For most people, the idea of natural lighting is associated with spaciousness and pleasant indoor spaces. But natural light does more than just improve your home’s aesthetics, and in today’s post, Renewal by Andersen® of Wyoming examines how it also benefits your well-being.
The Health Benefits of Natural Light
In a study published in 2001, the EPA said that Americans spend 90% of our waking hours in indoor spaces. Not just in homes, but also in workplaces, restaurants and other establishments. The problem is, not all indoor spaces are the same. On one extreme, windowless seas of cubicles. On the other, places with large windows that allow ample amounts of natural light. People who stay in the latter are found to enjoy the following benefits:
- Increased Vitamin D Intake. Vitamin D is a nutrient derived from exposure to sunlight. It helps maintain bone density and reduce the risks associated with heart disease.
- Healthy Amounts of Sleep. Ideally, you should be getting about 8 hours of sleep a day. Lack of exposure to daytime-nighttime cycles can dramatically disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, causing short and/or irregular sleep times, some of which result in stress-related problems including chronic sleep debt.
- Improved Recovery Rate. If you have a member of your household who’s recovering from an injury or otherwise sick, a room that receives natural light may aid in their recovery. Science Magazine published an article about a study where postoperative patients were grouped into two separate recovery rooms. One room had windows facing a brick wall, the other had windows with a view and received natural light. The patients in the latter group were noted to recover 8.5% faster than those in the other group.
How To Improve Natural Lighting in Your Home
Before you consider drastic changes to your home such as installing skylights, consider your windows first. Are the window treatments always closed? Do opening or removing them dramatically change the amount of natural light? Do they look like they could use a bigger glass area? If anything is preventing you from letting the sunshine in through your windows — maybe they’re drafty or won’t open — then consider getting new windows.
If you’re worried about heat from sunlight, look for window glass with low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) and high Visible Transmittance ratings. Also, consider other strategies like having an open floor plan, replacing rear entry doors with patio doors, and choosing a light color palette for your home’s interior.
If you’re looking for new windows, our team at Renewal by Andersen of Wyoming is ready to help. Give us a call at (307) 472-2199, or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve communities in Casper, Cheyenne and Laramie, WY.
