Ventilation
& Skylights
Solatube and Solar Star are complementary home-improvement technologies manufactured by Solatube International, designed to harness solar energy to brighten living spaces and cool roof cavities without adding to electricity costs.
Back to homeA tubular skylight system that captures sunlight on the roof and channels it into interior rooms through a highly reflective tube. Engineered as a high-performance alternative to traditional rectangular skylights, delivering maximum daylight with minimal heat transfer.
Roof Dome
Captures low & high sun
Spectralight® Infinity Tube
99.7% reflective — transfers light, rejects heat
Ceiling Diffuser / Light Fixture
Spreads soft, natural daylight into room
High-Reflectivity Tubing
Uses Spectralight® Infinity tubing with 99.7% reflectivity, allowing light to bounce through long tube runs or bends while retaining brightness.
Heat Isolation (Cool Tube® Technology)
Filters out infrared spectrum wavelengths (heat) before sending light downward, preventing the greenhouse effect common with traditional open skylights.
UV & Glare Blockers
Patented optical domes block 99%+ of UV rays to prevent furniture, carpet, or artwork from fading.
Fast, Non-Structural Install
Fits between standard roof rafters or ceiling joists without structural alterations, taking as little as 2 hours to install.
Optional Add-Ons
Integrates with dimmers, solar nightlights (LEDs that store solar energy for nighttime illumination), or integrated exhaust fans (ideal for windowless bathrooms and laundries).
An active, solar-powered roof exhaust fan designed to extract hot, trapped air and moisture from roof cavities. It replaces traditional passive "whirlybirds" with a high-flow motor powered directly by a built-in solar panel.
Photovoltaic Solar Panel
Rooftop — captures sunlight
Whisper-Quiet Brushless DC Motor
Powers the fan with no mains wiring
High-Volume Polymeric Fan Blades
Extracts up to 1,320 m³/hr of hot roof-space air
High Airflow Output
One Solar Star unit extracts roughly 10 to 14 times more air than a single standard wind-driven rotary whirlybird ventilator.
Zero Running Costs
Operates 100% off its integrated photovoltaic solar panel — running continuously from sunup to sundown when heat build-up is at its peak.
Prevents Thermal Load & Humidity
Summer: prevents heat trapped in the roof space (which can reach 60°C+) from radiating down through ceiling plasterboard. Winter/damp: extracts trapped moisture to reduce condensation, timber decay, and mould growth.
Quiet & Weatherproof
Powered by a brushless DC motor with lightweight non-corrosive polymeric blades, running quietly without the squeaks or rust of mechanical wind vents.
No Electrician Needed
Low-voltage solar design connects internally — no mains hardwiring required.
Solatube vs. Solar Star
| Feature | Solatube Skylight | Solar Star Roof Vent |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Function | Illuminates dark interior rooms with natural daylight | Ventilates heat and moisture from the roof cavity |
| Target Location | Bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, walk-in robes, dark living areas | Roof space, attic cavity, garages, sheds, or sub-floors |
| Power Source | Passive optical sunlight collection | Built-in photovoltaic (PV) solar panel |
| Primary Energy Benefit | Eliminates daytime electric light usage | Lowers air conditioning load by reducing ceiling heat buildup |
| Ideal Combination | Brightens windowless rooms without bringing in roof heat | Exhausts attic heat so ceiling insulation can work at maximum efficiency |
Brighten and cool your home with solar
Get a tailored quote and our team will recommend the right Solatube and Solar Star solution for your home.
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