Benefits of the Sun
Written by webtechs

Benefits Of The Sun

From a scientific standpoint, sunshine has tons of benefits for our bodies. Below are 7 perfect reasons to go outside and get some sun.

Improves Sleep

Your body produces a hormone known as melatonin that is vital to helping you sleep. Since your body begins producing it when it gets dark, you typically begin to feel sleepy around 2 hours following the sun setting, in which is one of the reasons why our bodies naturally stay up more later during the summer months.

Research shows that 1 hour of natural sunlight in the morning is going to help you sleep better. Sunshine balances your circadian rhythm by letting your body know when it’s time to increase and/or decrease your melatonin levels. The more sunlight you can be exposed to, the greater chance your body is going to generate melatonin when it’s time for bed.

Reduces Stress

Melatonin additionally reduces stress sensitivity and being outside is going to help your body naturally balance melatonin, in which could help decrease your stress level. Furthermore, since you’re usually doing something active when outside (playing basketball, running, etc.), that additional exercise also aids in lowering stress.

Sustains Strong Bones

One of the greatest (and simplest) ways for getting Vitamin D is by being going outside. Our bodies create Vitamin D when they exposed to sunlight—around fifteen minutes in the sun a day is enough when you are fair skinned. And because Vitamin D aids your body in maintaining calcium and preventing brittle, slender, or malformed bones, soaking in the sunlight might be just what the doctor ordered.

Helps Keep The Weight Off

Going outside for thirty minutes anytime between 8 in the morning and noon has been associated to weight loss. There, obviously, might be other elements to this, but it appears there’s a connection between sunlight in the early hours and keeping the weight off.

Strengthens Our Immune System

Vitamin D is also vital for our immune system, and with continual exposure to sunlight, you are able to help improve it. Healthy immune systems are able to help decrease the chance of illness, infections, some cancers, and mortality following surgery.

Staves Off Depression

It’s not just in our heads; there’s scientific reasoning that being in the sunshine betters our moods. Sunshine increases your body’s serotonin levels, that is a chemical that improves your mood and aids you in staying calm and focused. Increased exposure to natural light could help in easing the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder—mood changes that usually happens in the fall and winter seasons when there are lesser hours of daylight.

Can Give You A Longer Life

Research that followed thirty thousand Swedish women shows that those that spent more time in the sun lived 6 months to 2 years longer than those with lesser sun exposure. More studies need to be done in this field, but it’s something scientists are continually researching.

Solar Attic Fan Installation In The Phoenix Valley

Elite Solar Lighting & Fans is proud to offer solar attic fan installation services to the entire Phoenix valley including: Phoenix, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise and more.

How To Lower Your Electricity Bill In Arizona
Written by webtechs

How To Lower Your Electric Bill In Arizona

If you are looking for how to lower electric bill in Arizona, this post and our services can help! Here we list the best ways to lower your electric bill in Arizona combined with energy saving tips, products and services.

Best Ways To Lower Your Electric Bill In Arizona

Keeping your electric bill low is important whether you live in Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa or anywhere else in Arizona. The best ways to lower your APS or SRP electric bill in Arizona are:

1. Install Tubular Skylights

Replacing your traditional lighting in your home or office with tubular skylights or solar tubes is one of the best ways to lower your electric bill in Arizona. Tubular skylights or solar tubes light up your home or office using natural light which is has health benefits on top of electricity savings.

2. Solar Panel Installation (Best Way To Lower Electric Bill)

Solar panel installation can help homeowners and business owners save 75% on electricity. It does cost a lot to install solar panels but with the federal and state tax credits you get right away can help bear the expense for your home or business. This is the best way to save.

3. Load Controllers

Load controllers help control the amount of electricity that is being used during high cost kilowatt hours. They basically shut off your appliances during the most expensive times of the day. However, if you want to run electricity during those hours, you just have to switch your loads back on.

4. Wi-Fi Thermostats

Wi-Fi thermostats help you be in control of the temperature of your home from wherever you are using a mobile app or application on your computer. Never worry if you left the air conditioner or heater on again with thermostat control in the palm of your hand.

5. Turn Your Air Conditioner Down

Alternative Energy, LLC states, “You can save 2-3% instantly on your electric bill by setting your SRP or APS thermostat settings to 1 degree warmer.” You can also change your air conditioners air filter out once a month to keep your ac working at 100% efficiency.

6. Install A Solar Attic Fan

Solar attic fans are fans that are designed to circulate attic air. Most of the heat that makes it into your home makes its way through your attic. Most attics don’t have an attic fan and installing one can keep your attic cool, which keeps your home cooler; saving you money on electricity.

