When the time comes to replace the windows in your Michigan home, you should do so with the goal of daylighting the space — or in other words, bringing more natural light into the rooms. Picture windows, bay windows, and even double-hung windows with thinner sashes can let more light into your home than your existing windows. Here are five benefits of daylighting with replacement windows.
1. Lower Energy Bills
Daylighting your home will help lower your energy bills, since it will allow you to rely less on your overhead lights. When morning comes, you can open the blinds or shades and let natural light inside, rather than flipping on the light switch. As the sun moves across the sky throughout the day, it will start streaming in other windows. With the careful window placement, you can let light in from multiple directions and angles, capitalizing on natural light all day long.
The daylight streaming in also brings some warmth with it. On sunny winter days, this can reduce the burden on your furnace and help keep your heating bills manageable.
2. Greater Comfort
Who doesn’t love basking in a beam of sunshine? Daylighting your home with new windows will make it more comfortable — you can curl up in the rays of sunlight and read your favorite book, pet your cat, or catch up on your email. The warmth of the sunshine will make a thick sweatshirt or blanket less important. A Bay window would be a great option if you want to daylight your home since you can add a window seat and take advantage of those warm rays.
3. Improved Moods
Especially in the dead of winter, a lack of sunlight can have a depressing effect on your mood. If you don’t get enough sunshine, your body won’t make enough serotonin, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel happy and at-ease. By bringing more sunshine into your Michigan home, you can ensure your sun-exposure needs are met, thus elevating your mood and helping to fight feelings of depression. SmartSun™ windows are a good choice since they let in plenty of light, but filter out the harmful UV rays that increase your risk of skin cancer. Picture windows not only let in a lot of light but can also add another fabulous view to the outside.
4. Brighter Colors
You probably spent a lot of time choosing just the right color for your walls, and just the right pattern for your sofa. In dim light, however, those colors and patterns might look drab and less exciting. Natural light brightens the colors and makes them look more enticing. The colors will pop, and that effort you put into decorating will feel more worthwhile. You may even be able to put off remodeling or repainting once you see how daylighting rejuvenates the space.
5. More Open-Looking Spaces
These days, there is a trend towards more open floor plans. But homes that were built a few decades ago still tend to have smaller rooms and more enclosed floor plans. One of the benefits of daylighting is that it can open up a room and make it feel larger. A large bay window, for example, will make a once-claustrophobic living room look like a spacious, welcoming space. And a picture window in the dining room can make the outdoors feel like part of the space.These are just a few of the many benefits of daylighting your home with larger windows. To learn more about your window replacement options, schedule a free, in-home consultation with Renewal by Andersen. Our technicians will recommend solutions to bring more sunshine into your Michigan home.
