They say improvement is the biggest room in your home. And when you DIY in the house, you can increase the home’s value. Indeed, there’s nothing like a constantly upgrading home, unfolding bigger and better amenities as the years go by. And yet, you may be gravely mistaken if you think that your precious abode is there only to protect you from the elements. While the weather can certainly be harsh, winter and summer with all its extremes, nature has a lot to offer that we should take advantage of.
That is the case for natural ventilation. When your DIY work centers around letting nature’s best in, you reap tons of health benefits you can’t get otherwise. We’re talking about more of the fresh air and more of the sunshine. Think about it. For starters, fresh air is filled with more of the beneficial oxygen you need. Take note that indoor air, more often than not, has a below-optimal balance of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen. Exactly why stepping outside clears your head.
To clear the air, here are the bare essentials.
Natural Ventilation at Work
With HVAC running and all the amenities we have indoors, it’s easy to conclude natural ventilation is a thing in the past. Yes, why would we need it when we’re enjoying just the right temperatures in our rooms. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. No matter how advanced our heating and cooling system is, there’s no substitute for natural air and sunlight pouring in.
Department of Energy points out natural ventilation relies on the “chimney effect.” This allows the wind to enter and leave through the windows to ventilate your home naturally. When the wind blows in, the air coming in results in a vacuum effect. As natural air absorbs the heat inside the building from the first floor, it heats up and as a consequence rises to the higher regions of your home, exiting in the process.
It is good to note that having the right set of windows matter when you want to maximize natural ventilation. Relying on low-quality window sets can not only limit your ventilation options but can also minimize your overall indoor air quality. Small wonder why top-drawer brands such as Total Window have gained popularity over the years. These suppliers provide a wide array of windows that can deflect or direct natural airflow, not to mention give you needed sales support.
The chimney effect is at its best when working inside buildings with open-air designs and high cathedral ceilings. As for your DIY, you can enhance your abode so you can maximize natural ventilation. Here are bright ideas to start.
Unparalleled Benefits
The most obvious benefit of natural ventilation is savings. When you don’t need to crank up your air conditioning, you save a lot of energy. And in the process, save precious dollars for essentials.
Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, breathing fresh air is best. Quite simply, it promotes a much healthier lifestyle for you. Fresh air has more oxygen enhancing your heart rate and energy levels in the process. And it can enhance your immune system as well.
Think of your brain. Studies show as much as 20% of the oxygen you breathe goes to the brain. As fresh air has more oxygen than indoor air, you achieve greater clarity in your thinking and better focus. In short, you do more quality work.
Plus, fresh air enhances your mood. More oxygen in your blood triggers the release of serotonin, dubbed the “happiness hormone.” Thus, it’s no accident that going outside gets you in a happy mood. Letting the fresh air in is letting happiness enter your personal space.
Moreover, exposure to a greater amount of oxygen dilates the blood vessels in your lungs. In effect, it facilitates tissue repair and cleansing.
And Then Some
But that’s not all. When you open your windows to natural air, you also allow natural sunlight in.
First up, vitamin D, the “sunlight vitamin,” helps in the proper functioning of your muscles and immune system. That’s because vitamin D is transformed into vitamin D3, which is metabolized for use in the kidney and liver.
And remember, if you’re deficient in vitamin D, you risk yourself serious bone disease in your adult years. Moreover, vitamin D also works for the brain. Again, we have serotonin. Scientists point out natural light positively affects serotonin production. A study done in Australia shows serotonin levels were higher on sunnier days than cloudy days.
So the solution is simple. Let natural light in.