7. Install Ductless Mini Split AC Units

According to Energy.Gov, “Since mini splits have no ducts, they avoid the energy losses associated with ductwork of central forced air systems. Duct losses can account for more than 30% of energy consumption for space conditioning, especially if the ducts are in an unconditioned space such as an attic.” Ducless mini split ac units also cost less to run and use 60% less energy than a central air conditioning unit.

28 Other Ways To Lower Electric Bill In Arizona

  1. Keep window blinds, shutters or drapes closed during the daytime.
  2. Don’t place appliances next to thermostat, the heat turns the unit on.
  3. Turning your air conditioner down 1 degree save 2-3% on your electricity bill.
  4. Set ceiling fans to blow down during the summer.
  5. Instead of taking baths, take showers, it saves your hot water heater from having to run a lot.
  6. Turning your water heater from 140° to 120° can lower your electric bill by $10 per month.
  7. Use tubular skylights instead of traditional skylights.
  8. Use Wi-Fi thermostats instead of traditional thermostats.
  9. Don’t use your dryer to dry clothes, hang them up instead. Anything that uses heat, uses a lot of electricity.
  10. Don’t use your dishwasher; Wash your dishes by hand to save money on electricity.
  11. Turn off lights when you leave the room.
  12. During the winter make sure your the damper in your fireplace is closed to prevent air from going up the chimney
  13. Set your ceiling fan to auto so the fan won’t keep blowing after the AC is turned off. Using the auto setting vs the on setting can lower your electric bill by $15-$25 per month.
  14. Use the fan in your bathroom to remove humidity and heat from your home after taking a bath or shower.
  15. Wash clothes in cold water instead of hot water to save even more.
  16. Replace lighting with energy efficient LED lighting.
  17. Paint the walls in your home a lighter color. This will make light reflect better and lower need for more lighting.
  18. Do not install a freezer or refrigerator in your garage. Operating a refrigerator in a hot garage can cost your up to $15-$20 per month.
  19. Use outside grill instead of oven in the summer to reduce your home’s internal temperature.
  20. Keep your oven door closed at all times during cooking. You lose from 25 to 50 degrees every time your open it.
  21. Don’t let your oven preheat longer than it needs to.
  22. Dry your dishes with the air and reduce the cost of using dishwasher electricity
  23. Dry clothes consecutively to use up the residual heat left over from the previous load.
  24. Make sure and clean your dryer’s lint filter for additional energy savings.
  25. Don’t run your dishwasher if it is not a full load.
  26. Make sure your fridge or freezer is set the manufacturers recommended temperature.
  27. Stop leaving the outside light on after morning time.
  28. Buy Energy Star appliances and electronics as these devices use most of the electricity in your home.

Tubular Skylights & Solar Attic Fan Installation Phoenix Valleywide

Elite Solar Lighting & Fans is proud to offer tubular skylights and solar attic fan installation services to the entire Phoenix valley including: Phoenix, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise and more.

Solar Tubes vs. Skylights How They Work, Cost Comparison & More
Written by webtechs

Solar Tubes vs. Skylights: How They Work, Cost Comparison & More

When you have solar tubes installed, you not only get natural light, such as skylights can provide, but you also get a less expensive electric bill each month, including a less amount of hassles. If you are pondering the thought of having additional lighting in one room, hallway, or somewhere else, then you may want to consider installing solar tubes. With solar tubes, you can get more warmth, as well as more indirect lighting.

How Do Solar Tubes Work vs. Skylights?

How Do Solar Tubes Work?

A solar tube comes in a 10 inch-diameter, and also in a 14 inch-diameter tube that has a polished interior and made of sheet-metal. These are also known as light tube, tubular skylight, sun tunnel, and sun tube. It channels light through the entire length and at the same time preserves the intensity of the light, with the interior acting as a continuous mirror while capturing the daylight on your roof, and carrying it to the inside of your home.

The solar tube on your roof captures light through a plastic globe that’s weather-proofed. Then, there is a tube that runs into the room below through a porthole, which diffuses into the portal that’s built into the ceiling. The globe on the roof collects the outside light and is dis-fused or spread as a pure white glow. It gives a dramatic effect, in fact, homeowners that have had these installed have went so far as to reached without thinking as they are leaving a room, to turn off the lights.

How Do Skylights Work?

Skylights work in the same way the windows in your home work. Skylights are basically a window for your roof. Some skylights even offer open and close features that allow you to open the skylight window a few inches.

How Much Do Solar Tubes Cost vs. Skylights?

How Much Do Solar Tubes Cost?

A tube of light can cost anywhere from $450.00 dollars to $1,300.00 dollars if professionally installed, and this is compared to over $2,000.00 dollars for the installation of a skylight. However, if you are someone who is pretty good at handyman work and feel comfortable while upon a roof, installing the light tube yourself is an option using a kit that will only cost between $200.00 dollars and $400.00 dollars. The great thing about that is that a light tube does not require having new drywall, alterations to the homes frame, or paint.

