Sonoma County Residents Can Make a Difference

Center for Climate Protection - Tracking Sonoma County's Progress
In 2014, Sonoma County reduced its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 14% from 2007. Ann Hancock, Executive Director of the Center for Climate Protection said, “It’s too soon to tell if this is a trend we can count on, but we believe that we’re bringing emissions down in a real and hopefully accelerating way.” Sonoma County aims to reduce GHG emissions to 25% below 1990 levels. “In 2005, Sonoma County  and all nine of its cities pledged by resolution to achieve this goal, which corresponds to what is known scientifically as atmospheric carbon stabilization, the imperative for a life-sustaining climate.” 

What Can You Do to Reduce GHG Emissions?
In addition to transitioning to Sonoma Clean Power, electric vehicles, and SMART Train, you can use skylights in your home for daylight and ventilation. Using skylights for light not only improves the quality of your indoor spaces, it also reduces electric light use. And an operable skylight allows for ventilation, releasing hot air build up and reducing the need for air conditioning.
VELUX glass skylights are a great step towards energy efficiency and reducing GHG emissions.

“Reducing GHG emissions…is about public health, energy scrutiny, economic vitality, and ultimately, human survival.” Read the entire article and check out the GHG emissions report for Sonoma County by visiting the Center for Climate Protection. 

VELUX Skylights and Roof Windows Increase Room Space

One of our customers recently sent us this email about how Naturalight Solar, Inc. helped him open up a room in his house with a low, oppressive ceiling.

"We needed to re-roof our house and decided that it was time to replace the old, fixed skylights with operable ones to make the upstairs guest bedroom less claustrophobic. We were unable to find stock windows to fit the existing openings, and one custom skylight company offered to make them to fit, but warned that they’d probably be too heavy to open. Naturalight Solar came out to the house and came up with a great solution, the VELUX Roof Window. With minimal carpentry we were able to change the rough opening to fit a stock size. The windows were installed without difficulty, and I was able to install the blinds and insect screens myself. Now, instead of feeling closed in by the slanted roof line, one can stand under an open window and enjoy the view. Naturalight’s knowledge and professionalism were gratefully appreciated, and the VELUX skylight quality is outstanding." 
                                                                                                 ~Marc S., Email from client

Honoring Our Nation's Strength... Happy Fourth of July!

Naturalight Solar is celebrating Fourth of July this year by giving Armed Forces and Veterans a discount on VELUX SUN TUNNEL Skylight Installations:

Install 3 tubes and get $120 discount
Install 2 tubes and get $75 discount
Install 1 tube and get $30 discount

Call 707.527.5330 or send an email to info@naturalight.org
to schedule your SUN TUNNEL Skylight installation.
 

*This offer is valid for SUN TUNNEL skylights purchased by July 6, 2015.
*This discount only applies to purchases after June 26, 2015. 

A Nation's Strength

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1904)

What makes a nation's pillars high

And its foundations strong?

What makes it mighty to defy

The foes that round it throng?

It is not gold. Its kingdoms grand

Go down in battle shock;

Its shafts are laid on sinking sand,

Not on abiding rock.

Is it the sword? Ask the red dust

Of empires passed away;

The blood has turned their stones to rust,

Their glory to decay.

And is it pride? Ah, that bright crown 

Has seemed to nations sweet;

But God has struck its luster down

In ashes at his feet. 

Not gold but only men can make 

A people great and strong;

Men who for truth and honor's sake

Stand fast and suffer long.

Brave men who work while others sleep,

Who dare while others fly... 

They build a nation's pillars deep

And lift them to the sky. 

In observance of Fourth of July, our office will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2015. We will resume our regular hours on Monday, July 6, 2015. 

Memorial Day 2015

We remember those who have served,  this Memorial Day.

“We who are left, how shall we look again Happily on the sun or feel the rain Without remembering how they who went Ungrudgingly and spent Their lives for us loved, too, the sun and rain?” -Wilfrid Wilson Gibson The Naturalight Solar office will be closed  Friday, May 22 through Monday, May 25  in observance of Memorial Day.

How to Measure for a Curb Mount Skylight

It is important to know the dimensions for your replacement skylight so the correct size can be ordered to fit the existing curb.
When ordering or describing a skylight, the measurements are always expressed as width (dimension horizontally across the roof) x length (dimension vertically up the roof).

The Outside Curb Dimension is the overall outside dimension size (OD) of the finished, built-up curb. To determine a correctly sized replacement skylight, also include the necessary roofing materials and sheet metal flashing. Skylights are sized slightly larger than the OD of the curb in order to fit over the top like a box cover. 

What Can You Do for the Earth?

There are so many possibilities:

• Volunteer at a beach or park clean-up
• Go to an Earth Day festival
• Change one habit to reduce waste and conserve resources
• Install VELUX Skylights or SUN TUNNELS to reduce day-time energy use
• Install solar panels on your home
• Help start a community garden
• Do something nice for the Earth

Check out the Earth Day Network for a history of Earth Day and more ways to celebrate the Earth every day. 

The 2015 HGTV Smart Home, featuring VELUX Skylights

The 2015 HGTV Smart Home premiers tonight! Check it out to see the featured VELUX Skylights in the Master Bedroom, Loft, and Bathroom. You can also visit the HGTV Smart Home page for video tours of each room.

Want these skylights in your home?

Call 707.527.5330 for a free day-lighting estimate.