The Sun and Your Home Part 1: Improving Daylighting

In the first part of this two part blog series, we discussed the benefits of daylighting. In this installment, we talk about how to improve your home’s daylighting and how our products will help. To improve your home’s natural lighting, you need energy-efficient windows, proper window placement, and effective methods to diffuse sunlight and reduce glare.

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Energy-Efficient Windows

Windows have come a long way since the use of wood and single-pane glass. Replacing your old and damaged windows is an excellent project for home remodeling in Wichita, KS. Our vinyl and fiberglass windows are more durable, energy-efficient, and low-maintenance compared with older models.

These use a special low emissivity coating to reflect heat back to the source. This blocks solar heat from entering your home in summer, and keeps interior heat from escaping in winter. This way, you can illuminate your home with sunlight without worry.

Proper Window Placement

The sun’s position and intensity is different during various times of the day and seasons, so consider this in your window placement. South-facing windows supply steady and even light and warmth while letting in the most light during winter. North-facing windows provide indirect and soft light with little glare or heat gain. Still, the cold affects this light. East and west-facing windows get a lot of sunlight in the morning and afternoon respectively, but the light can cause glare and discomfort.

Placing your windows as high up as possible allows even light for your interior. Provide balanced lighting for your room by placing windows in two directions. Light from one window will neutralize shadows created by the other window and reduce overall contrast within the room.

Methods to Diffuse Sunlight and Reduce Glare

Well-placed mirrors can reflect light into the darker corners of the room. The addition of a solar shelf to your window can be a worthwhile project for home remodeling in Wichita, KS. A light shelf is a soffit that projects into the room from beneath high windows. It reflects sunlight off the ceiling.

You can reduce glare from the sun by using blinds or drapes. At the correct angle, blinds can diffuse plenty of light while blocking glare. Loosely woven light colored drapes do the same and provide plenty of privacy. Another way to reduce glare is to place shrubs, trees, or garden walls strategically.

A daylit home is both beautiful and comfortable. Moreover, it can save you money on your utilities. All States Home Improvement has been helping our customers improve their homes since 1992. With over two decades of experience and partnerships with industry leading brands, you can be sure your project is in great hands. Give us a call to learn more about our windows, or to get a free estimate. To learn more about daylighting and about how it can help you and your family, check out part one of our article.