Article — Susan Fotovich McCabe | Photography — Russell Walker
Finally, as April ushers in a celebration of Earth Day, signs of spring are everywhere. It’s a wait that seemed longer than normal this year. Today, however, the longer days of spring are a welcome respite from the dark, winter months of early 2010.
Some Leawood residents, however, weren’t content to wait for Mother Nature to reveal the sun. Taking matters into their own hands a few years ago, homeowners Milt and Trudi Grin and Dan and Debra Doll installed Solatubes to help bring natural light into their dark rooms. Solatubes are an innovative twist on the traditional “box” skylight, capturing sunlight from the rooftop and redirecting it down a reflective tube into a home’s interior spaces. A diffuser spreads the light evenly throughout the room. Sam Kane of Solar Solutions of Kansas City, (DaylightKC.com) is the local Solatube dealer who – literally – enjoys brightening a homeowner’s day.
“My favorite reaction is one I experienced recently with a homeowner after we installed her Solatube,” says Kane. “She went on and on about what a difference it made in her home and that she never would have believed the Solatube could let so much light in.”
It’s hard to believe a 10 to 14-inch diameter opening can fill a room with so much natural light. But the proof is in the Grin and Doll homes. For the Grin’s, the Solatube has brightened both the kitchen and 17-year-old son Andrew’s room. In fact, Andrew, who routinely lobbies for an environmentally “green” family home, drew his parents’ attention to the product.
“My bedroom can get pretty dark with just one window, so originally I suggested we get one for my room,” says Andrew. “Then we decided to add one to the kitchen as well and it’s made a big difference in both rooms.”
Indeed, both Andrew’s room and the Grin’s kitchen and hearth room are aglow on sunny days, as well as overcast days. Today, Andrew’s single-window room has been transformed from a dark hangout to a bright study bay that allows him to do his homework or take an afternoon nap (closing off the Solatube filter to reduce the amount of light that enters the room). As for the kitchen, the results are so dramatic the Grin’s rarely need to use their can lights.
“My favorite part of the day is sitting in the hearth room in the evening, especially with the summer sunlight,” says Trudi. “It’s just a different kind of light – very relaxing.” Like the Grin’s, the Doll family has no regrets about adding Solatubes to their Leawood South home. Within weeks of purchasing their three-decade old home a few years ago, Dan and Debra had no idea how dark the home really was – especially its interior kitchen.
“It was like a cave,” says Debra, who has three Solatubes covering the family’s kitchen and family room. “When we visited the showroom, it was overcast and we were still amazed by how much natural light filled the room. We had three installed the first month after we moved in.”
Dan Doll, who admits natural light is an important feature to him, says he was initially concerned about leaks and the added heat that typically accompanies a traditional skylight. But his fears are gone, and he’s enjoying every moment of his new, natural lighting that he believes will save him money over the years.
“We have six can lights in the kitchen and there are many, many days we don’t even turn those lights on,” he says. “Intuitively, you just know you’re going to save money. Like Trudi Grin, Debra Doll was drawn to the glow of the light, admitting it took some time to adjust. Today, however, she says she loves the glow and enjoys the benefits of bringing natural light into her rooms.
“The time you can really notice the benefits is on an overcast day,” says Debra. “Even when it’s cloudy and you’re not getting much light from your windows, you really appreciate this additional light.” According to Kane, Solatubes are not only environmentally friendly, they provide homeowners with a 30 percent tax credit and a boost to good health.
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