skylight location

Skylight efficiency depends on how much sunlight it gets, which depends largely on its location.

Day-lighting and north and south-facing skylights

The best location for a skylight or roof window – in terms of daylight - is on the south-southwest sun-facing side of the house (in the north-hemisphere) or on the north-northwest sun-facing side of it (in the south-hemisphere countries).

In north hemisphere, north-facing skylights and roof windows provide a constant but rather cool illumination during the whole year (the same for south-facing skylights in south hemisphere countries).

East and west facing skylight

East-facing and west-facing skylights provide very different day-lighting during the morning and the afternoon.

Heat gains

The skylight location determines also the heat gains: higher in southwest and south exposition (in north hemisphere countries) and northwest and north exposition (south hemisphere countries).

Take into considering unwanted heat gains. They aren’t welcome in sunny hot climates and in summer hot days, though they can be reduced and largely canceled by laminated Low-e glasses….

See:

Skylight Glasses
Skylights, Windows and Climates Zones
Skylights and rainy cold climates

Chimneys, trees shade, buildings….

When locating a roof window or skylight, pay attention to devices, trees, adjoining roof structures or higher parts of the house or other buildings interfering with sunlight capture. They can dramatically affect the skylight efficiency and goals.

Tubular Skylights

Modern Sun tunnel tubular skylights efficiency aren’t as depend on location as other skylights, but it still matters a lot.