Solatube daylighting systems partaking in Earth Hour 2009

On Saturday 28th March 2009, Solatube Australia will take part in Earth Hour. On that day, people in Australia and around the world will turn off their lights between 8:30 - 9:30pm for one hour - Earth Hour - showing their support and sending a powerful global message that it's possible to take action on climate change and succeed.

In honor of this year's Earth Hour, Solatube Australia is encouraging building owners to celebrate Earth Hour daily, all day long. The company is best known for its Solatube Daylighting System, a "green" natural lighting solution that allows reducing a buildings energy consumption by switching off electric lights during the day. The energy efficient Solatube Daylighting System brings daylight into any interior - and illuminates naturally all day, every day. It is a smart alternative to skylights and light fittings.

"To celebrate Earth Hour, we are proud to promote our year-round, energy-saving solution, the Solatube Daylighting System," says Solatube Australia's General Manager, Mark Peall. "Earth Hour should be every day, all day long."

Each year, 10 percent of a typical single family home's energy bill is spent on lighting. An additional 49 percent of the bill is spent on heating and cooling costs, which can be greatly impacted by electric light use and heat/gain loss from inefficient windows and skylights. However, when daylighting applications are properly applied, homeowners can greatly decrease the amount of energy used within their home. Tubular Daylighting Devices, such as the Solatube Daylighting System, cost nothing to operate and reduce the need for mechanical cooling during peak rate hours. Installing one Solatube 160 Daylighting System can save about 19 pounds of carbon emissions annually. Homeowners can also add a compact fluorescent Light Add-On Kit to their Solatube Daylighting System to turn the product into an all-purpose, energy-efficient lighting solution for both day and night.

Businesses can tackle climate change even further; as most work environments use artificial lighting all day long and electrical lighting costs generally represent more than 40 percent of annual utility expenditures. By integrating Solatube Daylighting Devices into their existing lighting systems, corporate and community premises can reduce their carbon footprint significantly, saving on lighting and air conditioning costs.

The Solatube Tubular Daylighting Device (TDD) is the only ENERGY STAR rated natural lighting solution available in Australia today, and addresses the three major challenges that are critical for a sustainable lighting design: Light control, Heat and Glare. TDDs achieve illumination consistency and energy efficiency using advanced optics to significantly improve the way the renewable energy of the sun is harnessed to daylight any facility. The Solatube Daylighting System can be controlled and optimised with options including Daylight dimmer, Inner shock dome and Security bars.

Eco-Friendly Lighting Tips That Can Make a Big Difference

• Turn off the electric lights. This is especially important to do during the daytime. If light is needed, only turn on fixtures that are necessary, and try to use as much natural light as possible.
• Swap incandescent bulbs to CFLs. ENERGY STAR notes that its qualified compact fluorescent bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs, and last up to 10 times longer. A new set of environmental guidelines, the new sustainable 5 star energy equivalent rating in Queensland - effective from March 1, 2009 - includes that all new houses and units must install a minimum of energy-efficient lighting to 80 percent of fixed internal lights.
• Add more natural light. Installing more windows or adding a skylight may be expensive and cumbersome, but simple solutions such as TDDs can be installed under two hours with no structural reframing required.

Download tips for organisations from the WWF - Earth Hour website http://www.earthhourau.org/toolkits. For further information contact Solatube on 131 619 or visit www.solatube.com.au.

In the mid-1980s Solatube Australia pioneered with its concept of tubular daylighting, an energy efficient alternative to the poorly designed and leak prone skylights that were on the market at the time. Widely recognised as the industry innovator, Solatube Australia has earned acclaim for its unrivalled ability to transform interior spaces with the power of daylight. Solatube Australia are a member of the Green Building Council of Australia and the Lighting Council of Australia and HIA Greensmart Regional Partner.