Looking for ways to reduce heating and air conditioning bills in your New Jersey or New York Metro home? Have you been thinking about investing in replacement windows, but still haven’t made up your mind? Well, have you thought about Daylighting? If you aren’t sure what daylighting is, or how to take advantage of the benefits it offers, here’s everything you need to know from your friends at Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey and New York Metro.
According to Energy.gov, daylighting is: The use of windows and skylights to bring natural sunlight into your home that may save you money and allow you to regulate temperature more efficiently. Now that you know what daylighting is, you may be asking yourself which replacement windows will help you gain the highest benefits. Before you can start designing your replacement windows, you need to know about the “cardinal rules” that will help ensure every window works to help you achieve the greatest benefit.
Cardinal directions correlate with the most common compass points – North, South, East and West. So, when designing replacement windows, it is critical to consider which direction each window faces.
Here is a recap of how cardinal directions influence window unit performance.
In a perfect world, most of the windows in your home would be south-facing fixtures. But, we don’t live in a perfect world. Let’s look at options that will help you balance artificial and natural light to save money and make your indoor spaces more comfortable, starting with north-facing windows.
Remember that north-facing windows produce a softer light so you don’t necessarily need special coatings that reduce glare. Choose a superior insulated window with gas-between-the panes and frames that resist thermal transfer, like Fibrex frames and High Performance™ Low-E4® Glass.
To maximize winter heat gain, landscape wisely. Don’t plant large shrubs or deciduous trees (those that shed their foliage during winter) near south-facing windows. Even without the greenery, these trees could block direct sunlight significantly, which means you won’t be able to utilize the warmth-giving light as the sun drops lower across the southern horizon. A better option is to install retractable awnings that shield the glass during summer. Talk to your replacement window specialists about proper installation to make sure you don’t damage your frames or other window components. If you already have established trees, consider High Performance™ Low-E4® SmartSun™ Glass with HeatLock™ Technology, which is proven to bounce heat back into your rooms rather than allow it to pass through the glass.
You can plant those shade bearing shrubs and trees near east- and west-facing windows. The morning sun throughout the seasons will brighten your home and may lift your spirits. To control the harsh western sun, rely on awnings or landscaping to reduce glare. You may also want to choose glass with factory coatings to reduce light transfer, like High-Performance™ Low-E4® Sun Glass or High-Performance™ Low-E4® SmartSun™ Glass that almost eliminates harmful UV rays that may damage upholstery and other interior fabrics.
Daylighting strategies balance artificial lighting with natural lighting to reduce the amount of energy you need to power your home. And, there are many things you can do to take advantage of technology and natural light to create the perfect balance.
Did you know that your interior paint choices can help you manage light better? Look for paint with a good LRV – that stands for light reflectance value. Ratings range from zero to 100, with 100 being totally reflective. Daylighting experts recommend you use different values for different surfaces. For example, you’ll need an LRV of 20-30 for floors, but 60-90 for ceilings. Wall paint values should fall between 35-60, but avoid glossy paints which may create glare. If you really want to leverage daylighting to the fullest, learn more about dynamic lighting systems which continuously monitor the light levels in your home and adjust light intensity throughout the day to make sure your interior light reflects a precise mix of sunlight and artificial light to meet your needs.
Although these tips are all about the technical side of replacement windows, you don’t have to sacrifice beauty for performance. We offer four dozen color combinations, a full line of exclusive hardware finishes and both custom and standard grille patterns that let you create a very attractive curb appeal as you work toward better managing indoor light levels. Want more details? Just fill in the short form on this page or call us directly at (866) 609-5033 and speak to a replacement window specialist.
Learn Everything You Need to Know BEFORE Buying Replacement Windows
