Many home and commercial building owners decide to purchase skylight louvers, for a variety of aesthetic and environmental reasons. For instance,research has demonstrated that an external, controllable solar shading system may reduce energy costs by as much as twenty percent. Louvers come in a variety of materials, which help building owners to control daylight and solar heat gain. Also, louvers are an important component of LEED certification and are eligible for federal tax credits.
Control Daylight
A louver system allows property owners to control daylight. Daylight reduces a building's use of electricity and a louver system allows for adjustments,which will provide just the right amount of light, in any situation. For instance, a louver system allows building owners to curb daylight when the light becomes a nuisance to occupants.
Control Heat
Louver systems help to control solar heat gain. In warm, sunny climates, skylight louvers help to shield a building from solar energy, preventing the use of excess cooling energy. In cooler climates, louver systems allow more solar energy into a building, providing passive solar heating and a savings on heating costs. By controlling heat gain, a louver system reduces the consumption of fossil fuels, and lowers the emissions produced by any building.
LEED Certified
Many designers are choosing to have their buildings LEED-certified. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a certification system that promotes sustainable building and development practices by recognizing strategies that improve environmental performance. Louver systems are important elements of LEED design because of their contribution to energy efficiency. LEED buildings experience reduced energy bills, increased appraised property value and possible insurance discounts.
Tax Credits
Louver systems may also be eligible for tax credits. In the United States, for example, building owners who install a louver system will receive a credit of thirty percent of the price for a maximum of $1,500. However, the tax credit includes only the cost of the product and not the cost of labor or installation.
Interior/Exterior
Louver systems may be installed on the exterior or interior of skylights. Building owners may choose either a motorized or a manual system. Motorized systems operate by controller, switch or wireless remote control. A motorized louver system may even be controlled by a building management system and automated to provide maximum sun control. Manual control, on the other hand, utilizes a pole with a hook to adjust louver position.
Materials
A louver system may be composed of many possible materials. The most commonly used construction materials include glass, wood, and aluminum. Also,many slat sizes and styles are available, to cater to any building owner's design preference.
Control Daylight
A louver system allows property owners to control daylight. Daylight reduces a building's use of electricity and a louver system allows for adjustments,which will provide just the right amount of light, in any situation. For instance, a louver system allows building owners to curb daylight when the light becomes a nuisance to occupants.
Control Heat
Louver systems help to control solar heat gain. In warm, sunny climates, skylight louvers help to shield a building from solar energy, preventing the use of excess cooling energy. In cooler climates, louver systems allow more solar energy into a building, providing passive solar heating and a savings on heating costs. By controlling heat gain, a louver system reduces the consumption of fossil fuels, and lowers the emissions produced by any building.
LEED Certified
Many designers are choosing to have their buildings LEED-certified. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a certification system that promotes sustainable building and development practices by recognizing strategies that improve environmental performance. Louver systems are important elements of LEED design because of their contribution to energy efficiency. LEED buildings experience reduced energy bills, increased appraised property value and possible insurance discounts.
Tax Credits
Louver systems may also be eligible for tax credits. In the United States, for example, building owners who install a louver system will receive a credit of thirty percent of the price for a maximum of $1,500. However, the tax credit includes only the cost of the product and not the cost of labor or installation.
Interior/Exterior
Louver systems may be installed on the exterior or interior of skylights. Building owners may choose either a motorized or a manual system. Motorized systems operate by controller, switch or wireless remote control. A motorized louver system may even be controlled by a building management system and automated to provide maximum sun control. Manual control, on the other hand, utilizes a pole with a hook to adjust louver position.
Materials
A louver system may be composed of many possible materials. The most commonly used construction materials include glass, wood, and aluminum. Also,many slat sizes and styles are available, to cater to any building owner's design preference.
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The metal louvers will help building owners to decrease the negative side effects from skylights,while reaping the rewards of daylight. Installing skylight louvers that complement a building's design elements produces an attractive option for increased energy efficiency.
