Your home needs to be a healthy environment for your family, in addition to being beautiful and functional. In this blog, Roofing and remodeling contractor Minnesota’s 1st Choice discusses home improvements with proven health benefits.
Replacement Windows
Daylighting is the use of natural light as the primary source of indoor lighting. Several studies have been undertaken that prove the benefits of daylighting. For example, daylighting helps promote healthy amounts of sleep by regulating the occupants’ sleep cycles with exposure to daytime-nighttime cycles. Comparatively, workers in windowless offices are found to have irregular sleep hours and high daily stress levels. Other studies found correlations between daylighting and faster patient recovery rates, improved work productivity and school performance.
The right replacement windows can optimize your home for daylighting. Ideally, you should choose windows with slim frames that allow large glass areas. This makes picture windows and casement windows the ideal window styles for such a purpose. If you plan on having windows on the walls facing east-to-west, check the energy performance labels. Windows with high Visible Transmittance and low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) ratings will let lots of natural light in while blocking solar heat and harmful UV rays.
Basement Refinishing
If you have been using your basement solely for storage, you may be missing out on its many uses. Basements can be refinished into just about anything: recreational room, guest bedroom, or, for health improvement purposes, a home gym. You’ll have plenty of space to accommodate a couple of fitness machines. The best parts are you won’t have to worry about gym membership and you can start using it any time that you want.
HVAC Upgrade
Indoor air can be up to twice as polluted as outdoor air, mostly due to indoor air pollutants that accumulate indoors. These pollutants come from common indoor materials such as paint and plastics, released through a process called off-gassing. Other sources of pollutants include mold, mildew and indoor smoking.
Opening the windows for about 15 minutes a day can help reduce indoor air pollutants. Additionally, an efficient HVAC system with regularly cleaned filters also helps further reduce indoor air pollutants. Switching to fuel pumps can be beneficial, as, unlike furnaces, they don’t burn fuel to generate heat. Clean indoor air can help prevent respiratory-related illnesses and improve your family’s health.
Minnesota’s 1st Choice is your leading provider of home improvement services, including installation of entry doors. Give us a call at (507) 200-4422 (Rochester) or (651) 333-4520 (South Metro). You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in Apple Valley, Albert Lea and Owatonna, MN.
