Harmony – the new thermally efficient skylight that meets H1 requirements

Energy efficiency updates to the Building Code aim to deliver warmer, drier and healthier buildings that cost significantly less to heat, and generate carbon savings through improved energy efficiency. The H1 changes have now been implemented and are some of the biggest updates to the Building Code in a decade.

While there are different pathways to prove compliance within the new requirements, when it comes to skylights the overarching principle is they must be included in the whole building thermal calculation along with windows, doors, roofs, walls and floors to achieve a total building compliance.  

To get the sum of all the different parts at the right level, it’s crucial to have skylights that are high performance, says Adlux General Manager Matthew Church.

“The higher we can get the performance of our skylights, the easier it makes it to comply overall, because the sum of the skylight, plus the sum of all these other areas are all parts of that total thermal efficiency sum that needs to be achieved.”

While some suppliers prefer to work around this equation using skylights with low thermal performance, asking the designer to offset this elsewhere in the design, Adlux made the decision to avoid this as it creates a very weak thermal point in the home.

“That's not a good idea,” says Matthew, “because if you're going to have a badly performing skylight in an otherwise high performance house, you end up with a lot of heat lost through the skylight causing condensation to form on it.”

When the H1 changes came in, Adlux set about creating a high performance skylight range that would set new standards, and wouldn’t create a weak point in the design.

Their new suite of skylights, called Harmony, is an aluminium range with a thermal break, and is available in double and triple-glazed options. They are available as fixed non opening windows or electric opening if ventilation is needed. The corners of the window are welded, rather than screwed, to improve weatherproofing, and the electric option has the motor concealed within the frame.

Matthew says it’s the first thermally designed roof window with a triple-glazed option that is manufactured and available in New Zealand. 

“Our goal from the outset was to make sure that we had a product that regardless of which pathway the architect or specifier wanted to use to comply with new standards, we had a product that would meet each and every requirement.” 

For architects, specifying the Harmomy suite makes it much easier to meet their requirements under the new Code, because “the higher your skylight performs, the easier it is to prove that you're complying with the new requirements.”

The Harmony suite is available in a range of standard sizes, and can be ordered in custom sizes up to 3000 x 1500 mm. It can also be powder coated in any colour to match the colour palette of the interior or exterior. 

Aesthetically, the new range of high performance skylights enhances a space, bringing both light and the outside in. The sleek and elegant design seamlessly blends with any interior, creating a timeless and visually captivating addition to your living spaces.

This ensures that living spaces remain cosy and comfortable throughout the seasons, while minimising energy consumption and reducing your carbon footprint, says Matthew.  

“At Adlux, we understand the importance of creating living spaces that resonate with nature, embracing the beauty of natural light while ensuring utmost comfort and energy efficiency. With Harmony we have achieved the perfect equilibrium between sustainable design and superior performance.”

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