Here are three ways you can put Mother Nature to work, and use natural light to lower your energy costs:
Minimize use of artificial lighting
Anyone who's ever paid an electrical bill knows that the simple act of turning on a light can directly impact your monthly expenses. Homeowners looking for a long-term way to power down their lighting costs may consider Energy Star-qualified skylights (link: http://www.veluxusa.com) a good investment. While the cosmetic appeal of skylights can't be argued, their value goes far beyond good looks.
By admitting healthful natural light into your home, skylights can help reduce the use of artificial light sources - and help you save on electricity costs. Pair no leak solar powered fresh air skylights, that have automatic rain sensors, with efficiency-enhancing accessories like solar powered designer blinds (available in a varied palette of colors and patterns), and you can improve energy efficiency as much as 37 percent, according to skylight manufacturer Velux America (www.veluxusa.com).
And you don't just save on energy over the long haul; there's an immediate incentive. Both the solar powered skylights and blinds, as well as the installation costs, are eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit. See a tax calculator at the Velux web site that tells you how much you can save on a new installation or a replacement. There's also a skylight planner app there that will show you exactly how different skylight and blind combinations will look in your own home.
Got a hard-to-reach or smaller space in your home that needs additional natural light? With tubular skylights like Sun Tunnel products, you can even bring natural light into ground-floor rooms or spots where a traditional skylight may not work, such as a first-floor powder room, hallways, or walk-in closets.
Reduce hot water costs
Long gone are the days when solar powering your home was an idealistic, but impractical dream. Solar technology is more useful, accessible and cost-effective than ever. Solar water heating systems, with low-profile rooftop collectors, have become mainstream, and offer homeowners a great, green way to trim energy costs. What's more, the cost of installing these systems has been steadily declining as the technology advances, and you may find adding one makes you eligible for tax credits or incentives from your local, state or the federal governments. You can calculate the costs and possible paybacks online at www.solar.veluxusa.com.
Make home a healthier place
Every year, ill health costs the U.S. economy billions of dollars, experts say, and your own health woes can have a significant impact on your pocketbook. The health benefits of natural light are well documented, from reducing the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and promoting the body's production of Vitamin D, to improving mood and even learning ability.
Simply opening blinds and curtains to admit more natural light can directly affect the mood inside your home - not to mention the mental state of the people living in it. Take your green lighting efforts to a higher level by adding no leak solar powered fresh air skylights and solar powered blinds, and you can also help improve the air quality inside your home. While skylights admit ample natural light, their natural chimney or stack effect works with your windows to bring in and circulate much more healthful fresh air. They also passively vent fumes and dampness that can lead to mold and mildew.
By incorporating natural light and passive ventilation into their home decor and improvements, homeowners can put the brakes on rising utility costs - and give the green light to energy savings.
Media Contact:
Keith Hobbs - Business Services Associates, Inc. - 9413 Greenfield Drive -
Raleigh, NC 27615-2306 - Phone - 919.844.0064 - E-mail - khobbs@nc.rr.com
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