roof every year and scrape off the 6" of dead vegetation on the high side of the skylight and repair or mastic the flashing again. If I ever designed a house again that needed skylights, I would rotate them 45 degrees so the leaves and sticks would slide off and not accumulate on the high side.
Teken Posted February 11, 2020 Author Posted February 11, 2020 Just now, LFMc said: If you are referring to condensation, no I have never had that problem. I have had leaks. My big issue was having to get on my roof every year and scrape off the 6" of dead vegetation on the high side of the skylight and repair or mastic the flashing again. If I ever designed a house again that needed skylights, I would rotate them 45 degrees so the leaves and sticks would slide off and not accumulate on the high side. Condensation wouldn't be the first word to leave my lips . . . But yes, when the mercury dips to -35'C to -45'C it doesn't matter how many pane of glass, gas, is present. The only recourse is to keep the temperature higher while also lowering the humidity in the space. One would think given it gets so cold humidity would not be an issue but those who live in Ontario can vouch there is such a thing known to Canadians as: Wet Cold vs Dry Cold . . . Depending upon individual lifestyle, how tight the envelope, insulation, etc. Those who don't well regulate the interior - humidity using whatever method they deem fit such as HRV / Dehumidifier / Active Venting. Those with sky lights will see interior rain / weeping that is just mind boggling to see.
LFMc Posted February 11, 2020 Posted February 11, 2020 6 minutes ago, Teken said: Wet Cold vs Dry Cold In N. Texas, that means the difference between a runny nose or just a cough. ?
LFMc Posted February 11, 2020 Posted February 11, 2020 On 2/10/2020 at 10:36 AM, Teken said: There are a handful of people who have SAD so they have those blue colored lights to give them a boost of vitamin D?!? Has anyone figured out an easy way to control the RGB strip lighting that you get on Amazon with the ISY yet? That might be interesting stuff to put in my dead end sky light tunnel. Home depot has the Phillips Wiz wifi RGB LED lights for $17 each. No bridge required. Anyone have these working with ISY?
DaveStLou Posted February 11, 2020 Posted February 11, 2020 32 minutes ago, LFMc said: Has anyone figured out an easy way to control the RGB strip lighting that you get on Amazon with the ISY yet? That might be interesting stuff to put in my dead end sky light tunnel. Home depot has the Phillips Wiz wifi RGB LED lights for $17 each. No bridge required. Anyone have these working with ISY? They don't mention any API on this page which says WiZ lights integrate via the "cloud" - meaning IFTT: https://www.wizconnected.com/en-US/consumer/technology/
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