Enhance Kitchen Lighting and Ventilation

<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font size="3" color="#990000">Enhance Kitchen Lighting and Ventilation</font></h2><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">(ARA) – Many families spend more time in the kitchen than in any other room in their home. For maximum enjoyment, this all-important space should be as comfortable and appealing, and as green as possible with natural light and fresh air being key elements.</span></p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Building and remodeling experts recommend lightening cabinets, countertops, walls, and sometimes floors in kitchens to reduce the need for electric lighting. Another simple and economical upgrade often used is adding one or more venting skylights to fill the room with healthful natural light and passive fresh air. And since skylights don’t take up wall space like vertical windows, more space is available for shelves or cabinets, or for decorating.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/2b.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/2b.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">In an article at GreenHomeGuide.com, Kirsten Ritchie, a civil engineer and regional director for sustainable design for Gensler, a global architectural, design, planning and consulting firm, says that among her favorite design ideas for a green kitchen are "lots of operable windows for natural daylight and free ventilation."</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">According to Steve Alfaro, CGP, trade business development manager with VELUX America, operable skylights, combined with operable windows, can provide even more natural light and fresh air to make kitchens, as well as other rooms, more functional and livable.<span>  </span></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">"But kitchens are especially enjoyable for family and guests when they are bright, cheerful, and free of stale cooking odors, heat and humidity," Alfaro says.<span>  </span>"Venting skylights can utilize their natural chimney effect to exhaust not only kitchen air but to vent volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other indoor air pollutants from other areas of the home as well."</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">For convenience, skylights, along with available accessories including blinds and shades, can be controlled manually or by remote control with the touch of a button. Electrochromic glass is also available that allows homeowners to lighten and darken the glass with the touch of a remote without losing the view of the sky.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">The trend toward additional day lighting and natural ventilation in kitchens is driven not only by energy efficiency and other green considerations, but also by health considerations. Adding more natural light in the kitchen, where families tend to gather for studying and socializing, in addition to dining, also has health benefits.<span>  </span></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Studies show that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), evidenced by emotional depression, a drop in physical energy, increased appetite, and need for more sleep, is directly linked to a lack of sufficient daylight. Lighting designers and other housing professionals can help homeowners select a combination of natural and artificial lighting methods that will make kitchens, and the rest of their homes, even more pleasant and functional.<span>  </span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/8a.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/8a.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div></span></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">For free information on the benefits of natural light and skylight selection, or for free house plans incorporating skylights, call (800) 283-2831 or visit VeluxUSA.com. For government information on window and skylight energy efficiency visit <a href="http://www.energystar.gov/">www.EnergyStar.gov</a> , and for independent agency information visit <a href="http://www.efficientwindows.org/">www.EfficientWindows.org</a> <span> </span>or <a href="http://www.nfrc.org/">www.nfrc.org</a> .</p>  <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">Courtesy of ARAcontent</span></p></span>