People have not only an attraction to sunlight, but also a need for it. The right amount of sunlight has a direct impact on productivity and well-being. Daylighting is the use of windows, skylights, and reflective surfaces to provide effective internal lighting. Doing so minimizes the need for artificial light, reducing electricity costs. And if properly controlled, natural lighting won’t generate any unwanted heat, and helps reduce HVAC expenses as well.

Benefits of Daylighting

One leading benefit is substantial energy savings in two ways: electricity and heating and cooling. Electric lighting consumes more than 15 percent of electricity generated in the U.S. With natural light you cut down on those energy expenses. That said, the sun is a powerful source of light, but also heat. So you want to make sure you choose the right glazing and window treatments to minimize heat gain. Fortunately there are several new energy efficient technologies on the market that will greatly reduce your need for heating and air conditioning.

Natural light also has several health and productivity benefits. It is a natural stimulant, so in addition to healthy circadian rhythms, more natural light also improves focus and cuts down on eye strain. It also makes you feel better, and helps your home feel more warm, and welcoming.

Tips for Daylighting

Here are a few ways to get more natural light into your home:

• Trim your trees. They might be great for shade, but those overhanging branches also block your windows.
• Clean the windows. The dust and dirt collecting on your windows also blocks a lot of the natural light.
• Swap out your window treatments. Heavy window hangings make your home darker, but also tend to absorb a lot of heat. Change them out for lighter fabrics.
• Replace small windows with larger ones. Tall windows let in more light. And while you might not be onboard with floor to ceiling corner units, you might consider horizontal sliders. These are easy to operate, come in varying heights, and let in an abundant amount of light.
• Add more windows. In addition to just replacement windows, you might think of adding a few more along one wall to really open up the space.
• Move heavy pieces of furniture. You can’t put furniture in front of your windows and still capitalize on natural light. So to maximize your space move those heavy pieces out of the way or think about downsizing.
• Choose paint with a softer palette. Beige, light white, and grey are perfect colors for reflecting light instead of absorbing it.
• Hang some well-placed mirrors. Once you let the natural light in you can highlight it and bounce it around the room with more reflective glass.

Call Scientific Home Services for Replacement Windows

With the proper orientation, windows can produce the best combination of direct and diffused daylight, letting in natural light while also reducing glare. But you need to consider location and orientation, as well as the type of window technologies to best suit the region. This is a lot to figure out on your own. Better to rely on the experts. Call (847) 752-0370 or stop by 7240 Saint Louis Ave., Skokie, IL 60076 to visit with one of our professionals. We have a commitment to excellent service and will give you the best replacement windows in Chicago, IL.