A window to the sky
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Skylights must be placed where the sunlight falls on them directly, writes K.S.SUBRAMANIAN
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Courtesy: Hunter Douglas
COMFORT SOURCE: A view of skylights in a room.
April is the harshest month. But some places have an extended spell of summer making anyone feel the compulsion to enjoy the cosy shade at home. Yet is it really cosy? Window shades designed to block ultraviolet radiation have been in the market for nearly a decade. So far as the area of accessories is concerned, upgraded products are there to choose from.
Skylight - the latest addition to the list of comforts - is a kind of window built into the roof and provides natural light. Aesthetically uplifting, it reduces eyestrain and power consumption and may increase productivity. It is a case of old reborn into a new device. Back in yore, a traditional artefact in rural houses was a large opening in the roof through which the sunlight would bear down on the space. Skylights must be placed where the sunlight falls on them directly. The obvious inference is that on a cloudy day it serves little purpose. It is commonly made from glass, glass composites, plastics and plastics composites. It is treated with dyes to reduce light transmission or by adding a reflective surface. Like all ingredients it has pros and cons. An advantage of glass is its durability, hardness, high light transmission and rigidity. Glass can be made more resistant to breakage by heat-treating and combining with reinforcing materials. Plastic materials are much lighter in weight, and are resistant to shattering, so they pose only a minimal safety hazard. However, skylight gives its maximum utility value where the house or an apartment is not hemmed in by adjacent structures or thick foliage. Hunter Douglas ventured into this area last year and has set its marketing eye on India after exploring the product's viability in Europe. "We do not enjoy life at home because of the sapping heat and have become vulnerable to ultra violet radiation. Honeycombe duette window shades are an answer to blocking UV rays. With remote control its sheers can be manipulated to filter natural light coming into the room." says Sundaramoorthy, MD, Hunter Douglas Window Fashions Pvt. Ltd. Skylight is another medium of transmitting natural light and with venetian blinds or any window covering can keep the house adequately lit to one's satisfaction. To ward off the possibility of excess, intense heat pervading the room one is given the right choice of fabric for greater light diffusion, he says. Skylights are available with state-of-art lifting systems for easy operation. "It is sleek, convenient and can be customised to the window dimensions, preferably rectangular. It will provide the right amount of thermal insulation for those at home. All that one has to do is to adjust the sheers and blanks to block and release light." Sounding candid about the price, Sundaramoorthy said their objective was to make it cost-effective. With motor going at the price of Rs. 13,000 to 30,000 at present and the cost of fabric shades the firm is aware of the need to work out an affordable price, he says. "Its price per square feet can be reduced, however. It is a high-end product, not a commodity."
For a product to make inroads into the market appropriate response from those likely to opt for it is mandatory. How would the builders react to skylights? " We are targeting only penthouses at present where a skylight would be impressive and useful. Fixing a skylight is possible in apartment complexes where there is open-to-the-sky facility. Though in its initial stages the concept is being promoted among the builders. But our initiative is confined to individual houses." In apartments or houses tinted glasses would be more effective.
Conceding that environmental awareness was high in European countries and China, he stressed the need to push awareness campaigns at home a notch higher.
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