Solar Solutions

Reported by: Mark Clegg
Email: clegg@nbcactionnews.com
Last Update: 7/07/2008 11:42 am

Business In Action: Solar Solutions

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Living Green

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Sunlight is a proven winner when it comes to better productivity and overall good health. More and more people are brightening up their dark rooms and hallways with natural light. Sam Kane, President of Solar Solutions of Kansas City said he has a motto, “We're brightening Kansas City one space at a time.”

Walk through the doors of Solar Solutions, and you will quickly see what they are all about. There is plenty of light throughout their offices, but it is all natural. From the showroom, to the offices, to the conference room you will find all of the light is solar.

It all starts on the roof with a dome lens.

“It's what's on a lighthouse,” Kane said. “And that's a prismatic lens. It's what bends the first rays in the morning and the last rays in the afternoon down the tube. You get consistent light all day long.”

Reflective tubes carry the light down into your home or office. Kane said it is an easy install in new construction of existing homes or offices.

“We actually can put two 90 degree bends in an install if we have to,” Kane said. “Because of that reflectivity, we're able to extend our 10" diameter tubes 20 feet. So we go through first floors to basements, second floors to first floors.”

This Solatube technology has been around for about 20 years. It was more commonly found in commercial settings. For example, Solar Solutions saves a fortune in energy by lighting their 600 square foot warehouse with natural sunlight. More recently, Solatubes have been making their way into homes.

“It brightens up the dark areas, first of all,” Kane explained. “You get more utilities out of an area, you save money because you're not turning on that hall light or the bathroom light, and then it's just healthy light.”

As an example, Solar Solutions covered the Solatubes recently installed on a Metro home that the owners found very dark. Then one by one, they pulled off the blankets to show us how much sunlight comes through. From the family room, to the kitchen, and down the hallway, it got brighter and brighter, until it appeared every light in the house was on. But there were no lights on. It was all natural sunlight. The homeowners call it the best remodeling project they've ever done.

Solar Solutions offers a variety of accessories. For example they can add an electric light to keep the same area lit in the evening after the sun goes down. There is also a combo Solatube with a light and bathroom fan to eliminate clutter up on the ceiling.

For more information, visit their showroom at 6418 College Boulevard in Overland Park or click here to visit their website.

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