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Daylighting ^[4] is now considered one of the cornerstones of sustainable building, but it has been a challenge to implement it in large buildings — especially retrofits. Sun Tracker ^[5] skylights are an intriguing solution that can introduce daylight into the huge offices, retail box stores, and warehouses that line our cities. The skylight works by tracking ^[6] the sun with a set of mirrors that redirect light into the interior. The design significantly reduces the need for artificial lighting and heat compared to traditional skylights and creates a much happier work environment. Read on to see how they work.

The Sun Tracker turned a lot of heads when we first saw it at the GreenBuild ^[7] 2007 show. Now that it has a few years under its belt the Sun Tracker is proving its worth in installations ranging from industrial and retail buildings to offices. It is basically a mini, fully-autonomous sun tracking ^[8] motor which uses GPS to align itself and a solar electric panel for power. The double-layered dome is set high off the curb, making the incorporated mirror especially adept ^[9]at catching early morning and afternoon sun while helping to deflect intense daytime heat.

Each unit replaces the equivalent of 800 watts of fluorescent lighting, and when hooked up to a light sensor not only saves 2/3rds of the power for lighting but also 1/3 in energy-intensive cooling. This was proven out at a huge installation of Sun Trackers at the Patagonia ^[10]warehouse in Reno, Nevada. Hard numbers such as energy savings and simple payback are important, but so are better work conditions in daylit spaces, which can improvine ^[11] productivity and even retail sales. The Sun Tracker had some pretty high failure rates early on, but they come with a ten-year warranty and hopefully an improved history of reliability.

+ Ciralight Global ^[5]