Natural lighting makes your home look more spacious and pleasant to live in, which, for most homeowners, is enough of a reason for getting a window and door replacement project started. What you may not know is that natural lighting also has health benefits. Renewal by Andersen® of Memphis shares some quick facts on the health benefits of natural lighting.
Health Benefits of Natural Light
It Boosts Vitamin D — Vitamin D is a critical nutrient derived from exposure to sunlight. It helps keep bones healthy, and reduces the risks associated with heart disease and weight gain. Vitamin D can be absorbed even without exposure to direct sunlight.
It Promotes Healthy Amounts of Sleep — Experts recommend getting about 8 hours of sleep a day. Lack of exposure to regular daytime-nighttime cycles disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm, resulting in irregular and reduced sleep times. Naturally-lit homes help prevent problems caused by the frequent lack of sleep, such as chronic sleep debt.
It Aids Recovering Patients — If you are caring for a loved one at home, exposure to natural light can help them recover faster. Science Magazine published an article about a study wherein two groups of post-operative patients were placed in separate recovery rooms. The windows in one room had windows facing a brick wall, while the other had windows that had a view and received natural light. The group in the latter room was noted to recover 8.5% faster than the patients in the other room.
How to Improve Natural Lighting in Your Home
Replacement Windows — Choose replacement windows that allow more natural light, which means you need styles with larger glass areas. Look for glass packages with low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) and high Visible Transmittance ratings, for maximum natural light without worrying about solar heat or UV rays.
Open Floor Plans — If your home is up for a remodel, consider an open floor plan to allow natural light to spread out. This means your remodeler will knock down the walls that separate the kitchen and dining area. You should also consider getting sliding doors to further increase the amount of natural light in your home.
Light Color Palette — Plan your home’s interior color palette with classic white or other light colors as the dominant color. Reflective surfaces such as mirrors also work, but some homeowners find it too harsh.
Your home deserves better than vinyl replacement windows. Call Renewal by Andersen of Memphis at (901) 779-1178 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.
