Velux has announced the new Solar Powered Venting Skylight.  The skylight features a solar panel that collects any available daylight and uses it to charge a concealed battery powered operator and control system.  The battery powered operator is the source of power that opens and closes the skylight.  The solar panel serves as the charging source for the skylight.  The solar panel will work on cloudy days and with indirect light, it does not have to have direct sunlight to function.

Adding fresh air and ventilation to your home is essential to our health and well being.  The Solar Powered Venting Skylight uses the sun to ventilate your home. No electrical wiring is needed so installation is easy and cost effective.  The venting skylight comes with a programmable remote control, insect screen and a rain sensor.  With the rain sensor the solar powered skylight will close automatically in case of inclement weather.  Solar powered blinds are also available in eight standard colors and over 80 special order blinds.  The Velux solar powered venting skylight also carries the Velux “No-Leak” Skylight Warranty on installation for 10 years.

The Velux Solar Powered Venting Skylight qualifies for the 30% Federal Tax Credit.  The credit applies ot the product and installation which makes this product very affordable.   For more information on the tax credit visit www.veluxusa.com/taxcredits .

Saturday, March 9, 2013, 10:00 am until 2:00 pm

Active House USA is a new custom home being built in the Webster Groves, MO area. It pulls together green, sustainable, and environmentally conscious building practices from all over the world to create a home that takes a total approach to sustainability and community conscious home building.

The Active House focuses on three sustainability factors –  energy, environment and indoor climate – during planning, construction and after the homeowner moves in.  The house provides the homeowner with a cost effective, easy to maintain and operate living space that provides a healthier more comfortable lives for the occupants.

The home will provide the homeowner with lower monthly utility bills, better health, and future proof that the next evolution in home construction is here.  During the first year of residence the homeowner has agreed to allow the University of Missouri’s Center for Sustainable Energy monitor the energy consumption and indoor air quality as part of their research efforts.  This data will be used to help improve green living standards around the country.

During the open house you will be able to speak directly with the industry leading professionals that made the Active House USA possible. You can find out more about the Active House and tour by visiting ActiveHouseUSA.com.

September 12, 2012, 9:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m.

Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 36 Headquarters

2319 Chouteau Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63103

Free to Attend!

Meet the experts and find products to match your company’s sustainability strategies. Come see building and lighting solutions & skylights, information technology, office products and furniture, solar energy and transportation alternatives.  Those who should attend are business leaders, sustainability officers, facilities managers and green team leaders.  You can register at www.stlrcga.org/EXPO or contact Eric Schneider at eschneider@stlrcga.org for more information. 

Open House

July 28, 2012 at 10 am- 2 pm

4 Sleepy Hollow Lane, Olivette, MO 63132

When the Levine family of Olivette, MO became the new owners of an all brick, ranch home that their grandparents built, they knew they needed more space for their growing family and to upgrade the home to meet current energy efficient, durability, and performance standards.

Premier Skylights, LLC has partnered with Hibbs Homes and Verdatek Solutions for a home renovation project that not only gives the family more space, but also a high-performance home that leads the industry in energy efficiency and makes as much energy as it consumes and one that offers superior indoor air quality for healthy, comfortable living.

This home is an excellent example of what you can do with aging properties to increase their value and performance, and also shows how individual homeowners can take advantage of renewable energy and natural resources to reduce their utility bills and create a healthier home.

Here are just some of the features of this home that will be on display during the open house on July 28:

• Replaced an outdated HVAC system with a highly efficient geothermal heating and cooling system.
• Thorough caulk and seal package with unique hybrid Lycene foam and fiberglass insulation.
• Energy efficient windows, lights, appliances and low-flow plumbing.
• An additional three bedrooms and two bathrooms in the second floor addition.
• Appraised value increased more than $400,000.
• Salvaged and refinished original hardwood or used sustainable bamboo flooring on the main levels.
• Skylights and solar power throughout take full advantage of natural lighting to reduce energy usage.
• Outstanding indoor air quality for a healthier living environment.

This home is a beautiful example of how a heritage property can be upgraded for more function, and overhauled to exceed the increasing demand for high performance, green and durable homes in today’s real estate market.

April 20-22, 2012

Friday & Saturday  11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Sunday  11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Free admission & parking.

The home show is the place to see, learn about and buy the latest home products and services.  Whether you are remodeling, landscaping, decorating or building a new home, the St. Charles Home Show has the experts who can help make your home fit your lifestyle.  Professional speakers provide unbiased information on almost all home related topics. 

 Come by Booth #305 and learn about the Velux No-Leak Skylight. See samples of the new Designer Shades and Blinds that will add drama to your home while controlling the amount of light that enters .  See a sun tunnel and learn about the benefits of adding one to your bathroom or kitchen. 

For more information go to http://www.stlhomeshow.com/stcharles and see all the vendors that can help you improve your home and garden. 

Designer Skylight Shades & Blinds – Karim Rashid

Karim Rashid is a premier figure in modern design and has helped Velux build drama through the use of skylight blinds and shades.  His perspective and clients are worldwide and his projects range from interior design and fashion to furniture, art and lighting design.   Velux offers over 100 designer skylight shades & blinds designed by Karim Rashid.

