If you're a homeowner with an area in your home that needs more natural light -- say a hallway, laundry room, closet, or a windowless bathroom -- an easy-to-install tubular skylight could be the answer. And if you're one of the millions of handy do-it-yourselfers in America, you can handle the installation in a weekend morning. But even if you're a little wary of cutting a hole in your perfectly good roof yourself, a reasonably priced installation by a professional can be easily arranged. Either way, you gain more passive natural light and a lower power bill.

Velux Sun Tunnel skylights bring passive natural light into the home and particularly into areas where traditional skylights aren't needed or won't fit. They capture light very efficiently through a clear, weatherproof dome on the roof. The light travels into the home through highly reflective tubing, ending at a diffuser in the ceiling that looks like a traditional in-ceiling light fixture. The units offer a choice of highly reflective rigid tubing between the roof and ceiling or flexible tubing to easily bypass HVAC equipment or other obstructions in the attic. They are less expensive than many traditional skylights and easier to install.

According to Tim Johnson, product manager with VELUX America, the skylights are available in a variety of models in 10", 14" and 22" diameters for different spaces and lighting needs. "The installation process is very straight-forward," Johnson says, "with many components pre-assembled right out of the box so a handy homeowner can handle the installation in two to three hours."

The skylights are available at big box stores, building supply dealers, and specialty retail outlets. Optional light kits are available that install inside the tunnels for nighttime use.

And now is a particularly good time to consider upgrading existing skylights or adding new units to qualify for a tax credit of up to $200 under the Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2005. Details are available at www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm.