Improve the Quality of Natural Light in Your Home

(ARA) - Rooms filled with natural light and fresh air are more beautiful, spacious and uplifting to our spirits. Daylight is the essential element that transforms conventional rooms into splendid spaces that add value and quality to our homes and to our lives.

"Skylights and roof windows offer homeowners attractive and effective methods to improve the quality of lighting and ventilation in their homes," says Joe Patrick, product manager with VELUX America.

Skylights are used for overhead, out-of-reach applications or within-reach applications where egress is not required. Roof windows are for in-reach applications requiring egress, such as finished attics. Sun tunnels are useful when a view to the outside is not needed.

Options such as translucent or light block shades, Venetian blinds and exterior heat block awnings allow homeowners to control the amount of light. Accessories, as well as electric skylights, can be operated by remote control.

* More Privacy In Your Home

Many bathrooms have a huge window occupying most of a wall directly over the tub. Impressive, but not always practical, especially if the room is on a ground floor or located where neighbors have a view through the window.

The solution? Consider light from above from a venting electric skylight. "You get privacy, more ventilation in the room in your home most prone to condensation, a beautiful view of the sky above, the use of a wall for decorating or storage and the healthful benefits of more natural light," says Patrick.

According to research from American Standard, skylights are selected as the number one option in "dream bathrooms." And modern skylights offer as many, or more, features than standard windows including remote control, blinds, shades, awnings, insect screening and automatic rain sensors.

And while you're considering skylights for your bathroom, remember that venting skylights in your kitchen can release hot air and odors while admitting more light for brighter days and for more pleasant cooking and dining.

In areas where skylights may not be needed or just won't fit, sun tunnels are a good provider of natural light. They are great for smaller bathrooms, entry areas or hallways, pantries, walk-in closets and other smaller, confined areas. They feature flexible tunnels that fit around virtually any obstructions from the roof to the ceiling.

* Space Utilization and Added Value

Attics and bonus rooms lurk in the darkness in many homes. But with the additional natural light and fresh air skylights or roof windows provide, underutilized, gloomy space easily becomes a playroom for children or an inviting, productive work area.

"Whether as a playroom, home office, or extra bedroom, finishing your bonus room with skylights or roof windows may be the highest value, yet lowest cost per square foot option you can choose," Patrick says.

Patrick says that converting upstairs areas with energy-efficient skylights and roof windows makes expensive dormers unnecessary. "Labor and material costs can be reduced, and finished attics and bonus rooms typically appraise at 100 percent of the value of other living space while basements typically do not," he points out.

Denver-based architect Doug Walter, AIA, observes that many property owners dismiss the idea of a conversion on the grounds that the space available seems too small. "In their search for suitable areas, particularly for children," Walter says, "they should reconsider. Children don't require large areas with soaring ceilings. On the contrary, the sloping ceilings of small attics and the little hideaways they make are particularly appealing to youngsters."

* Health Considerations

Health benefits of having abundant daylight in our homes are well documented. Studies show that students learn better, adults suffer less Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and older Americans have less trouble reading and getting around when rooms are filled with daylight. But aside from documented psychological and physical benefits, it's obvious that living and working in a naturally brightly lit space just makes life feel better.

Some researchers are concluding that light therapy may help to alleviate SAD symptoms faster than antidepressant drugs. In a recent review of clinical trials of light therapy, Dr. Daniel Kripke and his colleagues at the Circadian Pacemaker Laboratory at the University of California, San Diego reported that light therapy benefits not only SAD patients but also people suffering from other forms of depression.

For skylight selection literature call (800) 283-2831, visit www.veluxusa.com, or write VELUX America Inc., P.O. Box 308, Budd Lake, NJ 07828. For government information on window and skylight energy efficiency visit www.energystar.gov, and for independent agency information visit www.nfrc.org. or www.efficientwindows.org.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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