Thermal Insulation Coating Reduces Skylight Issues

Skylights have been a way to add natural light into a building. They can transform spaces from dark and confined to a connection between architecture and nature. LEED even includes a special energy saving points category for daylighting, which is traditionally done through use of skylights, by awarding points on the savings from using traditional electric lighting.

Unfortunately, skylights can have problems. The designer will love the skylights, but the energy professional will have concerns about the energy loss from high heat transfer rates that allow heat into the building in the summer and let it escape in the winter. There are also issues with glare, UV damage, fading, and condensation.

Skylights are one of the building envelope applications that people ask about often. They need help reducing skylight issues. INI Worldwide is pleased to help skylight issues with the award-winning Energy Protect thermal insulation coating, which is a way to insulate skylights and make skylights UV resistant.

Common Skylight Energy Loss Problems and INI Skylight Insulation and Protective Solutions

Issue: Energy loss – Skylights are known for high heat transfer rates and energy loss.

Solution: Energy Protect is a thin film coating that reduces heat transfer, insulating skylights in all seasons, while still allowing approximately 90-92 percent of visible light.

According to authorities that recommend increasing or decreasing thermostat settings to save energy, such as the U.S. Department of Energy and the California Energy Commission, each degree of air temperature can equate to up to five percent of savings on heating or cooling, depending upon the season. This means that an eight degree temperature difference can mean up to 40 percent savings on heating or cooling costs.

Issue: UV damage and fading – Buildings that have skylights often have issues with the damage of UV rays transmitting through the skylights into the space below.

Solution: Energy Protect blocks approximately 80 percent of the damaging UV rays, preventing fading of carpets, furniture, and artwork.

Issue: When the sun hits a certain height, the heat in a room with skylights can skyrocket. Even though buildings are air conditioned, they can get over 100F the closer you get to the skylight. This is a drain on A/C systems and can cause a building to be uncomfortable.

Solution: Energy Protect provides relief from the heat by insulating the skylight so your space stays cooler. It also helps in the winter.

Issue: Intense glare – Sometimes the natural light can cause glare that makes people close blinds to stop it. This negates the non-electrical lighting benefit of daylighting.

Solution: Energy Protect puts a frost-like finish over the skylights which diffuses the light to reduce glare.

Issue: Condensation – Skylights and the aluminum framing around them tend to be susceptible to condensation during temperature changes.

Solution: Energy Protect coating can be spray applied over both the skylight and framing at the same time. While condensation issues are tricky to solve, the coating has made a difference for companies with this issue. For example, The Vernon Bank, who stopped condensation dripping into their lobby from an overhead skylight with the coating.

You Can Love Your Skylights Again

Just three coats of Energy Protect sprayed over skylights can solve multiple issues and allow enjoyment of bringing in the outside world.

Learn more about Energy Protect coating for building envelope applications, including skylights, at the website.

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