Introduction
Construction accounts for approximately 37% of the world’s total emissions. If you operate within this space – perhaps as an architect, contractor, project manager or owner of a building – you will be aware of the increasing benefits of incorporating sustainability into your projects. So the question is, ‘How can I be more sustainable?’.
We believe that one of the best answers is natural light.
Whether you install an outdoor glass wall panel to welcome in more of it, thus reducing your reliance on artificial sources, or you install solar panels that can harvest natural light and reduce your consumption of fossil fuels – it is something that can make a huge difference when making your project more environmentally friendly.
In this blog, we will explore the four roles that natural light can play within sustainability. Let’s start by making the building brighter to be greener.
Role Number 1 – Reducing reliance on artificial light
According to research undertaken by the UK government, artificial light accounts for approximately 20% of all electricity usage. While our energy grid is getting greener, that 20% can be substantially reduced by increasing the amount of glazing incorporated into a building’s envelope and interior. A north-facing room, for example, might be brightened through the addition of an internal glass wall that allows light to flow through the property from the brighter south side; and if you are in a built-up area, a glass roof is one of the best ways to access the limited natural light available.
Role Number 2 – Harnessing it to create solar energy
On the subject of energy consumption, natural light can also power your lights and appliances. Solar technology – specifically photovoltaic cells – has been around for a long time, but has dramatically come down in price in the last 50 years. According to Our World in Data, the price per watt of solar photovoltaics was approximately £76; today it is less than 30p! Despite that huge price change, solar panels can be quite an investment, providing a positive return only after 5-10 years. It might sound like a long time, but think of the shrinking of your carbon footprint – 16 solar panels can reduce emissions by up to 2,000 kg of CO2 every year! Solar panels might require a financial investment, but they are certainly sustainably beneficial!
Role Number 3 – Using it to improve thermal insulation
Old windows, such as the small ones installed on a listed property a long time ago, are unlikely to offer much aside from their aesthetics. But the world has come a long way since those windows were installed, and with it glazing technology. If we are speaking about the role of natural light, then we are talking about its role when framed by modern technology. A window can be double or even triple-glazed and it can have a low-emissivity coating – all of which prevent heat transfer between the inside and the outside. That means your home stays cool in summer and warm in winter, while bathing in the beneficial natural light.
Role Number 4 – Improving our personal wellbeing
It can be mentally taxing to remain positive and resolute when surrounded by statistics that make our efforts feel ineffective. As a result, approximately three-quarters of young people in the UK have reported feeling some level of anxiety around the subject of climate change. Furthermore, 45% of people who experience climate-change-related anxiety say that it affects their daily life.
While the other three roles mentioned in this list relate to natural light’s ability to practically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, this final role is all about how it can tangibly make you happier, healthier and more productive – all of which can keep you motivated to take further positive sustainability actions (such as joining a political demonstration or making a concerted effort to use more public transport and eat less meat).
To illustrate the benefits of natural light, one study found that workers who sat next to a window took 6.5% fewer sick days than those who didn’t; and another said 78% of respondents reported improvements to their overall happiness and wellbeing when given access to the sun’s beneficial glow. Few things can boost a mood better than natural light, and there are very few things that can’t be achieved with the help of a boosted mood and a positive attitude!
The fact that you have read this article suggests you want to do things better, and more sustainably. While natural light is far from a magic bullet that can solve climate change, it can certainly play four very important roles along the way. Our advice is simple: incorporate as much bespoke glazing into your designs as possible. If you do that, you will certainly be well on your way to sustainability.