“Daylight is essential for our well-being and ability to think positively, and Velux makes exceptional quality skylights, flooding spaces with daylight.  However, to create an intimate and recreational space, light control is an absolute must – for sleeping, working or privacy.  So when Velux asked me to design a blackout collection, I was excited to get to work with light versus darkness.  Blackout blinds are the key to maintaining a satisfying sleep cycle and ideal for bedrooms and other spaces where complete light control is a must.” says Karim Rashid.

Velux’s new blind collection can help turn an ordinary room into something special.  There are over 100 colors and pattern choices available. You can design any space to reflect your personality.  Skylight blinds and shades can be added to most skylights and can increase the overall energy efficiency of a skylight by 37%.  By adding a Velux venting skylight with blinds to a room allows you to take complete control of your environment and bring harmony to your home.

10 Compelling Reasons to Replace Skylights.

Wether you have old Anderson, Pella, SunGlo, plastic dome skylights or glass, if they are more then 15 years old you should replace them.  Here are ten compelling reasons to replace your old skylights with  new Velux skylights. 

1. Energy efficiency – Velux No Leak skylights feature the most energy efficient double-glazed technology available.  Providing more daylight and better heat control then any other glass previously offered, there advanced LoE³ coating and argon-filled double pane design ensures year-round comfort and energy savings.

2. Condensation resistance – Velux LoE³ glass offers nearly three times the resistance to interior condensation as does clear insulating glass.

3. Warranty – The new Velux No Leak skylight offers the only comprehensive 10 year No Leak warranty you’ll find anywhere.  This covers the skylight and its installation against leaks for a decade.  Choose a Velux 5 Star Skylight Specialist for proper installation.

4. UV protection – Velux LoE³ glass reflects 83% of the sun’s rays that cause fabrics to fade and paint to yellow.  In contrast, clear insulating glass only reflects about 30% of harmful solar radiation and UV light.

5. Design flexibility – Velux skylights are available in fixed, manual venting and motorized venting models complete with rain sensors. Velux roof windows meet the requirements of fire egress codes, and there is even a model designed for any roof pitch or roofing material. 

6. Pre-finished interior – Velux No Leak skylights offer a pre-finished interior as standard. No painting or staining required.

7. Shading and window treatments – All Velux skylights offer a variety of optional electric, manual and solar powered blinds for added comfort and energy efficiency.  Solar powered blinds qualify for U.S. government energy tax credits.  Velux Blinds now come in Designer Colors, 5 standard colors and 44 special order colors.

8. Compatibility - Velux offers sizes that are compatible to virtually any brand of skylight available.

9. Quality and value – According to annual brand use surveys done by the readers of Builder Magazine, Velux skylights rank as the highest quality, best value and the most used residential skylights in the USA.  In fact, in over 25 years of this survey, Velux has never been rated less then #1 in any of these categories.

10. Convenience – Skylights can be replaced at anytime during the year, weather permitting.  Be sure to choose a Velux 5 Star Skylight Specialist to ensure a proper installation.

For more details on skylight replacements go to Repair & Replacements on Premier Skylights, LLC website.

Atrium Skylight Repair & Replacement

  Here is an atrium skylight replacement we did in a bathroom.  The old atrium skylight system was leaking and when the wind blew it caused a draft in the room.  The glass had fogged over because the glass seals had failed.  We removed the old atrium skylight system and disposed of all the old glass, aluminum retaining frame and wood structure.  We then constructed a new atrium skylight structure using 4″x4″ cedar rafters and 2″x4″ cedar fill strips.   Then we stained the new skylight structure and interior wood to match.  After the stain dried we installed the new atrium glazing structure.  We used a brown aluminum glass retaining system and set four sloped glass units and four window units in the frame.  The glass the customer chose was a  clear over clear, low-e, safety laminated glass unit.  The customer was very pleased with her new atrium skylight system.

     When we replace an atrium skylight system we can use different colored aluminum glazing systems  to match your house.  There are also different combinations of glass color such as; clear, solar gray and white.   We work with our customers to make sure the system they choose will enhance the look and feel of their home.

The Super Service award status shows the dedication a company has towards its customers.  It shows we have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating form Angie’s List clients and abiding by their operational guidelines.  Check out what our customers had to say about us by clicking on the logo above.  Remember we are the premier St. Louis skylight company.

When buying a skylight it is important that you purchase a skylight that will protect you and your home if it breaks.  Skylights are designed to withstand the elements, rain, hail, snow, small tree limbs and a child’s ball.  But sometimes these items are a little larger or hit a little harder than normal. 

There are two types of glass used in skylights, tempered glass and safety laminated glass.  Tempered glass has an additional degree of hardness that makes the glass shatter into small pieces rather than large shards of glass when it breaks.  Laminated safety glass is a combination of two pieces of heat strengthened glass bonded together with a plastic (PVB) inner layer that holds the glass together if it gets broken.

