SPECIAL SECTION HOME IMPROVEMENT
WINDOWS / DOORS
Homeowners are veering toward
natural, clean looks this year, focusing on
bringing the beauty of the outdoors into
the home. Bright, airy rooms are trending
in all areas of the home, from living rooms
to bathrooms—the more natural light,
the better. By lowering energy costs and
brightening up your day, homeowners are
designing with daylight in mind.
• Transforming windows to doors: If
you’re looking to lighten and brighten
up a room, do it with natural light.
Adding windows or creating larger,
more expansive windows will not only
bring in more of the outdoors, but can
also change the look of a room. Large
windows that were once a custom
option are now available in mainstream
models, with some that can expand up
to 24 feet wide.
• Allowing the fresh air in: ‘Tis the
season for spring cleaning! When you’re
working in the garage this spring, you
may find it helpful to have a retractable
screen door for the garage. Whether you
are doing projects, or using the space as
a place to hang out, garage screens keep
fresh air in and bugs out.
• Smart windows with auto tinting:
Gone are the days of having blinds to
dust, with the introduction of auto-
tinting windows. Newer on the market,
smart windows are equipped with
sensors that can read room occupancy,
sunlight, and weather conditions to
tint your windows appropriately. While
they are still a somewhat costly option,
manufacturers are marketing them as a
way to save up to 20 percent on monthly
energy bills.
• Going solar: The cost of going solar
has dropped every year since 2009,
providing more homeowners with the
option of harnessing solar energy to
power their homes. Solar installations
are increasing in Pennsylvania, but
solar currently produces less than one
percent of net electricity generation,
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CANON-MAC
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SPRING 2018
29