Solatube at a glance, plus their EPD runway
Solatube built its name on tubular daylighting devices that bring crisp natural light deep into buildings without glare. They also sell solar‑powered fans and whole‑house ventilation for homes, plus large‑diameter daylighting for warehouses and schools. Here is how that portfolio maps to Environmental Product Declarations, and where missing EPDs may quietly block specs on carbon‑accountable projects.
The company in one sentence
Solatube International is a daylighting specialist best known for tubular daylighting devices for residential and commercial buildings, with add‑ons for controls and ventilation. They are a focused player rather than a broad building‑materials conglomerate.
What they sell, in practical buckets
Commercial buyers will recognize three daylighting families that vary by diameter and throw, along with accessories like diffusers, dampers, and daylight dimming. Residential buyers see smaller‑diameter tubes, ceiling fixtures, and a ventilation line that includes solar attic fans and whole‑house fans. Across sizes, curb kits, glazing choices, elbows, and finish rings push the SKU count into the dozens, possibly low hundreds when variants are tallied. That is plenty of surface area for specs.
EPD coverage today
As of December 18, 2025, we could not locate any published product‑specific EPDs for Solatube’s core tubular daylighting devices or for their solar and whole‑house fans. If one exists, it is not easily discoverable through major public EPD catalogs or operator portals. That leaves a gap for projects where an EPD is a hard yes rather than a nice‑to‑have.
Why that gap matters to specifiers
Owners and design teams that target low‑carbon procurement or pursue LEED v5 pathways often prefer products with third‑party verified EPDs because it simplifies carbon accounting. Without an EPD, teams must default to conservative assumptions that can make an otherwise compelling product less competitive. No drama, just math.
Where substitutions can creep in
Tubular daylighting typically competes with other ways to bring light from the roof plane. On schools, warehouses, and big‑box retail, continuous rooflights and translucent panel systems can land in the same early design conversation. If those alternatives carry current EPDs, they are easier to defend in carbon‑screened bids, and Solatube risks being value‑engineered out before performance gets a fair hearing.
Who Solatube runs into on projects
Two names show up frequently in commercial daylighting packages. VELUX Commercial publishes product EPDs for dome rooflights, glazing panels, upstands, and related options through Smart EPD and IBU program operators. Kalwall lists multiple translucent wall and roof systems with current EPDs through UL. LAMILUX has EPDs for select roof access hatches and modular glass roofs through Kiwa. These categories can substitute in offices, education, healthcare, and logistics depending on daylight targets, thermal goals, and fall‑through requirements.
Product‑by‑product EPD outlook
The best starting point for Solatube is a product‑specific EPD on a flagship commercial tube that regularly shows up in distribution centers and K‑12. One declaration that covers common diameters and standard materials will unlock many specs, then variants can be added in waves. A second wave should cover the large‑diameter system used in high‑bay spaces, since that is often pitted against continuous rooflights during value engineering. Residential ventilation can follow as a separate workstream using an HVAC‑aligned PCR.
Choosing the right rulebook
A PCR is the rulebook of Monopoly, skip it and the game falls apart. For tubular daylighting, the relevant PCR typically aligns with windows and doors or translucent roof assemblies, depending on the operator and market. A strong LCA partner will benchmark the PCR used by the competitors named above and steer to an operator that publishes quickly and is widely accepted by North American specifiers. That keeps the comparison apples to apples.
What a faster EPD project looks like
Speed comes from tidy data. Pull one recent full year of production and utility data per facility, standardize bill‑of‑materials by tube diameter, and document secondary processes like anodizing, coatings, and packaging. The heavy lift is cross‑plant coordination and supplier data wrangling, not the modeling itself. Get that right and publishing with a mainstream operator is measured in weeks, not quarters. It’s definately doable.
Sustainability signals on their site
Solatube maintains a sustainability section that highlights energy savings benefits and operational commitments. It is a good narrative base, yet project teams still ask for product‑level declarations when carbon is on the line. See their page for context and positioning, then layer in EPDs to satisfy documentation‑ready buyers (Solatube sustainability).
Bottom line for commercial teams
Solatube owns a clear daylighting niche with recognizable products and a loyal installer base. The missing piece is product‑specific EPDs on the commercial tubes that drive most bids. Publish those and Solatube will keep more seats at the table when competitors show up with declarations in hand. That is how you protect margin and win specs without turning every conversation into a price contest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Solatube publish product-specific EPDs for tubular daylighting devices as of December 2025?
We could not find any published product-specific EPDs for Solatube’s tubular daylighting devices or their residential fans as of December 18, 2025.
Which competitors in daylighting commonly publish EPDs that show up in specs?
VELUX Commercial lists EPDs for rooflights and glazing panels via Smart EPD and IBU. Kalwall publishes EPDs for translucent wall and roof systems via UL. LAMILUX publishes select roof and access products via Kiwa.
If tubular daylighting lacks an EPD, what gets specified instead?
Teams may shift to continuous rooflights or translucent panel systems that do have current EPDs. These alternatives can satisfy daylight, safety, and thermal targets while keeping carbon documentation straightforward.
What should the first Solatube EPD cover to maximize ROI?
Start with the highest volume commercial tube SKUs in distribution centers, education, and big-box retail. Use a widely accepted PCR so comparisons with competing rooflights are clean, then expand coverage to large‑diameter systems.
About the Author
Walker Ryan is a climate-tech entrepreneur focused on driving industrial decarbonization through better data. As the founder and CEO of Parq, he helps manufacturers generate high-quality, third-party–verified carbon disclosures at scale—accelerating a traditionally slow and expensive process. Before starting Parq, Walker led over $200 million in sustainability-focused investments as VP of Strategy & Growth at ReStream Solutions, following earlier experience in investment banking at Deutsche Bank. He brings a rare mix of capital markets expertise and hands-on sustainability knowledge to tackling the infrastructure of industrial emissions.
