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Your Online Resource for Albuquerque Homes and Real Estate for Sale |
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Sustainable. Home. Community. Albuquerque EcoBroker & NM Green Builder
Natural Daylighting: Bring in that New Mexico SunlightWhy Natural Light?Doesn't natural light just make you feel better? Both obvious and hidden economic savings come from building designs that rely on natural lighting. Throughout much of the day, owners and occupants can easily benefit from natural lighting and avoid electrical consumption otherwise required by artificial indoor lamps. Natural lighting is energy efficient becuase you don't have to turn on the switch during the day. Not so obviously, considerable economic gain may be achieved through increased productivity of workers and occupants. Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that natural illumination is the gold standard by which the efficacy of artificial lighting technologies is gauged. Further, studies show that workers with access to windows and natural light are happier, more productive, and suffer fewer health problems than workers resigned to artificial lighting. Technologies include efficient windows, skylights, solar tubes, light shafts, and many architectural features that allow natural light to penetrate into the building. Newer technologies are used as well. Over the past decade, some Japanese shoppers have benefited from natural light delivered to the interior of shopping malls via fiber optic cables originating on the roof. Potential Cost SavingsThe direct economic savings achieved by daylighting must be balanced against any potential heat loss associated with any window or skylight. For maximum cost effectiveness, only the most efficient windows and skylights should be considered. The most efficient skylights are solar tubes. Not only are solar tubes easy to install, most homeowners can put a solar tube in themselves, but they also cost approximately $250 dollars. This isn't much considering you can turn a cave-like room into one filled with natural light. Actual savings will depend upon how much you rely on artificial lighting, your local climatic conditions, etc. It is a good idea to check with local builders and energy offices to better calculate energy savings. However, it is unlikely that any consultant will be able to quantify the true value of access to daylight as measured by satisfaction with the building, increased productivity, and improved health. Things to Think AboutDaylighting technologies are relatively easy to incorporate in new construction. Opportunities in existing buildings may require a little creativity or the advice of an architect or builder.
Brighter climates like here in Albuquerque and other cities and towns in New Mexico may offer more resource to work with, but consider issues of heat gain and loss in addition to increased illumination. Daylighting in northern climates may provide disproportionately greater benefits to morale and human health because these regions often are subjected to prolonged cloud cover during winter months. Much of this information has been supplied by EcoBroker: your resource for green realtors.
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