Windows-Letting the Sunshine In

Keeping up with the progressive times and the need to tap natural resources, why shouldn’t we try our hand at making our home energy efficient? We all know that windows are for ventilation and enhancing the face value of our home but they offer good energy saving solutions too. This architectural feature gains or loses energy by radiation, conduction, convection and of course, air leakage. You can effectively bank on these factors and make your home a lot more energy efficient. So, let’s delve into some ideas that can altogether change the definition of windows.

Letting in maximum light, holding the inside temperature and reducing your power bills. So, now your remodeling ideas should incorporate a relatively new and beneficial feature -energy efficiency. The rule of thumb to bring in maximum sunshine is to follow the sun. For ensuring effective light for the better part of the day, install windows on the north of the room. South collects most of the solar heat, go for low E or low emissivity glass coating, these rank high on reflecting the heating rays away from your house. So, you can control the transfer of heat through your windows.

Replace picture windows with bow or bay windows, you can enjoy more light, more view and more sun. You can utilize the space by adding a window seat to the front with a storage area underneath or you can showcase books or showpieces to enhance the space efficiency. You can also choose a built in bench in accordance with the shape of the window. Install large and taller windows, besides maximizing light; they make your rooms feel larger.

You can bring in the outdoors by adding a sun room, covering the area with large windows offers you the luxury of sun all day, plus it increases your living space. For new windows, consider covering only the top half with grills, the lower half can provide for unobstructed view. You can consider adding egress windows which offer easy exit in case of an emergency. Being larger than a common window, these windows rank high on making the basement environment more comfortable and pleasant by adding comparatively more to ventilation and lighting.

Certain other features in installing your windows can increase their energy efficiency manifolds. If you select, multi panes of glass over single panes, the insulation level goes up substantially. Tight seals, proper installation and energy efficient frames also help you in controlling heat gain or loss. Let’s change the earlier definition of windows, now we can say, windows- letting the sunshine in, maximizing light efficiency, maximizing ventilation, minimizing power bills! So, let technology come to the forefront in making our homes energy efficient, besides other advantages, it would be our effort towards conserving energy and resources.