HOW TO ADD NATURAL LIGHTING TO YOUR HOME

The addition of simple
natural light to a remodeling
project can have a huge
impact on your level of
satisfaction. A well designed
home that maximizes the use
of natural lighting without
compromising energy
efficiency brings extra
sunshine into your life.
Don't hesitate to flood a room
with light, particularly on the
north side. The north side is
where constant light can fill
the entire space very evenly
all day. The
larger glass area adds light
to the space, but you will
want to use energy-efficient
windows. Not using energy
efficient windows could result
in cold drafts in the winter,
thermal heat gain in the
summer, and higher energy
bills all year round. Consider
putting windows in unusual
places, such as bathrooms
and even shower spaces.
This will bring in a ton of
daylight and change the
entire look of the area.
Don't discount using windows
on a southwestern
exposure, even in warm
climates. Look for new
glazing and low-emissive
glass coatings that make
windows more efficient and
better suited to the specific
exposure and application.
Minimize east- and west-
facing wall areas. These
elevations feel summer sun
most intensely. Maximize
south-facing glazing as this
will help minimize winter
heating bills.
The right-sized overhang
placed above south-facing
windows can help minimize
heat gain during the summer,
when the sun is high in the
southern sky, yet still emits
warming rays during winter
months. Provide for shade at
south- and west-facing
windows with an appropriate
roof truss design,
architectural features,
landscaping plan, and
decorating plan.
In warm climates, sunlight can
overheat the home through
windows on the south and
west facing sides of homes.
Roof overhangs can provide
shade for these windows as
well as improve the home's
long-term ability to withstand
rain. They will also allow you
to open windows on a rainy
day. Specify 24" eave and
12" rake overhangs when
possible. Where overhangs
will not throw shade, like
first floor windows in 2-story
homes, architectural features
like lanais or awnings can
offset potential heat gain
that windows on southern
and western facades might
be subject to during the
cooling season.
Try entrance doors with
transoms and sidelights.
Where space is limited, a
single sidelight may work
instead of two flanking an
entry. Think about etched
and translucent patterns for
the sidelight glass if privacy
or security is a concern.
French doors with transoms
above doors and windows
can be added if the ceilings
are at least eight feet high. If
lower ceilings prohibit the
use of transoms a wider
window or bank of windows
can be used.
Investigate using windows
and skylights even where
you might have been
concerned about heat gain or
loss in the past. New
products, including high-
performance windows,
integral electronic blinds, and
automatic timed closing
devices can minimize such
concerns.
Today's skylights units are
sleek, leak proof, and easier
to install with special integral
flashing kits. Consider sun
tubes or tunnels for areas in
the middle of a structure,
such as a hallway. Sun tubes
are good alternatives in
areas where there's not
enough space for a skylight.
Tubular Skylights
Where windows are not
practical due to elevation or
a room's layout, tubular
skylights can provide natural
light while minimizing the size
of the roof penetration.
Tubular skylights have a
roof-mounted light collector
that reflects light through a
metal or plastic tube with a
highly reflective interior
coating. The reflective tube
guides the sunlight to a
diffuser lens mounted on the
interior ceiling surface that
spreads light evenly
throughout the room. They
are frequently used in
windowless bathrooms and
closets where natural light is
desirable and skylights
aren't possible because of
attic space above the ceiling.
They can also be used in
other dark spots throughout
the house, such as hallways
and stairwells. In single-
story homes they can even
direct natural light to
basements. Try new options
in moveable, retractable
opening curtain walls for
residential applications. The
following are a few of the
common-sense tactics that
can be considered when
designing high-efficiency
custom homes:
Maximize the use of
operable windows
Aim for operable-window
space equal to 6 to 7 percent
of floor space. (Only the
operable portion of a
double-hung window counts
toward this percentage, while
all of a casement window's
space counts toward the
total.)
Use thoughtful window
placement
Place windows diagonally
across from each other,
rather than directly opposite,
to encourage ventilation
through, rather than across,
a space. Incorporate whole-
house/attic fans. Today's
units are more powerful and
efficient than models you
might remember from your
grandmother's home. In the
evening, with windows and
attic doors open, these fans
can help flush out daytime
heat quickly.
Locate windows with
daylight in mind
Good lighting begins with the
effective use of sun