Transforming Residential Builds with Solar-Powered Skylights

by David Flaherty | 18 June 2025 2:22 pm

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Innovation continues to reshape residential construction, influencing how homes are built and how they function for the people living in them. Among these advancements, skylights powered by solar energy are redefining expectations for more modern and sustainable builds.

Skylights can transform an interior space, making it brighter and more open. Solar power makes them easier to operate, boosts energy efficiency, and improves indoor air quality without complicating construction. Though they currently have a relatively small share of the skylight market, solar-powered models deliver outsized benefits.

Harnessing solar energy for ventilation and air quality

Air flow through venting skylights not only cools a home but also helps improve indoor air quality, which is often two to five times more polluted than outdoors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A study by Group 14 Engineering, a Denver-based consulting firm specializing in energy and resource efficiency solutions, found that pairing an elevated open skylight with an open vertical window exchanges indoor air 15 times faster than in homes without skylights. However, in most homes in the United States, ceiling heights place skylights well out of reach. While this is great for ventilation, manually opening a skylight is impractical.

Remote-controlled functionality is the obvious solution, but that convenience initially comes at a cost, particularly during installation. Electrically operated skylights require hardwiring, which means bringing in an electrician, adding complexity, time, and labor expenses to the construction process.

With solar-powered skylights, that obstacle is eliminated entirely. An integrated self-contained solar panel and battery system allows these units to operate independently of the home’s electrical infrastructure. This simplifies installation and makes powered skylights feasible in more projects.

Innovation in shading

Shades are often overlooked before skylight installation and can be difficult to add later. However, they are one of homeowners’ most common feedback points–they wish they had added a shade.

A pre-installed, solar-powered, remote-controlled shade improves the user experience, providing essential control over daylight. The shade also expands thermal performance. In colder months, shades help reduce heat loss, while in warmer months, they reduce heat gain. Research shows that skylights with integrated shades can improve U-values by up to 45 percent and reduce solar heat gain coefficients by around 19 percent.

Customer research by VELUX found that 95 percent of respondents operate the shade at least weekly, with half doing so at least once daily. This shows homeowners are engaging with their skylights like never before.

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Reliability for any condition

An open skylight can let in fresh air, but also rain. Solar power again provides the ultimate experience with simple technology to protect homes from water intrusion.

Integrated, solar-powered rain sensors can automatically close a skylight at the first sign of precipitation. These sensors are fully self-contained, requiring no external power or wiring, which maintains the skylight’s clean look and avoids extra steps during installation. The sensor operates much like an acoustic pad, detecting the subtle vibrations of raindrops landing on the surface and triggering the closing mechanism before moisture can enter. This level of automation enhances weather protection and the overall reliability and functionality of venting skylights in any climate.

The smart technology also ensures the skylight is not stuck open in the rain due to a drained battery. The fail-safe ensures the unit will not open without enough battery to complete the open and close functionality.

Engineered for performance

The engineering of solar-powered skylights is geared towards reliability and performance. With a battery designed to endure high heat levels (near glass and getting direct sunlight on a roof), the system charges through ambient light, which operates even on an overcast day. A fully charged unit delivers around 100 open-and-close cycles, giving homeowners consistent functionality without maintenance. Field data backs up the long-term viability of these systems, with real-world usage showing batteries lasting beyond the five-year warranty, sometimes double that or more.

Try it: Let the sun shine in

For builders who have never installed a skylight, now is the time to try. A venting, solar-powered skylight installs as easily as a fixed model. Mount the solar panel to a pre-mounted bracket, connect the wire cables, and turn it on—that is it. There is no wiring, an electrician, or disruption to the existing workflow, yet the payoff is significant. Skylights transform spaces in ways clients immediately notice and appreciate, bringing in natural light and fresh air that elevates the entire feel of a home.

Homeowners do not just love their new skylights; they talk about them. These upgrades are the kind of detail clients share with friends, neighbors, and family. More importantly, they remember who made it happen. Add a solar-powered skylight to your next project, and you may find it’s not just the room that gets brighter–it is your referral
list, too.

Ross Vandermark is the national product manager for VELUX America. He led four years of research to develop and launch VELUX’s Skylight Systems, the first-of-its-kind product designed for total light control, enhanced energy efficiency, and homeowner convenience featuring a pre-installed, remote-controlled, solar-powered shade.

Source URL: https://www.metalconstructionnews.com/articles/solar-powered-skylights/

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