See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_tube. They are also called "ligth pipes".
We had a 14" Velux light tube installed in our house:
We used the flat lens instead of a bubble lens to make it blend better with the solar panels. Bubble lenses gather more light. |
Entrance pipe: |
Half done: |
Installer Richard Wimmer of Blue Ridge Home Improvement: We used ~16' of pipe that included five 0-45° elbows. |
Completed installation: |
It lights up a dark stairway. |
L. David Roper, http://www.roperld.com/personal/roperldavid.htm