Happy Spring! Today, March 20th, is the Vernal Equinox, AKA the first day of spring. And after a long winter, it's always nice to welcome in longer, brighter days and warm, fresh air.
Daylight and Fresh Air: A Winning Combo
With the time change bringing longer days and the weather warming up enough to open the windows, you may have noticed yourself feeling better. And that's not surprising: daylight and fresh air are good for us. We're kind of like plants in that way.
Spring allergies got you feeling like that might not be the case? Hang in there, because there are many proven benefits to regular exposure to daylight and fresh air, including:
- Higher levels of Vitamin D - Even just a few minutes of daylight exposure a day helps maintain healthy levels of Vitamin D, which has been linked to a lower risk of osteoporosis, cancer, and depression.
- Faster healing - Studies have shown that those exposed to more natural light have a quicker recovery time and experience less pain compared to those exposed to more artificial light.
- Increased creativity - Exposure to nature has been linked to upticks in creativity. Just sitting outside or taking a short walk can offer enough sensory stimulation to break through creative blocks.
- A better sense of overall health - Time spent in fresh air and sunshine has been linked in psychological studies to a greater sense of vitality. In other words, not only does being outside help increase your energy, it also helps boost the immune system.
Now, while it's true getting outside is good for us, we have to admit we are part of the Indoor Generation. Between home and work and school, we have to make an effort to break up the 90% of our time we spend indoors. Skylights offer a happy alternative. With skylights, you can sit inside while still getting natural light exposure and, with the touch of a button, have fresh air flow throughout your space.
The Federal Tax Credit
This year (and through 2021), if you install a solar-powered skylight or any of our solar-powered accessories with a skylight or sun tunnel, you're automatically eligible to receive a federal tax credit when you file at tax time.
While this does mean you'd have to pay the costs to install upfront, you would also receive 26% of what you paid back when you get your tax return. Think of it as a rebate from the government for installing more energy-efficient products.
But for the biggest savings, you'll want to make sure to schedule your skylight installation this year. Solar-powered skylights and accessories installed in 2021 are only eligible for a 22% federal tax credit.
And Save on Blinds!
If you want to include blinds with your skylight order - or want to switch out some blinds you already have - now's the time to spring for 'em! Throughout the rest of March, you can save 20% on all blinds with the code SPRING. Just enter it when you check out at the Blind Shop.
