The concept of a smart home has evolved from a futuristic novelty to a practical reality — and your skylights are no exception. The VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO system transforms compatible VELUX skylights and blinds from manually or remotely controlled products into fully automated, intelligent climate management devices that respond to real-time indoor conditions without any input from you. For Toronto homeowners seeking the ultimate in convenience, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency, the smart skylight velux active toronto solution represents the most advanced residential skylight technology available today.

What Is VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO?

VELUX ACTIVE is an intelligent indoor climate control system developed in partnership with NETATMO, the French smart home technology company. The system uses built-in sensors to continuously monitor three critical indoor environmental parameters — temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentration — and automatically opens and closes your VELUX skylights and blinds throughout the day to maintain optimal conditions. The system learns your home’s behaviour patterns over time and adjusts its automation algorithms accordingly, becoming increasingly precise in its climate management as it accumulates data about your specific home environment.

System Components

How VELUX ACTIVE Automates Your Skylights

Automatic Ventilation Based on CO2 Levels

The most impactful automation feature of VELUX ACTIVE is CO2-triggered ventilation. In occupied rooms — particularly bedrooms during sleep — CO2 levels rise as occupants breathe, reaching concentrations that impair sleep quality, cognitive function, and next-day alertness long before anyone notices stuffy air. The indoor climate sensor detects rising CO2 levels and automatically opens your solar-powered skylight just enough to allow fresh air exchange, then closes it once CO2 levels return to healthy parameters. This happens silently throughout the night — you sleep in consistently fresh air without ever touching a remote control or waking to open a window.

Temperature-Based Blind Control

During hot Toronto summers, the VELUX ACTIVE system monitors indoor temperature and automatically closes solar blinds when the room approaches your set temperature threshold — preventing solar heat gain before the room overheats rather than reacting after it already has. In winter, the system reverses this logic — opening blinds when passive solar gain would help warm the room, reducing heating demand. This intelligent solar management reduces air conditioning and heating costs by leveraging natural light and ventilation as primary climate tools, with mechanical HVAC as a backup rather than a default.

Humidity Management

High indoor humidity promotes mould growth, window condensation, and uncomfortable indoor air — all common problems in Toronto’s humid summers and tightly sealed winter homes. VELUX ACTIVE monitors humidity levels continuously and opens skylights when humidity rises above healthy thresholds (typically 40-60 percent relative humidity). In bathrooms with skylights, this automated ventilation is particularly valuable — the system detects the humidity spike from a shower and ventilates the room automatically, eliminating the mould-promoting moisture before it can settle on surfaces.

Smart Home Integration

Voice Control Examples

• “Hey Siri, open the bedroom skylight” — opens the skylight in your specified room
• “OK Google, close all skylights” — closes every connected skylight in the house
• “Alexa, what is the CO2 level in the living room?” — reads the current sensor data
• “Hey Siri, set the bedroom to sleep mode” — closes blinds for darkness, keeps skylight cracked for ventilation

Scene and Routine Examples

With Apple HomeKit or Google Home, you can create automated scenes that coordinate your skylights with other smart home devices. A “Good Morning” scene opens the skylight blinds for natural wake-up light, adjusts the thermostat, and turns on the kitchen lights. A “Leaving Home” scene — triggered by the departure switch or geofencing — closes all skylights and blinds, locks the doors, and sets the security system. A “Movie Night” scene closes all blinds for darkness and dims the room lights. These multi-device automations transform your skylights from isolated products into integrated components of a cohesive smart home experience.

