IN West County Spring 2018 | Page 22

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, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. The main type of technology used to turn sunlight into energy is photovoltaics (PV). You’ll see PV devices in fields or on the rooftops of homes where panel cells absorb sunlight and create an electric field that allows electricity to flow into the home. Individual PV cells, each producing up to two watts of power, are connected to form different-sized modules to fit any home’s needs. The module is then connected to an electrical grid, converting direct- current electricity into alternating-current electricity that is 20 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE ❘ icmags.com