Solatube Energy Care Optima – now even more thermally efficient

Improved Solatube insulation keeps the heat in and the noise out

With BBA Certification and superior quality components Solatube sun tunnels continue to innovate and improve, making the best even better. The Energy Care Optima enhancement ensures that it is now possible to achieve even better thermal and acoustic properties for your Solatube sun pipe, with U-values as low as 0.5W/m²K and acoustic insulating values of 49dB (Rw) – meeting Passive House standards.

What does all this mean for you?

1.    A warmer home

It means a warmer house, ensuring you use less energy to keep it warm and so saving you money.  The thermal efficiency of a Solatube far outperforms that of a conventional Velux style roof window or skylight, which allow large amounts of heat to escape from a building.  The ratio of the amount of light delivered, relative to size of aperture and thermal efficiency in your building puts the Solatube streaks ahead.

2.    Less noise

Quite often noise can be an issue for certain properties. This includes wanting to prevent noise from entering the building, perhaps from aircraft, busy roads or even noisy business premises nearby. But in particular, when it rains roof windows and skylights amplify the noise from rain hitting the glass, making them noisy and intrusive, whereas a Solatube sun pipe remains quiet, even during the heaviest of storms.  It also includes preventing noise from leaving the building to avoid disturbing neighbours, perhaps in recording studios or factories and workshops operating noisy machinery.

Once again the ratio of amount of light delivered, relative to size of aperture in your building and acoustic properties puts the Solatube way ahead of other options.  Essentially a Solatube will ensure your home remains quieter from outside noise and disturbances and equally will ensure your daughters drum kit practice sessions don’t become a nightmare for the neighbours!

How is this achieved?

Solatube sun pipes already have excellent thermal properties with a very low U-value of 1.3Wm²k (better than some double-glazed windows).  However, the Energy Care Optima option enhances these values further by using additional insulating components from the Solatube dome down to the ceiling diffuser.

At roof level 

The addition of an inner dome, insulated flashing and flashing insulator in the Solatube system at roof level all combine to provide greater insulation at roof level.

In the tube 

The Solatube Climate Control Lens provides additional compartmentalisation to minimise air movement, preventing warm air from inside the building rising up the Solatube sun tunnel.  The multi-layer foil insulation blanket, to BS/EN 12667 & ISO8302 (0.0345W/m2K), that encases the tubing ensures the Solatube is highly insulated through the roof void.

At diffuser level 

The Solatube ceiling diffuser is already double-glazed by means of the Natural Effect Lens situated just above it.  This minimises warm air from inside the building being able to rise up into the tube itself.

Only Solatube sun tunnels offer such a high level of insulation

So, if you are interested in bringing natural light into your home whilst retaining the warmth and minimising noise disruption, why not give us a call at Solatube Southwest to find out whether a Solatube sun pipe can help you.  Typically, a fully installed system might cost anywhere between £900 – £1,200; that’s supplied, professionally installed and includes the VAT.