The thermal efficiency of a traditional roof window is poor compared to that of a tubular daylighting system; in winter, heat will escape through the large aperture in your ceiling, whereas in summer you are likely to suffer from solar gain (heat build-up).
Solatube Daylighting Systems have excellent insulation properties with u-values of just 1.3 W/m²K – better than some double-glazed windows.* Furthermore, they are double-glazed at ceiling level (not roof level) to prevent your expensive heated (or cooled) air escaping from the room below into the roof void.
Also, rain falling onto traditional roof windows can be surprisingly noisy, something that doesn't happen with tubular daylighting systems. And If security is a consideration, then our daylighting systems are a far safer bet than a traditional roof window as our Polycarbonate dome material is considerably stronger than glass - and many times stronger than acrylic!
* Our award-winning Energy Care Optima™ add-on enhancement is available to provide even greater thermal efficiency for your Solatube Daylighting System, with u-values as low as 0.5 W/m²K – that’s passive house standard!