Why is this important?  When tempered glass in a skylight breaks the small pieces of glass fall into your home.  It can strike an individual under the skylight, get in your furniture cushions and scratch your tables and floors.  You will have a large hole in your roof and if it is raining, rain water will damage anything under the skylight.  With safety laminated glass in your skylight this will not happen.  They are designed to hold the glass in the frame so that the glass will not fall into your home.  No one will be injured from falling glass, your prized possessions will be protected and water will not damage the interior of your home.  Make sure that when you buy a skylight or a contractor installs one it has safety laminated glass in it.

Velux standard skylights comply with Energy Star, the International Building Code, the International Residential Code and the International Energy Conservation Code.  That is why Premier Skylights, LLC only sells and installs glass skylights with safety laminated glass, make sure your contractor does the same.  Contact us for more information regarding safety laminated glass and other features of Velux Skylights.

Live Green, Live Healthy!

Date: Saturday,       September 24, 2011

Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: Missouri Botanical Garden

Come visit us at the Green Homes & Great Health Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden.  Help your family live green – and live healthier!  Celebrate sustainable living and explore ways to maintain a healthy you and a healthy planet.  Bring your home improvement ideas and talk with over 100 green product and service exhibitors.  Talk one-on-one with Washington University physicians and experts about a variety of health issues and cancer prevention tips.  Enjoy local food, yoga and tai chi, live music, solar car races, free health screenings and shopping the Green Marketplace.  Help paint a Metro bus, explore the giant inflatable human colon, and and learn from expert workshops and talks about the many ways that plants, air, water, soil and energy sustain our homes.

While you are there stop by our booth and see how skylights and sun tunnels can brighten your day.  We will also be showing the Solectric Day-light System.  Solar powered LED lights and ceiling fan powered by a mono-crystalline 20 watt solar panel that can be installed anywhere.  For more information go to www.greenhomesSTL.org .

Many seniors don’t get outside enough, so there are other reasons to bring more natural light in. Studies show that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), evidenced by emotional depression, a drop in physical energy, increased appetite, and need for more sleep, is directly linked to a lack of sufficient daylight.  Some researchers are concluding that light therapy may help to alleviate SAD symptoms faster than antidepressant drugs.

Sunlight can enter our dwellings and be balanced through the use of skylights and tubular skylights.  Skylights admit 30 percent more light than vertical windows and provide the drama of a sky view that can’t be achieved with vertical windows.  Skylights also offer more privacy than vertical windows without taking up valuable wall space that can be used for decorating.  It is also a way to stretch fixed-income dollars with a one-time purchase that pays benefits over time by reducing the need for artificial lighting and cutting energy costs.

How would you like to visualize your home bathed in  free, natural, beautiful sunlight?  Premier Skylights, LLC, a Velux 5 Star Skylight Specialist can make that a reality, but to help you imagine the possibilities, this easy-to-use iPhone app gives you the ability to discover what a dramatic difference skylights make.  Whether you want to open up a dark interior room or make an architectural statement, the VELUX Skylight Planner is the perfect tool to see how skylights might look in your home and to share your ideas with friends and family.

The Solectric Day-Light System was designed with flexibility in mind so that it can be customized to meet your specific day lighting needs. It uses a photovoltaic (PV) solar panel and high energy efficient LED light fixtures, connected with wires, to simulate the light produced by a skylight. The system can be connected to an optional low cost AC adapter or a battery charge system for storing solar power for nighttime use.

For more information on the Solectric Day-Light System give us a call.

The Missouri Botanical Garden’s EarthWays Center, will become a ‘green street’ of exhibitors with more than 90 vendors showcasing green products and services. The Green Homes Festival, presented by the Missouri Botanical Garden’s EarthWays Center and the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, will offer expert workshops and demonstrations on solar and wind energy, home and vehicle efficiency, urban farming, composting, and more.

There will also be exhibits, workshops, art activities and street entertainment that will offer fun for the entire family as you learn how to reduce your home’s energy costs while you help protect the planet.

Come join us for the fun and stop by our booth to learn more about daylighting your home.

“Gary and Diana visited several Velux skylight installers at the St. Louis Home & Garden show, and invited both of them to come out and submit a proposal. While the pricing from each vendor was in the same ballpark, Gary decided to go with Premier Skylights. ‘They just seemed to be tuned in to what we were looking for, and their approach was professional but friendly.’

Gary’s original concept was to install traditional translucent skylights. But after his meeting with Frank Chandler, co-owner of Premier, he decided that the clear glass would be more attractive and functional. ‘I was initially afraid that the size of the skylights that Frank recommended would be too big for the room. As it turns out, we’re thrilled with what he recommended and are glad he didn’t just give us what we asked for.’”

If you are thinking about adding daylight to your life, give us a call for a free estimate on a skylight or sun tunnel.

• Blackout Blinds
  Blocks the light, converts day to night with optimal heat protection.
• Roller Blinds
  Diffuse the light and enjoy the benefits of natural light without the glare.

Give us a call to learn more about Velux Solar Blinds.