Why are more and more buildings being designed with windows to bring in more natural daylight?
Because it’s good for you.
Yes, according to Healthline, natural daylight has plenty of benefits, which include things like a boost in Vitamin D, better sleep cycles and improved mood. And healthier workers and residents aren’t the only benefits to more natural daylight.More daylight means less artificial lighting is necessary, which can help lower energy costs.
But while natural daylight is as good for occupant health as it is for the bottom line, there are certain drawbacks to it as well. For instance, things like window glare, heating, and carpet and upholstery fading are all common effects that may result from excessive amounts of natural daylight each day. And while window treatments are one to manage these effects during certain parts of the day, there’s a better, more practical solution that you should strongly be considering: solar window films. Here’s a look at the benefits of solar window films and how they can make any building better:
Eliminate the Side Effects
When you install solar films on windows, you’ll continue to bring in natural daylight and all of its benefits, minus any of its disadvantages. Solar films prevent glare, protect against fading and also help prevent the sun’s rays from overheating the building during the hot summer months. Yet, you’ll still be getting plenty of natural daylight, Vitamin D and all of the health benefits that come with it. Solar films help protect against the sun’s UV rays, which can be harmful — and not the light that the sun produces.
Solar Films are Discrete
Many incorrectly think that any type of window film will take away from the natural beauty of the window itself. This isn’t the case. Solar window films are extremely thin, and once they’re installed you won’t even be able to tell that they’re in place. They won’t darken a room or obstruct any views, they’re simply designed to minimize the damage from the sun’s UV rays.
Solar Films are Affordable
Say you’ve just built a new window-heavy office building, but you didn’t account for some of the disadvantages associated with excessive amounts of sunlight. You don’t need to replace the windows or install expensive window treatments to manage the daylight, as solar films are a viable, affordable alternative. In fact, it’s often much more affordable to install solar films on a building’s windows than it would be to replace or significantly alter them.
They’re Part of a Sustainable Solution
Solar films help promote a more sustainable environment, and they can be a big piece in any building’s quest to achieve LEED status. That’s because they allow natural daylight in, limit energy use, and prevent against overheating, so they won’t cause air conditioners to work harder than normal during the hot summer months. Solar films are a true win-win solution. By allowing natural daylight into a facility, it makes for happier, healthier and more productive occupants. Yet, it’s also a big win from a facilities perspective, as solar films will help prevent overheating, fading and window glare.
Could your building benefit from the installation of solar films?