A natural kind of light

Make sure you've got your nose slathered in a generous layer of SPF 30 because, sure, compact fluorescent bulbs are great but, when it comes to light, absolutely nothing beats the real thing.

Why? For starters, using natural light reduces dependence on artificial (energy-consuming) light. Depending on your climate, natural light can provide natural warmth in the home. Natural lighting is also good for your physical health and mental well-being: studies have shown that students in naturally lit classrooms progress 20 to 26 percent faster on test scores, and common sense tells us that a bright, light-filled room is more inviting than an artificially-lit one.

Preston Koerner over at Jetson Green probably said it best: "Natural light = gift. Artificial light = debt."

Whether you are living in a pre-existing home or are building one from the ground up, there are a number of things you can do to optimize the use of natural light in your home.

1) If you're building from scratch: higher set windows, skylights and appropriately placed windows reduce the need for artificial lighting.

2) If you're thinking about minor renovations: something as simple as painting your walls (with a zero-VOC paint, of course) a lighter color can increase reflection and draw sunlight further into your home.

Want more? Check out the Green Builder Sourcebook on Lighting or Inhabitat's post on "Environmentally Friendly Lighting."

Image www.scx.hu, marcelo brito filho