How Much Do Skylights Cost?

  • Skylights (Fixed) – The average cost of installing a fixed skylight including material and installation cost is around $600-$1500 depending on how big you want the skylight window. You should always speak with a skylight contractor before selecting what type of skylight you want because the size cannot exceed over 15% of the floor area in the room. Also, an experienced contractor will let you know if you should add UV protection depending on the angle of how your skylight needs to be installed.
  • Skylights (Vented) – Electric or remote controlled skylights will cost about $1,00-$5,200 including material and installing costs. Furthermore, you might also need to hire an electrician to take care of the wiring if the skylight contractor doesn’t have one already.

How Much Light Does A Solar Tube Produce vs. Skylight?

How Much Light Do Solar Tubes Produce?

The littlest option available is the 10-inch tubing, and it is equivalent to 3–100 watt light bulbs, which is plenty for illuminating an area up to 200 sq. ft. Then there is the 14-inch tube, which has the ability to illuminate up to 300 sq. ft.

The most popular places for a light tube to be located, which includes the areas that would find indirect light to be handy are:

  • Hallways
  • Stairways
  • Bathrooms
  • Walk-in closets
  • Laundry rooms
  • Kitchens

However, about the only place you may not want to have a light tube would be above a television or computer, as the glare might be too much.

How Much  Light Do Skylights Produce?

Traditional skylights cannot produce as much light as tubular skylights because they use a skylight well. Solar tubes don’t use a skylight well and won’t lose as much light through absorption like skylights do.Furthermore, traditional skylights don’t use light diffusion or diffuse reflection like solar tubes do. Light diffusion helps spread the light out over the entire room vs only shining down on areas where the sun directly shines through.

Can You Install Solar Tubes In A Multi Level Home vs Skylight?

Can You Install Solar Tubes In a Multi Level Home?

You can still use solar tubes to bring light to the first floor if you live in a 2 story house. If your home has a mechanical chase or even a closet to which a tube could be ran through, that would let you channel the light down to the first floor of your home should it be a two-story house. On the other hand, should you have to cut through flooring or have other issues come up, such as plumbing, wiring, HVAC ducts, and etc., things could get complicated really quick.

Can You Install Skylights In A Multi Level Home?

Skylights on the other hand cannot bring light to the first floor because there is no tube to let the light travel through like solar tubes. Skylights can only be installed directly above the floor of the home where you want the light to shine in at. You could install them on a 2 story house but the light will only make it to the second story.

Is Your Home Right For A Solar Tube vs. Skylight?

Solar Tube Installation Requirements

Since the installation don’t need alternations to framing, there is not many limitations as to where you will be able to locate your light tube. Remember and check the attic, ensure there’s enough room or you to do a straight run. However, should you come across an obstruction, you can always use elbows and/or flexible tubing to go around it. Vaulted ceiling makes it easy to install light tubes as you will only need 12 inches off tubing (take or give an inch).

The following evaluations should be made in advance:

Weather:

Living in an area that has high humidity can cause condensation to the interior of the tube can cause issues. You can cut down on the amount of condensation by wrapping the tube up using (R-15) or (R-19) insulation. There are a few manufacturers who provide sections of tubing that have small fans built in to them to help in removing any moist air. Anyone living in an area that is prone to hurricanes can opt to have an extra hardy dome made of poly carbonate.

Location:

You will get the best results from your globe if it is mounted on the southwest side of the roof. In choosing the spot where to run the tube is required to make sure that it is 14 feet in length, or less. I you place the globe right above the target room, it could convey up to 98% more exterior light. If the tube is able to twist and turn, you will get a minimal amount of light.

Roof framing spacing:

The standard rafters should be spaced at 16” on center, and gaped enough to fit a 10” or a 14” tube. Should your homes rafters be spaced at 16” on center, they have available a special order for a 21” tube that has light coverage for up to 600 square feet.

Roofing material:

The kits have been designed having asphalt shingles in the idea, however, they also work well with shakes and/or shingles. With flashing adapters available to use for the metal or tile roofing’s.

Roof slope:

Many of the light kits will include flashing which is installed on roof having slopes that range between 150 (having a 3” 12 pitch) or a 600 (a n20” 12 pitch).

Skylight Installation Requirements

Installing a skylight on the other hand will require alterations to framing and there are limitations of where you can install a skylight. Furthermore, traditional skylights take up more space and only allow for installation on parts of your roof that have plenty of room. Solar tubes are much small and can be installed in the multiple places on your roof.

Elite Solar Lighting & Fans Is A Solar Tube Contractor Located In Arizona

Elite Solar Lighting & Fans offers residential and commercial solar tube installation services throughout the entire united states, including Arizona, California, New Mexico, and more.