Aren’t we all sick of talking about the pandemic and the effect it had on us? Well,

unfortunately, we are still seeing many of those effects in the market and in our daily lives. One

thing I did during the past year was work on my GREEN designation. It was more for

educational benefit than any other reason, however it has allowed me to learn and adjust my

thinking in many different areas of my life.

As a REALTOR, I come across many new trends, and they can come and go. The reason we are

seeing people changing their homes to include more natural light and bringing the outdoors in

is because of the medicinal benefits, financial and environmental benefits. Being in our homes

so much more during the day forces us to acknowledge and enhance those things that just

don’t work for us anymore.

So, how important is natural light to your overall health and productivity? 

 Serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin is a natural mood booster. Melatonin is a natural

sleep aide. Both come from the natural light we need in our daily lives. Getting our

body’s inner clock on track provides us with a better night’s sleep and more energy

during the day.

 Our physical energy increases in natural light. It helps us focus, pay attention, and be

productive.

 Vitamin D helps to prevent some cancers, heart disease, depression, and weight gain. 

Your skin makes Vitamin D when it’s exposed to the sun. Allowing your home to receive

as much sunlight as possible can help you get some of your daily vitamin D.

 Lessen depression. 30 minutes of sunlight a day to help prevent and/or treat

depression.

 Dopamine. Dopamine is a molecule that aids in eye development. Natural

light can lower the risk of nearsightedness by helping the eye produce dopamine.

Computer screens, smart phones and florescent light can cause eye strain that can lead

to permanent eye damage.

Corporations invest in the performance of their associates. One study done by the Sacramento

Municipal Utility District, people performed 10 to 25% better on tests of mental function and

memory recall when they worked in a room with daylight and a view, compared to those

without. Another study conducted by the California Energy Commission, students with the most

daylighting in their classrooms progressed 20% faster on math tests and 26% faster on reading

tests in one year than in those with the least. (Courtesy of solarconcepts.com). This is a perfect

reason to implement the same lighting options at home!

Financial benefits of letting in the natural light are limitless and will have the positive affect on

the environment. Utilizing natural light instead of artificial light reduces energy consumption,

reduces greenhouse gasses, and lowers your electric bill. When selling your home, people tend

to pay more for a home that looks brighter and larger.

Giving up the privacy to create a healthy zone isn’t a barrier. According to REALTOR.com; Justin

Riordan, founder of Spade and Archer Design Agency says. “We are seeing a sacrifice of privacy

in order to have more and more light in our homes. New construction will see a push toward

larger windows and lots of extra light sources in the home.”

Accomplishing the most without an expense can be easy to do. Start by removing any objects,

such as furniture from the window view. This includes the removal of drapes and other heavy

materials. Make sure you clean and paint the window frames. Painting white is great for light

reflection, however black frames are the wave in 2022. As you are renovating or changing out a

product in the home look for the products that have more glass to allow more natural light. a

home, make sure your And of course if you are building a new home, communicate your

natural light preferences with your builder/ architect to incorporate in an energy efficiency

design.

The ability to change our homes to meet our needs is everchanging. It’s been a progression to

make a healthy happy environment for our current needs. This year, try switching the artificial

lighting to add more opportunities for the natural light. You might notice an ability to be more

productive, calmer, healthier and happier.