Why Choose Windows for Daylighting and Ventilation?
Apart from providing a nice view and improving your home’s curb appeal, replacement windows improve natural indoor lighting and ventilation. Let Carolina Gutter Helmet and More share with you what these two benefits can do for you and your family.
Daylighting
Daylighting, or the practice of using sunlight as your primary source of indoor lighting, offers several benefits. For starters, well-lit indoors look bigger and more welcoming. Increased natural lighting reduces your reliance on electrical lighting during the day, resulting in decreased energy consumption. Also, several studies point to it promoting healthy amounts of sleep and reducing stress.
When choosing replacement windows for daylighting, choose window styles with large glass areas, like picture windows, casement windows, and bay or bow windows. Place it on walls facing east to west as well. Our selection of window replacement units with low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), which lets you enjoy an increased amount of sunlight without increasing indoor heat, is perfect for this purpose.
Ventilation
The EPA counts poor indoor air quality among the top five health hazards in North America, with several studies pointing to indoor air being even more polluted than outdoor air. Pollutants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and mold spores. Since most of us spend 90% of our time indoors, we are all exposed to these pollutants on a daily basis.
Fortunately, the solution lies in choosing window styles optimized for ventilation. Effective ventilation is achieved through an inlet-and-outlet system—one opening lets fresh air in, while the air pressure pushes the stale air out to the other. Bay and bow windows typically have two smaller, operable side windows that create airflow. Double-hung windows can achieve the same effect by opening both sashes to create two openings—one at the top, one at the bottom—which is ideal for smaller rooms.
Bigger rooms require bigger windows, and this is where casement windows are best; two fully-opened casement windows are enough to aerate a large living room. By opening your windows 15 minutes a day, you reduce the risks of exposure to the effects of poor indoor air quality.
Carolina Gutter Helmet and More serves Greenville and Columbia, SC. To know more about our available window styles, from awnings to casements, call us today at 864-303-5955 or 972.427.4418 or fill out our contact form for a free, no-obligation quote.