VELUX ACTIVE Cost and Compatibility

Compatible VELUX Products

• Solar Powered Fresh Air Skylights (VSS) — fully compatible
• Electric Fresh Air Skylights (VSE) — fully compatible
• Solar-powered room-darkening blinds and light-filtering shades — fully compatible
• Fixed skylights (FS) and manual skylights (VS) — NOT compatible (no motor to control)

Installation and Setup Process

Setting up VELUX ACTIVE is straightforward — most homeowners complete the initial configuration in under 30 minutes. The gateway plugs into a power outlet and connects to your home Wi-Fi network via the VELUX ACTIVE app. The indoor climate sensor is placed in the room with your skylight — ideally on a shelf or table at chest height away from direct sunlight and heat sources for accurate readings. The departure switch is mounted near your primary exit door using adhesive mounting (no wiring required). Once all components are connected through the app, the system immediately begins monitoring indoor conditions and controlling your skylights and blinds automatically.

Toronto Skylight Installers offers professional VELUX ACTIVE setup as part of our installation service or as a standalone add-on for existing compatible VELUX skylights. Our professional setup includes optimal sensor placement for accurate readings, custom automation parameter configuration based on your preferences and home characteristics, and complete integration with your Apple HomeKit or Google Home ecosystem. We also walk you through the app interface and automation settings so you can confidently adjust the system after we leave.

Real-World Performance: What Homeowners Experience

Toronto homeowners who have installed VELUX ACTIVE consistently report three primary benefits. First, dramatically improved indoor air quality — the automated ventilation keeps CO2 levels consistently below 1,000 ppm (the recommended maximum for healthy indoor air), which most homes regularly exceed during occupied hours. Homeowners report sleeping better, feeling more alert during the day, and experiencing fewer headaches and fatigue symptoms associated with poor indoor air quality. Second, reduced energy costs — by using natural ventilation and passive solar management before engaging mechanical HVAC, homeowners report measurable reductions in air conditioning usage during summer months. Third, peace of mind — the departure switch and rain sensor combination means homeowners never worry about leaving skylights open accidentally or returning home to rain damage.

VELUX ACTIVE vs Standard Remote Control: When to Upgrade

Upgrade to VELUX ACTIVE if you value automated climate management, want smartphone control from outside your home, or want to integrate your skylights into a broader smart home ecosystem. The standard remote remains sufficient if you prefer simple manual control without automation or connectivity.

Data Privacy and Security

VELUX ACTIVE collects indoor climate data (temperature, humidity, CO2 levels) and skylight operation logs to optimize automation algorithms and provide historical performance data through the app. All data is transmitted via encrypted connection to VELUX cloud servers hosted in Europe under GDPR-compliant data protection standards. The system does not include cameras, microphones, or location tracking. Your indoor climate data is used exclusively for skylight automation optimization and is not shared with third parties or used for advertising. For homeowners with privacy concerns, the VELUX ACTIVE app allows you to view exactly what data is collected and provides options for limiting data sharing while maintaining full automation functionality.

Why Toronto Homes Benefit Most from Smart Skylights

Toronto’s extreme seasonal climate makes automated skylight control particularly valuable. In summer, the system automatically manages solar heat gain and ventilation — opening skylights during cool mornings and evenings for free cooling and closing blinds during peak afternoon heat. In winter, it maximizes passive solar heating during sunny days while monitoring humidity to prevent condensation issues. During Toronto’s unpredictable spring and autumn weather — where temperatures can swing 20°C within a single day — the system continuously adapts in real time, opening and closing skylights multiple times throughout the day as conditions change. No manual system can match this responsiveness, and no homeowner wants to climb a ladder multiple times daily to adjust their skylights.

Upgrade to Smart Skylights — Call Toronto Skylight Installers

VELUX ACTIVE transforms your skylights from passive building components into intelligent climate management tools that improve your indoor air quality, reduce your energy costs, and integrate seamlessly with your existing smart home ecosystem. As certified VELUX dealers, Toronto Skylight Installers provides expert VELUX ACTIVE installation, configuration, and ongoing support.

Call us today at (416) 365-7557 or book your free smart skylight consultation online.

Toronto Skylight Installers is the GTA’s certified VELUX skylight dealer, providing professional skylight installation, smart home integration, and repair services across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area.