Crisp air, golden leaves, and cozy nights—fall is a favorite season for many Minnesotans. But as temperatures drop and homes get sealed up for the season, indoor comfort and air quality become more important than ever. That’s where smart skylight technology comes in. At North Star Skylights, we help homeowners take full advantage of daylight and fresh air with systems like VELUX ACTIVE—a smart control system that makes your skylights more responsive, efficient, and comfortable all fall long.
As a certified VELUX skylight specialist and Minnesota’s trusted residential installer, we’re seeing more homeowners add VELUX ACTIVE to their existing or new skylight systems. Whether you’re looking to reduce heating needs, enjoy natural airflow, or maintain a healthier home environment, this system delivers.
Here’s how VELUX ACTIVE transforms your skylight into a smarter feature—and why fall is the perfect season to upgrade.
What Is VELUX ACTIVE?
VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO is a smart control system that automatically adjusts your skylights and blinds based on real-time indoor conditions. It monitors temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels—then opens or closes your skylights or shades to maintain a healthier indoor environment. You can also control everything through a smartphone app, whether you’re at home or away.
VELUX ACTIVE is compatible with solar-powered and electric venting skylights from VELUX, making it a seamless upgrade for homeowners already using these energy-efficient systems.
Smart Comfort for Cooler Days
Fall in Minnesota can bring wide temperature swings—from chilly mornings to sunny afternoons. VELUX ACTIVE helps balance those changes by using natural ventilation when it makes sense, and closing skylights or shades to retain warmth when it doesn’t. This can reduce your reliance on forced-air heating while keeping your home comfortable throughout the day.
Skylight shades can also be programmed to let in sunlight during cooler parts of the day, capturing passive solar warmth when you need it most.
Healthier Air, Even With the Windows Closed
As the weather turns colder, windows stay shut and indoor air can get stale. VELUX ACTIVE solves that by tracking CO₂ levels and humidity and opening your venting skylights when it’s safe and beneficial. This improves indoor air quality, reduces moisture buildup, and helps prevent the kind of stuffiness that becomes common in sealed homes.
It’s an especially smart feature for homes with closed-off kitchens, upstairs bedrooms, or bathrooms prone to excess humidity.
Remote Control and Peace of Mind
With the VELUX ACTIVE smartphone app, you can check and control your skylights anytime. Whether you’re away for the weekend or winding down for the night, you can open skylights for fresh air or close blinds with a tap.
You can:
- Ventilate your home before you get back from a fall walk
- Let in warm afternoon sun, then close up before temperatures drop
- Monitor your home’s indoor environment while you’re away
Pairs Perfectly with Solar Skylights
VELUX ACTIVE works especially well with solar-powered venting skylights. These systems open and close automatically when it rains, require no hardwiring, and qualify for a 30% federal tax credit. Combined with VELUX ACTIVE, they create a self-adjusting, energy-efficient daylighting solution that’s ideal for fall—and every season that follows.
Why Fall Is the Ideal Time to Upgrade
Fall is the season when indoor air quality starts to matter more—and when homes can benefit most from thoughtful ventilation. It’s also a good time to prepare for the winter ahead. If you’re already using skylights, or planning to add some, North Star Skylights can integrate VELUX ACTIVE with your current venting model or guide you to a smart-ready skylight system.
We offer expert design support, certified installation, and long-term service—making it easy to enhance your home before the snow falls.
Benefits Beyond Comfort
VELUX ACTIVE isn’t just about convenience. It also supports energy savings and long-term value:
- Energy Efficiency: Reduce the load on your HVAC system by using passive solar heat and natural ventilation.
- Improved Air Quality: Keep your home feeling fresh and balanced without relying solely on mechanical ventilation.
- Increased Home Value: Smart home features are increasingly attractive to buyers.
- Low-Maintenance: Set it once and let it work—ideal for busy households and part-time residents.
- Warranty Protection: When installed with qualifying VELUX products by North Star Skylights, your system is backed by the VELUX No Leak Warranty.
We Make Smart Skylights Simple
At North Star Skylights, we focus exclusively on residential skylight solutions. Our certified team helps you design and install systems that brighten your home and improve its performance—without hassle or guesswork. From new skylight installations to upgrades like VELUX ACTIVE, we handle every detail in-house.
If you’re ready to enjoy a more comfortable, healthier fall season, let’s talk.
North Star Skylights — Minnesota’s Residential Skylight Experts. Schedule Your Free Skylight Consultation today.
